The hike from Prisoners to Scorpion is about 16 miles. Island Packers uses Scorpion (the western one at the mouth of the valley where the ranch house and interpretive center are located) to offload hundreds of hikers, backpackers and kayakers. Del Norte Campground (starting location) is approximately 3.5 miles from Prisoners Harbor where the boat from the mainland drops visitors off. You should book your trip ahead of time on the Island Packers websitebecause boats do fill up. If you want to book a kayak or snorkeling tour you will have to do that ahead of time. He was trotting down the trail in my direction and then veered off towards the river. Expect wind and bring layers, as the temperature can change quickly. Weve put together an easy guide to help plan your trip to Channel Islands National Park. For more information, please visit: No conditions reported in the past 7 days. The Prisoner's Harbor area is part of The Nature Conservancy section of the island. Bring plenty of water since theres no water source past Scorpions. They explain that the wind forced them to turn back after only a half-mile. beautiful trail . For additional information about the joint conservation efforts of Nature Conservancy. There was a sign that said trails closed ahead so we did not end up hiking here today. There are a lot of trees along the trail. On the southwest corner of the campground you will see the Scorpion Canyon Loop trail. Are we going to die? Sam asked. As a reminder, as of November 1st, the Scorpion Anchorage Pier was closed for repairs prohibiting guests to visit the Scorpion Anchorage area except for from December 21st to January 5th during the holidays.. Our other favorite activities at Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Cruz Island . We stay well clear of their dock, which is tucked in the west corner of the anchorage. Both 60- and 90-minute boat rides can be booked from both Ventura and Oxnard Harbors. Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. The Channel Islands are home to over 2,000 plant and animal species, of which 145 are found nowhere else in the world. No water along trail. If this isnt it, Im going to kill myself!. No water at Del Norte. About 6.5 miles in you start a scramble of sorts up a steep trail leading you up to the ridge overlooking Scorpion. We loved it! When the wind blows, it sure does blow!!! Look, there is nothing tragic happening here as far as I can tell, Wendy texted me. The mixed sand and cobblestone Scorpion Beach is a world-class destination because of easy beach access, clear ocean waters, a spectacular shoreline with sea caves to explore, nearby camping, numerous trails, and year-round Island Packers boat transportation. I should have believed her; but, so often, its impossible to adopt the faith that others have in us for ourselves. Eel grass might be. Creek & trees were beautiful. Its got a cathedral-high ceiling, a grand light show and a passage through the rock itself. Visitor Center A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. We started at Prisoners and camped at Del Norte backcountry campsite. backpacking is strenuous for a lot of elevation gains. I'm deciding between the two and have a few questions. One of the. Can You Kayak From PrisonerS Harbor To Scorpion Anchorage, Do You Need To Wear A Life Jacket When Kayaking, Can You Use A Kayak Paddle For A Paddle Board. The trail is fairly marked well however there are some spots where the trail narrows considerably and can be difficult footing for some. It's beautiful right now. After getting dropped off at Prisoner's Harbor, you'll spend your first night at Del Norte Campground. Channel Islands National Park is located off the coast of California and is made up of five islands: Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Barbra Island. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. Note: Kelp, which virtually disappeared from all of the islands, is rebounding with vigor at Scorpion and covers the surface south and east of (10) rock. You will continue this part of the hike at the campground, where you should first fill up your water at the spigot (watch out for yellow jackets!). El Montanon Peak (1,808') . The lighthouse on Anacapa Island is located at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel. But, when nine friends married, Texan, long-time friends Rich and Wendy; less experienced, married paddlers Sam and Whitney; eternally cheerful, San Francisco-based couple Natalie and Norberto; Minnesotan Lisa whom Ive hiked with before, long-time college friend Suzanne, and Dutch Renske took me up on the offer (with four flying in from out of town), I immediately felt a big responsibility to ensure that our trip wasnt a disaster. Bring more water than you think. Was dropped off at Prisoner's Harbor, spent the night at Del Norte Campground, then hiked to Scorpion's Anchorage and spent the night at Scorpion Campground, getting picked up the following day. The weather in Prisoners Harbor is usually sunny and warm. They have a small store located about a 10 minute walk from the pier, past the restrooms and museum. