Water, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. The trail begins on a fire road leaving Prisoners Harbor and rises above sea level, overlooking the northern coast of the island. Visitors must bring all their own food and supplies. This means you will have less time on the island but more timelooking for whales a trade many are willing to make for a quieter day. If you want to venture out on your own, you can always rent a kayak in Ventura or bring your own across on the ferry (as long as its approved by Island Packers). There is a lot of exploration possible here! Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Cruises to both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor leave from the Ventura Harbor location year-round. You can do day hikes at Prisoner's Harbor and have made numerous visits to both places. The Pelican Bay Trail is a beautiful hike through the canyons and along the bluffs of The Nature Conservancy property on Santa Cruz Island. Scorpion Ranch, 2009 William Barron was a San Francisco businessman and co-owner of the company Barron, Forbes & Co. Dr. James Barron Shaw was hired to manage things, and charged by Barron to start a sheep operation. Travel time to Scorpion is a little over an hour and Prisoners Harbor, on direct route is about one and a half hours. If there doesnt seem to be a shuttle fare listed, call Island Packers directly for your best option. Watch this Topic. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available. Santa Cruz Island is the largest of all the Channel Islands (and California!) Your day is generally much quieter at Prisoners due to significantly less visitation, but for the same reason, there are usually only one or two park staff around on a busy day. Prisoners Harbor, on Santa Cruz Island's north coast, now serves as a port of entry for visitors arriving by boat. So, you must pack all your water. It's best to check with Island Packers. If you arent up for a strenuous hike, thats okay. From the top of Montaon you will be able to see both the eastern and western ends of the island, Anacapa Island, and the mainland on a clear day. The water temperature is about the same as the air temperature. The topography of the two locations is actually quite different which lends each to some different species. Then, head into deeper water to check out some fish hiding in the eel grass habitat. This is the easiest island to get to, has the best weather, and offers the most recreational activities. Ventura to Prisoners Hbr SCI 9:00 AM. Group size and hiker fitness will determine how far along the trail we can go before we must head back to meet the boat. Heading off on a close reach almost always gets us to the vicinity of Cavern Point. Better tidepools can be found at Smugglers Cove. There are a lot of trees along the trail. Vault style restrooms are located near the beach and two in the campground area. Scorpion SCI to E. Anacapa 11:00 AM. Both Scorpion and Prisoners are on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, so the rock is primarily volcanic and the beaches are either all rocky or rocky with sections of course black sand, depending on recent weather events. Cruising the California Channel Islands for Education, Recreation and Research Since 1968. Be sure to pay close attention to when your boat departs, but the campground is a mere half mile away from the dock. Best viewing is at Prisoners Harbor, but they are also spotted around the Scorpion area as well. Primitive camping is available at the Scorpion Canyon Campground (31 sites; $15 per night per site; reservations required). Four 4-man campsites are located 3.5 miles up the trail above the cove with beautiful overlooks. 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! I can be found attempting to surf, downhill mountain bike, ski and snowboard, play guitar, paint occasionally, and eat good food, but Im most passionate about rock climbing and getting to know (and love) new places! You can collect invertebrates like spiny lobster, urchins, and scallops, and try to catch fish like calico bass and rockfish. Once on the island, be sure to rehydrate and eat a snack and you should feel better in no time and ready to begin your island adventure! There are not any trees along the trails. The Crossing The channel crossing for a Prisoner's Harbor day trip is approximately 1 .5 to 2 hours depending on vessel route and possible stops at Scorpion Anchorage. A late Second Summer season is often enjoyed on the Channel Islands. Its call is loud and easy to identify, which makes finding it relatively easy as well. In addition, some plants like gumplant, buckwheat, poppies, and verbena continue to bloom during the summer. If youd like to spend most of your Channel Islands National Park time exploring the underwater half of the park, a tour withChannel Islands Adventure Companywill never disappoint! At Prisoners Harbor, tables are located near the beach. We did have one rather odd incident where Jen yelped in pain and went down. A population of invasive feral pigs ended up on the island which attracted golden eagles who in turn started to hunt the foxes. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. Wednesday High : 53F He seemed to realize we were people about a foot away and nonchalauntly changed his course. We didn't get moving until 10:30 figuring we had a relaxing day with only 12 or so miles to cover. I much prefer the half of the loop that connects Montaon to Potato Harbor Trail due to the nice trail conditions and beautiful views west over Santa Cruz Island towards Prisoners Harbor. The next moderate hiking option is the Del Norte Trail, which eventually leads to Del Norte Campground and onward to Scorpion Cove. Prisoners Harbor day trip visitors can participate in a moderately strenuous hike along the Pelican Bay Trail with an Island Packer naturalist. There are a variety ofsea cave kayak toursoffered based on time and experience level. Tours depart to this area of the island daily, weather permitting. Report inappropriate content 1. No shade. 