Despite the unfortunate reality that I need to work to afford to live, and I cannot focus all my energy on hobbies, I do what I can when I can, and still find a way to have memorable adventures in new places on a budget. You can hike up around the area on nice trails and have great views of the ocean. At one point when we were lounging around in the tent we had a fox trot up and nearly come inside. Re: Scorpion cove vs Prisoner? Zoom in to see updated info. Be sure to clean your fish outside the MPA. Id considerSmugglers Cove Trailstrenuous for a day hike due to the pace youre required to keep to make it back for the boat. Pack food and drink for your time on the island. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and more.Download before you go so you can use it offline at the islands! Scorpion Cove vs. At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. 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. Prisoners Harbor: An Overview Scorpion Cove Basics A view of Scorpion Cove while descending Cavern Point Loop Scorpion Cove aka Scorpion Ranch (or Scorpion Anchorage to the local boaters), is the most popular location to visit in Channel Islands National Park. After a few hours the campground had pretty much cleared out leaving just us and the foxes. W swell 4 to 5 ft at 13 seconds. Prisoners Harbor, as well as clue you in on the best way to see it all if you cant choose! The mixed sand and cobblestone Scorpion Beach is a world-class destination for swimming, diving, snorkeling, and kayaking because of easy beach access, clear ocean waters, nearby camping, year-round Island Packers boat transportation, extensive kelp forests, and a spectacular shoreline with sea caves to explore. Better tidepools can be found at Smugglers Cove.More 1901 Spinnaker Drive Backcountry camping is available year round at the Del Norte campsite near Prisoners Harbor. Hikers should not expect to reach Pelican Bay on this hike. 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. Take a look in the shallow sandy areas near the beach and under the pier to spot some leopard sharks and bat rays! There are also restroom facilities at both locations but no trash facilities, so prepare to pack out all trash. 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. In addition, some plants like gumplant, buckwheat, poppies, and verbena continue to bloom during the summer. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available. For those with very limited mobility, consider a walk through the lower and upper campground. With two campsites within the National Park, a one-way hike can be done from the middle of the island to the eastern end. 7,341 views Mar 18, 2017 95 Dislike Share Save Description Travel Small Live Big 6.3K subscribers Santa Cruz. The transportation to Scorpion Cove takes approximately 1-1.5 hours from Ventura Harbor depending on sea conditions and wildlife sightings. At one point there were less than 100 left on the island. This hike is not a destination hike to Pelican Bay, but a guided hike through this pristine area along the Pelican Bay Trail. Of the eight Channel Islands, five are in Channel Islands National Park. Locals often wait for October to head out to the islands. Prisoners Harbor day trip visitors can participate in a moderately strenuous hike along the Pelican Bay Trail with an Island Packer naturalist. Sounds like taking a boat to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz is a must. Heading off on a close reach almost always gets us to the vicinity of Cavern Point. We had a docent come by twice to chat and make sure we knew to be at the dock by 3 pm since this was theoretically the last boat coming out here until the construction was done in 6 months or so. The fox encounters at Prisoners Harbor are more organic (and often more rewarding when you come across a fox hunting on trail), but more rare, though many days I will see a fox searching the picnic tables there as well. It is only found on Santa Cruz Island, and will not fly between islands. Our Jeanneau has 400 ft. of chain forward and 350 ft. chain-rope astern. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Gotta get in better shape! I am a member of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. This is an easy extension to the Cavern Point Loop and doesnt add any difficulty, only 2.5 miles of total distance round trip. Section Hiking The Desert Trail: Mexican Border to A Return To Cold Water Diving At Crescent Bay. Scorpion SCI to Prisoners SCI 10:15 AM. Looking for more local adventures? Usually, this hike is less crowded than the others due to the increased difficulty. If any of those activities sound exciting, awesome! Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. Tonight Low : 48F W wind 20 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 30 kt. Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. 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. Travel time is one hour. The easiest hike to a beautiful view is just up theNavy Road. However, there are no lifeguards on the island. Feather Boa Kelp Overlooking the pier at Prisoners Harbor. Ventura, Ca 93001 Both landings are situated on the closer, northern side of the island. No fishing is allowed at Scorpion Anchorage since it is within a marine reserve. 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. On these trips travel time to Prisoners Harbor can be 2 hours or more with a beautiful cruise along the rugged shoreline of Santa Cruz Island. 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. At that point, its probably time to turn around since the trail work isnt quite complete yet. We shared a table with two volunteers who were out there releasing harbor seal pups and who shared amusing videos of the reluctant pups being unceremoniously deposited into the ocean. You are more likely to see island foxes at Scorpiondue to the larger human impact there, especially in the campground. The next day the trail gradually ascends to 1,550 feet over the first 6.5 miles. You must bring water with you for your requirements. .3 miles one way Take a longer walk to the campground trail head, where the picnic area faces Chinese Harbor and the mainland beyond. Find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and more.Download before you go so you can use it offline at the islands! Be sure to pay close attention to when your boat departs, but the campground is a mere half mile away from the dock. 