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!). Nice trail but steep around the peak, kinda sketchy with big backpacks on but totally doable. 0:39 - Turnoff for the Del Norte Trail (times are approximate) We watch the tiny shows, eating miniature blueberry, cherry, and pecan pies, in honor of the holiday. Depart Ventura Harbor for a ferry ride to Scorpion Cove or East Santa Cruz Island. The trip is about 12 miles each way and [] Prisoners Harbor is one of the main anchorages in Channel Islands National Park and the closest to Santa Cruz Island making it a popular destination for kayakers. Be aware of weather conditions and bring extra food. Every landmark had personality, every direction I looked was art. Calm campsite. If this isnt it, Im going to kill myself!. 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. At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. Lets just do it. She wrote that she thought we should just ignore the warnings and hypothetical cargo-space problem and just continue with my original plan. The maximum number of people that can camp at Scorpion Anchorage is 30. There is potable water on Santa Cruz Island in the Scorpion campground where you can refill your water bottle. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. Hearing this, less experienced kayakers Sam and Whitney seemed like they were ready to, literally, jump ship. Will come back when it's warmer to go in the river and cross it. We did this trail the other way, from Scorpion to Prisoners, with a night spent at Del Norte campground. We both had about a liter left over at the end of the hike. The extreme conditions of the park made for, Colorado is a beautiful state with tall peaks, incredible lakes, and four unique national parks. 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. They will get into your shoes and pants. I wonder [], Kayaks are incredibly stable and safe boats and most people will never capsize or flip their kayak. Gorgeous views of El Capitan and the valley below, everything is so green right now, we felt like we were in Ireland. Be careful because the water spigots tend to have a lot of yellow jackets around them. My husband and I took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much. Apart from teaching my students in class, we also go outside the four walls of the classroom to physically experience what was discussed in class. Since there is no water we carried 7 liters each (14 liters total) from Prisoner's Harbor to Del Norte Campground. This is off the trail a considerable distance. Loved the sound of water all along the trail. 2023 Channel Island Adventure Co. Privacy | Terms. The video explains our method and describes our trepidation. There are over 500 wineries in Napa, The American Southwest features incredible natural wonders and landscapes that cannot be missed. The bottom is sand and holding is excellent and kelp is not an issue these days. 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. Matt. Beautiful, serene hike! Night 1 at del Norte (make reservations) then night 2 at scorpion canyon. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Half day sail charter on the luxury yacht Sancerre, ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Skipper training at Sail Channel Islands, ASA 104 Bareboat training/Intermediate Coastal Cruising, ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising Bareboat Coaching, Sailing Books (mostly American Sailing Association), Directions to Sail Channel Islands and Capt. We chose to visit Santa Cruz Island because at only about an hour away from the mainland it offers a lot of things to do and see and is possible to visit on a day trip. Reviews (4,028) Photos (4,701) 5: 4: 3: 2: 1: 4.5. Only negative is that people dont pick up after their dogs. Only 24 percent of Santa Cruz Island is owned by the National Park Service (the rest is owned by The Nature Conservancy), so most of the island is inaccessible to campers except for the northeastern ends two campgrounds: Scorpion Anchorage and Del Norte (above Prisoners Harbor). The campground was amazing and clean. Hi- I will be visiting with 3 friends over Memorial Day weekend. I started imagining elaborate suicide strategies to avoid having to tell nine of my friends that our six-months-in-the-making July 4th plans were now destroyed and I decided that somehow drowning myself in a kayak would be the most poetic way to go. She believed that? I laugh. It costs $60 per person roundtrip to Santa Cruz Island. Lots of running water lots of beautiful trees very quiet. Get picked up from the scorpion dock the next morning. Santa Cruz Island has a few beautiful hiking trails. Book a ticket on the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach and visit Catalina Island for the day. You can use the other trail called the Santa Margarita River Loop and takes you cross a little stream and reach the river, you dont have to cross the river (no need do the loop) because the river depth could be deep, just out and back will do. Re: Santa Cruz: Prisoner Harbor or Scorpion Anchorage 8 years ago This post has been removed at the author's request. They have a small store located about a 10 minute walk from the pier, past the restrooms and museum. 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! Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail is a nice hike through and up the canyon with different views of the island, the nearby Anacapa Island, and the ocean. If you decide to do the entire two loops, connecting the blue and the green marked trails above will total about 7 miles, so it will take up most of your day. Your email address will not be published. It's best to check with Island Packers. You would need to contact Island Packers ahead of time to make sure they have space to transport the Kayak. Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. 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. 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. Today - Dec 31 Reservations required (limited quota) Select a start date Great views. There is no water you must bring your own and take care of it. Come prepared to pack out all your trash. Thank God for his help. Scorpion has the best kayaking spots on the island. Want to know about other wildlife on the island? We visited in September and had hot weather in the 80s. The ride normally takes about an hour to get to Scorpion Anchorage, but if the captain sees marine wildlife they will stop and this can make the ride take longer. The next day, we continued on to Scorpion via Montoon. There are also several steep cliffs and rocky shorelines to navigate. In summer and fall, it's hot and dusty. The Island Packers boat to Santa Cruz Island leaves early from Ventura Harbor, so I recommend booking accommodation nearby for the night before. Beautiful views make up for difficulty. I hiked this memorial weekend and first 2 days were overcast. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Once youre oriented, shape a course slightly to the east of the point. The museum walks you through how the Channel Islands were formed, the history of ranching in Santa Cruz, the different animals that adapted to the island, and the conservation efforts of the park today. Park day fee is $3 to park. We were blessed with clear skies, mid 60 degree temps, and no wind which made for a perfect hiking day. We are looking for a full day of hiking and scenic views. I'm deciding between the two and have a few questions. a hill. A few short scrambles over rocks and two small streams to jump. See, it all turned out okay, Renske whispers in my ear. But otherwise beautiful, I completed this trail with my Dad this weekend, 6/19/22 - it was absolutely beautiful. We loved it! Are we going to die? Sam asked. Lots of shade. The shore near Gherini (Scorpion) Ranch has two distinct anchorages. You can snorkel at Santa Cruz Island in Scorpion Anchorage on your own or with a guided tour. The weather in Prisoners Harbor is usually sunny and warm. Your email address will not be published. Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. The best time of day to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not as intense. Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in Channel Islands National Park with 61,972 acres, measuring 22 miles long and 2-6 miles wide. From Scorpion Anchorage hikers can venture out to Smugglers Cove Beach and Potato Harbor Overlook (no beach access). But, Im lying. parts of the trail were moist due to the mist. Love the river access and beautiful trees in fall. Make sure to book your campsites (NPS.gov) and boat ride (Islands Packers) ahead of time. Only about one quarter of this mountainous island is part of the national park (eastern 24%), the rest is managed by The Nature Conservancy and other organizations. The swell frequently creeps around the corner in the Island Packers. My dogs especially loved this trail. The National Park ranger tried to stop us when she saw our kayak loaded with all of our camping gear, Natalie says, She told us that we cant camp on any other beaches! We arrived around 10:45 a.m. and had to wait for 30 minutes for a parking spot. Due to their more unpredictable weather and waters,. 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. I recorded 12.3 miles however, that was started after I was already hiking so it is more. Also make sure to wear comfy shoes and probably double up on socks. We will just be going for the day and I'm trying to figure out which part of the island is the best to go to. It is unclear how Scorpion was named; it may be the shape of the valley or the fact that there are small scorpions present. This is a very pretty trail with easy to moderate gains in a few areas; however, a great deal of the trail is flat. There is no food on any of the Channel Islands, so make sure to bring food with you and a bag to carry your trash out. Boats to Prisoner's Harbor, the mid-Santa Cruz Island landing, are not scheduled as frequently as to the more popular Scorpion Anchorage, but for those seeking solitude, it's worth the effort. As the sky transitions from yellow to purple to navy, we can just barely make out the July 4 fireworks on the mainland. The trail was super straightforward and spot on with AllTrails. Couldnt cross the creek, but still really nice out. Prisoners Harbor is more secluded in comparison to Scorpion Anchorage offering a completely different experience for Channel Islands National Park guests. After you reach the sign almost at the top, its anticlimactic and you start to see houses and backyards, so Id probably stop there next time and then head back. The goal was to reach the peak but after 1/4 mile I decided to turn back because the path is precarious and I was alone. Such as French, German, Germany, Portugal, Portuguese, Sweden, Swedish, Spain, Spanish, UK etc This list of the 16 top destinations in the Southwest US will, The Southwest is a unique part of the United States, full of unique natural wonders. A day trip to Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island, is a perfect way to spend a vacation day. The islands were formed by plate tectonics, underwater volcanoes, and changing sea levels. Over all worth it would not recommend kayaking after this hike. 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. A quiet, peaceful, beautifully green trail in February. It is possible to kayak from Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage but it is a long and challenging journey. 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