The island fox is incredibly cute and bold, having been the top land predator for thousands of years. If there doesnt seem to be a shuttle fare listed, call Island Packers directly for your best option. Its about protecting what sustains us. Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Ventura. Remember that it is illegal to directly or indirectly feed animals in the park. Boat Transportation Water, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Santa Barbara Channel. You might find a few caves here, in contrast to the many striking caverns at Scorpion, but the draw here is the secluded beaches and protected inlets, where you most likely wont see anyone for hours. This rocky trail travels along coast bluffs, through groves of pine and oak trees and through multiple deep canyons, offering scenic views and an occasional endemic island fox. 15. . You can access the waters easily from the beach, campsites are nearby, and sea cliffs and caves scallop the coastline. I actually prefer this hike and it has been recognized by many as the most beautiful in the entire National Park. The best months for flower blooms are April and May. Once your boat is on the island, your potential for exploration is limitless. And rather beautiful. Rain. Remember that it is illegal to directly or indirectly feed animals in the park. 1691 Spinnaker Drive #105B As I said, most of these can be avoided with a little preparation and common sense, but somehow they are recurring issues out on Santa Cruz Island. And Prisoner's is really only for backpackers. The second junction is for the Del Norte Trail and is located 1.5 miles up the Navy Road on the left. You can do day hikes at either location. The boat got us back to the mainland a little before 5 pm and by 7 we were back in Orange County ready to do laundry and get ready for the next adventure! However, only 24 percent of the island is open to the public. The island scrub jay can be spotted pretty easily at both locations, thoughI tend to see the most island scrubs jays on the Pelican Trail at Prisoners Harbor. The landing is rocky and the surroundings desolate and uninteresting. Cruising the California Channel Islands for Education, Recreation and Research Since 1968. During a normal year of rainfall, wildflowers are best viewed in late winter and spring. The snorkel is usually short-lived as the water temperature hovers between 55 and 65 degrees and I rarely bring a wetsuit, but it sure is refreshing after a long hike! Whichever you choose, you will love the entire experience. On a clear day, you can see San Nicholas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and Santa Catalina Island out to the south. Several trails and roads traverse eastern Santa Cruz Island, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. Island Packers Cruises offers boat trips to both Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage for transportation to and from the mainland for a hiking shuttle. Of the eight Channel Islands, five are in Channel Islands National Park. Watch this Topic. A guided trek by an Island Packer naturalist is offered on most day trips. Visitor Center The main challenge of this hike is the lack of water along the way. This is the easiest island to get to, has the best weather, and offers the most recreational activities. However, there are no lifeguards on the island. There are 25 standard sites and 6 group sites. Fishing can be a fun and rewarding activity near Scorpion Cove, but it is important to respect local fishing regulations and marine protected areas. Del Norte camp provides spectacular views of the coastline back toward Prisoners Harbor, and it is located within a copse of oak trees. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. If you arent up for a strenuous hike, thats okay. As a result, visitors often find themselves feeding the fish, which is perfectly acceptable on a boat. It is important to note that both main hiking options are uphill, and both are out and back trails. Travel time is one hour. There are not any trees along the trails. Beach access is also available at Prisoners Harbor and by hiking over to Smugglers Cove, but the snorkeling is not as good at these locations. Group size and hiker fitness will determine how far along the trail we can go before we must head back to meet the boat. Tinker Beachis a rocky little beach with relatively easy water access and an abundance of life along the rocky walls. Common hazards include: The next step in planning after weighing Scorpion Cove vs. If youre running short on time, there is an option to cut the hike short and descend down Potato Road to the upper campground as a more straight shot to the beach. Prisoners Harbor, on Santa Cruz Island's north coast, now serves as a port of entry for visitors arriving by boat. You can do day hikes at either location. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. . You wont have much time here for a day hike, so Id usually recommend this for a camping trip. He built corrals and houses for himself and his employees and expanded the road system. Shade is available in some of the picnic area. The Scorpion site has a large campground and the old ranch. We suggest passengers do not wear loose or leather soled sandals or flip flops on your island adventure. 805-642-1393, 3550 Harbor Blvd Picnicking After a few hours the campground had pretty much cleared out leaving just us and the foxes. 7,341 views Mar 18, 2017 95 Dislike Share Save Description Travel Small Live Big 6.3K subscribers Santa Cruz. Locals often wait for October to head out to the islands. Picnic tables are located near the pier, and 1.3 uphill miles at the Del Norte trail head. If you dont own one, dont worry. Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History Other Events on 11 April 1669 - Launch of french Fort 68, later 76 guns (designed and built by Jean Guichard, launched 11 April 1669 at Rochefort) - renamed Foudroyant in June 1671, broken up 1690 1693 - Launch of HMS Winchester. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. Tonight Low : 48F W wind 20 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 30 kt. Depending on the part of the island and time of year that you visit, you may traverse long stretches of trail without seeing other hikers. Checking the weather in the morning is a must, but weather and wind can still change quickly especially as you eat your lunch in a protected cove. Head east and youll encounter Scorpion Rock and the many large seacaves to explore and swim through along the way. First of all, this 15 mile journey is not a day hike unless you are a devoted trail runner. Possession of a valid California state fishing license with an ocean enhancement stamp is required and all California Department of Fish and Game regulations apply.More Subscribe to be the first to read upcoming posts like: 3 Days in Santa Barbara: A True Adventure Itinerary. Better tidepools can be found at Smugglers Cove. It is always best to dress in layers and bring a jacket/sweatshirt (even in the summer months). These hikes often travel the scenic, 4-mile trail from Prisoners Harbor towards Pelican Bay. Nice hiking trails and a small beach, too. A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. Usually this is a prime location to see island foxes and Santa Cruz Island scrub jays. Either start the hike next to the visitor center and end at the back of the lower campground or vise versa. Fishing The trail begins on a fire road leaving Prisoner's Harbor and rises above sea level, overlooking the northern coast of the island. Persons that participate in this guided hike must complete and sign a TNC Releaseform which Island Packers provides. On days that the concessionaire boats run to Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor, guided hikes may be offered by national park volunteers or concessionaire naturalists. During summer months, there is a chance to see Blue or Humpback Whales in the deep water, during travels to and from Santa Cruz Island. You can spend the night at Del Norte, then hike to Scorpion Campground for another night. Adobe ranch houses, barns, blacksmith and saddle shops, wineries, and a chapel all attest to the many uses of Santa Cruz in the 1800 and 1900s. Prevailing wind comes from the northwest, so Id recommend paddling west first to avoid getting stuck downwind as the wind picks up in the afternoon. It is only found on Santa Cruz Island, and will not fly between islands. Frequently, our boats land at Scorpion Anchorage to offload passengers and gear before continuing to Prisoners Harbor. Cruising the California Channel Islands for Education, Recreation and Research Since 1968. This view shows the submarine's line handling crew aft of her. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. Within a quarter mile, youll rise above the trees and catch a glimpse of Prisoners Harbor from above. 805-642-1393, Santa Cruz Island Hiking & Interpretive Guides, All Rights Reserved | Travel Master Proby, East End Landing Cove Anacapa Island Day Trip, Del Norte Campground | Prisoners Harbor SCI, Camping on Santa Cruz Island-Del Norte -Prisoners Harbor, Driving Directions | Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, Anacapa Island Hiking Guide & Interpretive Trail Guide, Santa Cruz Island Hiking Guide & Interpretive Guide, Santa Rosa Hiking Guide & Interpretive Guides, San Miguel Island Hiking & Interpretive Trail Guides, Santa Barbara Island Hiking and Interpretive Trail Guides, History -Stories -Facts of California Islands, East End Landing Cove AI | K-12 Education, Wildlife & Whale Watching | K-12 Education, Anacapa Island (AI) Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island (SCI) Channel Islands National Park, Santa Rosa Island (SRI) Channel Islands National Park, San Miguel Island (SMI) Channel Islands National Park. These trails and roads range from the maintained, relatively flat, signed trails of Scorpion Valley to the unmaintained, rugged, mountainous paths of the Montaon area. This is currently the only backcountry campground on the island.. This is an easy extension to the Cavern Point Loop and doesnt add any difficulty, only 2.5 miles of total distance round trip. The trail quickly turned into well established dirt roads and we started to come across the occasional dayhiker doing the Scorpion Canyon loop or heading up to the overlook behind us. Kayaking here is considered open ocean conditions. Backcountry camping is available year round at the Del Norte campsite near Prisoners Harbor. There are usually guided hikes offered on this trail. For snorkeling and diving, the easiest kelp beds to access are the ones near the pier and those to the eastern end of of the bay. You could have the most time to explore on island here as it is usually the first ferry stop. All Rights Reserved. I am a devoted outdoor enthusiast from Ventura, California who loves trying everything! Scorpion Anchorage is the best area of the Channel Islands National Park to kayak. Best viewing is at Prisoners Harbor, but they are also spotted around the Scorpion area as well. Travel time to Scorpion Anchorage is 1-1.5 hours while travel time to Prisoner's Harbor is 2 hours and the boat often also visits the famous Painted Cave area. The old bones are creaking as we speak. Prisoners Harbor is much less popular than Scorpion Cove, so activities there take a bit more planning. Scorpion Anchorage is a better option for a day trip because it is closer and has more short hiking trails that you can do in one day as well as kayak and snorkeling tours. There are also snorkeling and hiking option, plus a great visitor center. Shade is available. While the island previously had an active ranch, under the current ownership of the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy it is being returned to its prior, natural state. Santa Cruz includes three mountain ranges; the highest peak of all the Channel Islands (Mount Diablo rising above 2000 feet,) a large central valley/fault system, deep canyons with year round springs and streams, and 77 miles of craggy coastline cliffs, giant sea caves, pristine tide pools and expansive beaches. Watersports 2021Outdoor Project. Amid schools of calico bass swimming through towering kelp forests, curious spotted harbor seals hiding behind urchin-covered rocks, and bright orange garibaldi popping out of little nooks, you wont run out of interesting things to see. Island Packers recommends visitors utilize the National Park Service App for a more complete island experience.420 + Parks all in one App. This ladder is sometimes upwards of 6 feet tall at a low tide. 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