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 islands. Today - Dec 31 Reservations required (limited quota) Select a start date My plan outlined three days of kayaking around Santa Cruz Island: the first day, an 8-mile loop from Scorpion Anchorage beach; the second day, a one-way, 9-mile coastal paddle from Scorpion Anchorage to Prisoners Harbor ending with a July 4, Rich-planned mystery dinner; and the third day, a 6-mile loop from Prisoners Harbor. An area not as much fun to traverse with a fully loaded pack. I suspect its the former. Place Name Want to report conditions for this trail? Use caution during this section. Im worried about the wind. We return to the campground to find the less-experienced paddlers, Suzanne, Lisa, Sam, and Whitney, already there. I hiked from prisoners harbor to scorpion Anchorage in one day from noon to about 7:30 pm carrying a pack of 30#. You can snorkel at Santa Cruz Island in Scorpion Anchorage on your own or with a guided tour. The Ultimate Weekend in Death Valley National Park, Yellowstone National Park Weekend Itinerary, Joshua Tree National Park Weekend Getaway, Channel Islands Adventure Company website, 20 Gift Ideas for People Who Love to Travel, 10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary: From Hot Springs to Cloud Forests, 16 Top Destinations in the Southwest US You Must See, 10-Day American Southwest Road Trip Itinerary, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Guide: Best Hikes and Views. IG - @kylerampone. Prisoners Harbor is our newest location and will be open during the construction at Scorpion Anchorage. Island Packers is continuing its trips to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz, Anacapa Island, weekend rides to . CAMPSITES: The National Park on Santa Cruz Island has two campgrounds: Scorpion Anchorage and Del Norte. This hike would be the best in the spring when Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since it is mostly internal through the canyon. Rich sets up a makeshift cocktail bar on top of a Fox Box the metal safes used on Santa Cruz to keep foxes from stealing camp food pulls out a metal citrus squeezer, and begins filling a bottle with fresh lemon juice. Thats good for the ecosystem, but makes navigating a little tougher. Did this trek over 3 days and 2 nights. Lots of shade. This was a beautiful trail no doubt! At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you want to make sure you get the best seats you could arrive earlier to get in line sooner. Trail was near deserted. I realized that it might be possible that the trip report that I used to help plan this trip was written by a paddler much more experienced than us, one who had his own kayak. This rugged backpacker-friendly trail takes you to Del Norte Campground from Prisoners Harbor. Dont follow this trail, its not to the river at all. The only water on the island is at scorpion so you would be stuck carrying a lot of water if you went out and back. Everything will be fine., So, instead of paddling out from Malibus Point Dume into the ocean in the middle of the night with weights tied to my legs and jumping in, I sent an email, in the least alarming tone I could muster, that everyone needed to pack as little as possible due to the lack of kayak storage space. Peaceful and many shady areas. Santa Cruz Island has a few beautiful hiking trails. If you dont mind spending more money, I recommend doing the Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour (2.5-3 hours) and then hiking the recommended path below along the coast to Cavern Point and continuing to Potato Harbor. Before planning any of these activities consult the national park service and tour company websites for restrictions, schedules, hazards, packing, and important information. Occasionally, abrupt wind shifts (though not necessarily Santa Anas) will suddenly make your secondary anchor the primary. Santa Cruz Island used to be one big ranch which provided food, hay, grain, pasture, sheep, cattle, wine and more. Watch out for poison oak!! Extend your trip to California by visiting Big Sur, Temecula, Death Valley National Park, or Joshua Tree National