1691 Spinnaker Drive #105B Visitors must bring all their own food and supplies. Hiking options at Scorpion are much more diverse than Prisoners, and can be tailored for individuals of varying athletic ability. However, many visitors arent willing to put in the little bit of extra planning required to enjoy this beautiful harbor, so youll feel much more secluded and engulfed in nature. Youll probably spot some leopard sharks and bat rays close to shore. This view shows the submarine's line handling crew aft of her. Once there, youll find a small beach across from the rock to rest for a bit if you need a break. To the east, there are long beaches and rocky outcroppings to explore. Scorpion is primarily comprised of coastal sage scrub and grasslands whereas Prisoners has more chaparral and oak woodland. There are 25 standard sites and 6 group sites. At Prisoners Harbor, tables are located near the beach. He then decided to leave Gotham for a while after having a parent's association, and later the police, on his case (which resulted in Gordon becoming alcoholic and cheating on his wife) and had to shift his focus on the countryside, spending most of his time in scouts camps, wearing a scout chief uniform over his Batsuit, to cover his identity as the Batman. Here youll find a quaint bench in the shade where you can enjoy the sounds of wetland birds and frogs and maybe even spot an island scrub jay. If youre mobile enough for the ladder, youre probably mobile enough to hike up one of the hills. You can do day hikes at Prisoner's Harbor and have made numerous visits to both places. Get quick answers from Island Packers staff and past visitors. For visitors planning a multi-day or overnight trip, camping . 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. Kids & dogs welcome! (Or in Jen's casework!). Shuttle tickets also provide an option to squeeze in a day trip for those who find one of the campgrounds sold out for the night. The Prisoner's Harbor area is part of The Nature Conservancy section of the island. Template Created By ThemeXpose and heavily customized by Maple. All of the activities listed below are for Scorpion Cove. 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. Santa Cruz Island does not have the stereotypical hazards like bears or bison, but the isolated island does have some things to watch out for. Usually this is a prime location to see island foxes and Santa Cruz Island scrub jays. Montaon Ridge Loopis quite strenuous and long, but meanders along the highest ridge line on the east end of Santa Cruz Island. Helping the average outdoors-person find remarkable adventures in new areas around the world. Campsite List Seasons & Fees Rules & Cancellations Facility Information Ratings & Reviews Site Types Equipment More Filters Availability Grid Campsite List Refresh Table Expand Table Sort: Availability 5 Days Hiking options at Prisoners Harbor are much more limited both in number and in time on island, but one of the best hikes on the island is located here as well as a secret hike. Oxnard, Ca 93035 I actually prefer this hike and it has been recognized by many as the most beautiful in the entire National Park. The submarine Scorpion ties up alongside tank landing ship Tallahatchie County outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, on April 10, 1968. Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. You can hike up around the area on nice trails and have great views of the ocean. Under The Oaks w/jacuzzi. Locals often wait for October to head out to the islands. 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. We are looking for a full day of hiking and scenic views. Hi!! which landing is preferable on Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion or Prisoners Beach? December through mid- February, southbound migrating Gray Whales can often be observed from Cavern point on East Santa Cruz or the bluffs of Mid Santa Cruz as the whales pass near the island. Island Packers Cruises offers boat trips to both Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage for transportation to and from the mainland for a hiking shuttle. The Del Norte Trail soon joins with Navy Road, a fire road traveling along the central ridge of the island. The prevailing wind comes from the northwest and picks up quickly. A few more things to note about the camping situation on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion campground is a large campground located about a half mile from the pier down a flat gravel and dirt path. Unfortunately, the only way to visit Santa Cruz Island is by crossing the wild and unpredictable Santa Barbara Channel by boat. Prisoners Harbor is to decide when to visit. Shade is available. A small cooler with a single handle or a backpack will help to protect your food from the small animals and birds that populate the islands year-round. Generally, the north shore is best during the northwest swells of winter/spring and the south shore is best during the south swells of summer/fall. Prisoners Harbor apart. 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. The snorkeling in Scorpion Cove is incredible. Can I hike around Prisoner's Harbor if I do a day trip from Ventura? This hike is definitely more challenging than Potato Harbor, but offers great views over the hilly bluffs and through Scorpion Canyon. Day Trip to Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island ~ Channel Islands National Park! Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Obviously, the first option is going out on two separate day trips, but for the most devoted adventurers Id recommend camping overnight. We roll out 350 feet of rode before dropping the shoreside anchor then adjust our position to get about 200 ft. of rode on the seaside and 150 ft. on the land side. Which one do you recommend? For those who take comfort in knowing there are others around, there are plenty of helpful Channel Islands National Park rangers, Channel Islands Naturalist Core volunteer naturalists, Island Packers staff, and Channel Islands Adventure Company kayak guides around to give you advice and answer questions, and there always options for guided hikes andguided kayak tours. Scorpion cove vs Prisoner? Scorpion Marine Reserveis a marine protected area (MPA) where fishing is illegal, and it encompasses all of Scorpion Cove. There are no kayak rentals on island, so take care of this in advance. A more inland option for moderate hiking is Scorpion Canyon Loop. Here are some tips for getting through it with your ego intact: Youre now ready to go explore Santa Cruz Island! Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. The campground was large but had a pleasant vibe to it with the exception of what sounded like a group of college guys a few sites over. Fishing is allowed in this area with all required California Fish & Game licensing. Due to this stops popularity, rangers are always around the campground to help if you have any questions or need recommendations. Travel time is one hour. Id considerSmugglers Cove Trailstrenuous for a day hike due to the pace youre required to keep to make it back for the boat. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. The visitor center includes an orientation area that helps visitors plan a safe trip on the island and a variety of interactive exhibits that describe the island's tremendous biodiversity, rich cultural history, and current resource issues. The other 76 percent is owned by The Nature Conservancy. 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