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. Camping A third moderate hiking option is thePelican Bay Trail. This is back country camping. Group size and hiker fitness will determine how far along the trail we can go before we must head back to meet the boat. Is it possible to see each other on the same trip as in hiking to it? Just please make sure to prepare yourself so you dont end up leaving a trail behind you inside. Please arrive at your harbor of departure 45 minutes before your scheduled mainland departure. Best viewing is at Prisoners Harbor, but they are also spotted around the Scorpion area as well. However, only 24 percent of the island is open to the public. 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. There is water available at Scorpion Anchorage. Channel Islands Adventure Company, the authorized kayak guide and outfitting concession in the Scorpion Anchorage area, operates guided sea kayak tours (there are NO kayak rentals on the island), limited convenience item sales (no food items), snorkel equipment rentals, and guided snorkel tours at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island only. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. You can collect invertebrates like spiny lobster, urchins, and scallops, and try to catch fish like calico bass and rockfish. Santa Cruz Island Day Trip & Camper Transport Fares. Cruising the California Channel Islands for Education, Recreation and Research Since 1968. Although you might come across a number of foxes during your day on the island, consider yourself lucky because the island fox almost went extinct back in the 1990s due indirect downstream effects of human use of DDT on the mainlanda good reminder that our decisions on the mainland have a great impact on these seemingly isolated island ecosystems. This backcountry campground has four campsites. For more information or to book a tour, clickhere. Sea conditions during summer and early fall are often ideal for kayaking and snorkeling. They're also really mellow. Tinker Beachis a rocky little beach with relatively easy water access and an abundance of life along the rocky walls. 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 foxes on Santa Cruz are interesting. This hikeis considered strenuous, but the first mile is fairly moderate. We dutifully arrived on time and queued up to load our gear. Persons that participate in this guided hike must complete and sign a TNC Releaseform which Island Packers provides. Visitor Center A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. 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. This moderate to strenuous 3.5-mile hike from Prisoners Harbor travels through island oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub plant communities. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. It also has a large visitor center and multiple potable water spigots in the campgrounds. There is really only time to explore one anchorage on a day trip, so many visitors find themselves comparing activities at Scorpion Cove vs. Scorpion is about 15 miles from Prisoners via a trail that winds in and out of canyons and up and over mountains and bluffs. Scorpion Cove vs. 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. If it seems like there are more limitations at Prisoners Harbor, youd be correct. A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. Additionally, you can do the hike over one or two days depending on your preference, although the boat schedule will affect which days you will be able to travel to and from the mainland. The Navy Road is a fairly well maintained dirt forest road that winds up a hill past two trail junctions. Ventura to Scorpion Cove SCI 9:00 AM. I am not as a seasoned hiker as I should be! Distance from landing is a flat one-half mile. The Island Fox is only about the size of a house cat and due to the fact they haven't traditionally had any predators they are active during the day. There are no other visitor centers on the island. Once your boat is on the island, your potential for exploration is limitless. There should be guides from the Naturalists Corps to lead hikes on the Island Packers trips. Kayaking from Prisoners Harbor is also very scenic. So, you must pack all your water. The island is exceptionally rich in cultural history with evidence of over 13,000 years of Chumash Indian habitation and over 150 years of European exploration. How many hours should I give myself? Usually multiple someones. The Pelican Trail at Prisoners is great for spotting bush lupine, island bush monkeyflower, island deerweed, and island ironwood (at marker 11). There are no other visitor centers on the island. Santa Cruz Island Camping There are two campgrounds on Santa Cruz Island; Scorpion Ranch campground and Del Norte campground. The island fox is incredibly cute and bold, having been the top land predator for thousands of years. Scorpion campground fills up quickly on weekends and during the warmer months, and has been getting more and more popular. I recommend ending in the campground so that you can refill water as you walk back to the beach. At over 96 square miles, Santa Cruz is the largest island in the Park. Altogether youll walk a little over half of a mile. The campground is broken into two sections with most of the regular sites closer to the pier and the group sites in the back. Visitors to the island must take all their trash with them when they depart the island. Hi, I am visiting Santa Cruz island on a half day trip soon. The next moderate hiking option is the Del Norte Trail, which eventually leads to Del Norte Campground and onward to Scorpion Cove. The kelp forests west of the pier are massive and wrap all the way around Cavern Point. Ventura For this reason,Id recommend renting a kayakif you plan to fish during your day at Scorpion. Harbor View Inn vs Hilton Santa Barbara w/ adult children 18 October 2022; Hearst Castle 17 October 2022; Who has the best clam chowder? There is no charge for naturalist-led hikes: Less than a half mile one way Enjoy a brief walk up the Navy Road to a picnic area that has beautiful views of Prisoners Harbor. Otherwise, plan to rent a kayak in Ventura. I guarantee youll see a fox within 15 minutes of sitting at a bench in Scorpion Campground. There are group and individual sites and they provide water, fox boxes (bear boxes with a cuter name), and pit toilets. On the more adventurous tours, I guarantee youll paddle through some tight caves you wouldnt dare try on your own some Get some speed, lean back, tuck the paddle, and GO! caves. This rugged backpacker-friendly trail takes you to Del Norte Campground from Prisoners Harbor. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 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. Whichever you choose, you will love the entire experience. The largest of the Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island has a diverse terrain with mountains, cliffs, and canyons, as well as many endemic plant and animal species. The National Park Service (NPS) has closed Prisoner Harbor until further notice.On going rain run off/creek flow and predictions of more rain has closed this area for visitors safety.NPS will re-assess this area on Monday, February 27, 2023 an we will update this message at that time. 2021Outdoor Project. Visitors from across the globe travel to Santa Cruz Island to catch a glimpse of the island scrub jay. Scattered along the trail are remnants of the ranching operation that ended in the 1980s. Unless you feel like hiking 15 miles with all of your water for the trip,Id recommend starting at Prisoners Harbor, spending the first night at Del Norte Campground, then hiking the roughly 12 miles across to Scorpion and refilling water at Scorpion Campground the second night. Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. There are a variety ofsea cave kayak toursoffered based on time and experience level. They are usually more than willing to work with you to help you plan your camping trip. Shade is available in some of the picnic area. If you do find it, it leads inland along a well maintained single track trail for a mile or so until it doesnt. TNC property is closed to the public with the exception of the Pelican Bay Trail, so you have to be a bit more cautious when exploring, but the private property is usually well marked. Transportation to Prisoners Harbor takes approximately 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on wildlife sightings and if the ferry stops at Scorpion first. 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. Please note that you may only explore the Pelican trail . 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 not any trees along the trails. There aren't many, and with the exception of Scorpion Cove and its nearby campground, few are convenient. For this reason, I couldnt recommend them enough! If you want to take the spur and go to the oil well and Scorpions Canyon, read about that here, and you can read more about Santa Cruz Island here. When we went, kayaking was at Scorpion and at Prisoner's, you had to go on a guided tour of the Nature Conservancy lands which required hiking about 5 miles r/t. In terms of safety, there are no lifeguards here and your safety is in your own hands. (Or in Jen's casework!). Hi!! Once youve made a decision, you can clickhereto book your tickets! Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? Vault style restrooms are located near the beach. Thanks again. Boat Transportation The final portion of trail to the crest of Montaon ridge is steeper up a rocky route but does not require use of your hands. Copyright 2023 The Unremarkable Climber | Powered by The Unremarkable Climber. The five islands comprising this national park are Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and Santa Rosa. Its call is loud and easy to identify, which makes finding it relatively easy as well. The second junction is for the Del Norte Trail and is located 1.5 miles up the Navy Road on the left. Island Packers Cruises offers boat trips to both Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage for transportation to and from the mainland for a hiking shuttle. Hiking options at Scorpion are much more diverse than Prisoners, and can be tailored for individuals of varying athletic ability. Ive worked in and around Channel Islands National Park for over four years, so I can help you decide quickly which stop is best for you and the activities youre interested in. Remember that it is illegal to directly or indirectly feed animals in the park. Montaon Ridge Loopis quite strenuous and long, but meanders along the highest ridge line on the east end of Santa Cruz Island. Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, Where to Go Hiking in Santa Barbara after Rain: Top 4 Trails, Weather is unpredictable and can often cause, There will most likely be park rangers at Scorpion, but. Water, picnic table, food storage box, and pit toilet are provided. As with the animals, there are plenty of endemic and unique (as well as invasive) plants to see at both Scorpion Cove and Prisoners Harbor. Water Scorpion is primarily comprised of coastal sage scrub and grasslands whereas Prisoners has more chaparral and oak woodland. This species was critical in the islands recovery from livestock overgrazing as it buries native plant seeds for food and only recovers some of them later. You can access the waters easily from the beach, campsites are nearby, and sea cliffs and caves scallop the coastline. Within a quarter mile, youll rise above the trees and catch a glimpse of Prisoners Harbor from above. This ladder is sometimes upwards of 6 feet tall at a low tide. There is no potable water available at Prisoners Harbor. Scorpion Campground does have potable water. This hike is definitely more challenging than Potato Harbor, but offers great views over the hilly bluffs and through Scorpion Canyon. The trail we can go before we must head back to meet the boat Loopis quite strenuous long. Work with you to help you plan to fish during your day at Scorpion Anchorage it. 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