Park. Hike Profile Distance: 8.20 miles Elevation Gain: 1526 ft Minimum Elevation: 41 ft Maximum Elevation: 800 ft Time: 4-6 hour Difficulty: (2/5) Dog Friendly: No Permit Required: No Weather: The weather on the Channel Islands is pleasant, but can also be very unpredictable at times. BRING WATER, lots of motivation, and your sense of wonder because it is so stunningly beautiful. Our other favorite activities at Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island are hiking the Pelican Trail with a trained naturalist from Island Packers or enjoying the wildlife both on the island and in the water (dont forget to bring a camera!). The flowers are popping off like crazy. The anchorage is quite deep and youll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft. Channel Islands Adventure Company is excited to announce the new tours being offered at Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. Not too washed out and very easy trail to follow. I didnt know what to say, so I just told her that we decided to take all of our gear with us for a day trip because foxes and people were stealing it., Foxes and people?! You will find many unique sea caves near Scorpion Anchorage, making Santa Cruz Island a unique place to kayak. Required fields are marked *. Curious about where to go and what to do on Santa Cruz Island? See, it all turned out okay, Renske whispers in my ear. But alas, Bird Shit has won in 2021. Were already here? Renske asks. Depart Ventura Harbor for a ferry ride to Scorpion Cove or East Santa Cruz Island. Weve strapped so much trash-bag protected stuff to the top of the boats that Rich and Wendys kayak looks like a makeshift garbage barge, and Natalie and Norbertos kayak looks like its been loaded up with every belonging theyve owned since childhood. Thought it was a German shepherd at first. Due to their more unpredictable weather and waters,. In the morning, were furiously loading our kayaks on the beach at around 7 AM (only an hour late!). View Our Latest Marine Mammal Sightings Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. For visitors planning a multi-day or overnight trip, camping reservations must be made in advance. If you arrive to Scorpion Anchorage I recommend hiking at least the blue loop above. High 70 afternoon hike. Big coyote sighting 12/24/22. Yes there are other kayakers that you can kayak with from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. We reluctantly tied a fender to our aft rode and jettisoned the ground tackle. Prisoners Harbor Landings are at a pier. Nothing that you cant see. Another fire broke out early Friday morning on the ridge west of thisa matter of perhaps 500 yardsand against the wind. Scorpion Anchorage is the most visited destination in the park, with over 55,000 people coming ashore each year to enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, camping, kayaking, and swimming. I did not have trekking poles so definitely had to use my hands at times lol. Its possible to hike to Chinese Harbor Beach and continue west all the way to Prisoners Harbor, but that is a very long shade-less trek. On our second day, we kayaked 9 miles from Scorpion Anchorage to Prisoners Harbor and then hiked the three (strenuous) miles to the Del Norte Campground on a mountaintop. Are you spending time in San Diego? Potable water available at Scorpian Anchorage but none at Del Norte so plan accordingly! On your Channel Islands day trip dont miss the museum where you can learn more about the Channel Islands. The islands were formed by plate tectonics, underwater volcanoes, and changing sea levels. It definitely seems worth it to spend time exploring the nearby sea caves. We did this trail the other way, from Scorpion to Prisoners, with a night spent at Del Norte campground. A day trip to Channel Islands National Park is not complete without visiting Potato Harbor Overlook. Hiking, camping, sea kayaking, and snorkeling are the top reasons to visit the island. #leavenotrace. Our boat was not heading to Prisoners Harbor but the Scorpio to Anchorage. Loved this hike! Your email address will not be published. The boat ride is part of the experience of the day trip to the Channel Islands, as you can see many different birds and animals on the way. Bring lots of water and wear comfortable shoes. We didnt do the whole thing this is definitely longer than 3.6 miles. Learn about the local history of the island while kayaking with a friendly guide and have a wonderful opportunity to see wildlife such as Garibaldi fish, brown pelicans, seals, sea lions, and even a bald eagle! 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