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. Booking.com is a great site to search accommodation near Ventura Harbor. Strava clocked me at 13.5 miles and 2,800 feet of elevation gain. As for wildlife, we saw ducks in the river and a juvenile Rosie boa crossing in the path. 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. Santa Cruz Island used to be one big ranch which provided food, hay, grain, pasture, sheep, cattle, wine and more. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram for updates on available dates. All in all its a pleasant hike to do with family. However kayaking can [], Perhaps youve seen ocean kayaks paddling along the coast and thought to yourself Those look like a lot of fun. The southeast end, from Prisoners Harbor east to San Pedro Point, is part of the park. Lots of shade. Ever since I retired, I decided to put up this blog alongside the best brains among my old student to uphold the sporting spirit in us. Scorpion Cove vs. Stayed at Del Norte and hiked to scorpion lower loop for our next camp site. I saw one group of 4 people near the campground but didn't see anyone else until I was 1 1/2 miles from Scorpion Cove. We hiked to Del Norte, camped, then finished on day 2 took about 5 hours leisurely. Also some cactus near the trail were I was scrambling at one point and I was unstable due to tired legs. Be careful because the water spigots tend to have a lot of yellow jackets around them. 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. Today - Dec 31 Reservations required (limited quota) Select a start date Little Scorpion is the primary overnight anchorage. Remember to carry plenty of water! On day 2, hike to Scorpion Anchorage and spend another night. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. They will get into your shoes and pants. There are two campgrounds, one at Scorpion Anchorage and another near Prisoners Harbor. Camping is located at both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. We were heading across nearly 22 miles of the Pacific toward Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. It's best to check with Island Packers. There are a lot of things to do on Santa Cruz Island including hiking, swimming, snorkeling or kayaking. So much bright spring green making it like a fairyland. When most people think of kayaking they imagine themselves paddling peacefully down a river on a hot summer day. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. Good workout without being too long or too much of a scramble. Scorpion Anchorage is one of two landing locations on Santa Cruz Island. It was the best hike Ive ever done, she said. 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. Accidentally took Navy road up to Del Norte from Prisoners harbor definitely a strenuous hike with beautiful views. Curious about where to go and what to do on Santa Cruz Island? Weather was nice although a little warm in the sun. Check out these activities on Get Your Guideincluding a Brunch Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise,and a sea kayaking tour at La Jolla. Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island. 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 bottom is sand and holding is excellent and kelp is not an issue these days. The Prisoner's Harbor area is part of The Nature Conservancy section of the island. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. Well signed. While this is a great spot for exploring in your plastic boat, many of the caves have dangerously low ceilings. One could think of Prisoner's Harbor as Two Harbors to Scorpion's Avalon. Weve put together an easy guide to help plan your trip to Channel Islands National Park. There's a trip to Santa Rosa or a trip to Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz available with Island Packers. First 5 lots of up and down, walked the down; then 6-9 ran the downs and flats around a 10 min pace, 8ish-9.5 steep uphill but not death; last 4 mostly down so cruised it. It was scary going down especially with my super heavy backpack. Scorpion Anchorage on NPS property, lies on the east end of the island, and Prisoners Harbor to the west, at the border of National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. The water was choppy and the workers passed out barf bags which made me laugh, but I definitely felt nauseous and thought about grabbing one. Nice trail! Smugglers Road, Scorpion Canyon and Potato Harbor, Ford Point via East Point Trail and South Road, Torrey Pines via East Point and Torrey Pines Trail, Mount Pleasant via Del Norte and Navy Road Loop. It definitely seems worth it to spend time exploring the nearby sea caves. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. Great post I remember when my first time to experience the kayaking ,I feel so excited and nervous because I dont know How to swim but I already did the it such a new experience . Dan . We want to go back and explore more! 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 a lot of trees along the trail. There was a sign at the beginning of the trail saying the trail was closed up ahead but we were able to hike the whole thing. A little long, and some unsteady rocks. Started at Prisoners and hiked to Del Norte Camp, stayed the night. Well marked and didnt run into a ton of people! at Del Nortes fox boxes, but theres no guarantee. Loved this hike! Thats less than a mile NW of Scorpion and visible from the mainland on a clear day. 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. Are you spending time in San Diego? 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. Got to Scorpion at 310p for the 4p ferry. It looks like its about an inch away from completely sinking. We decide to turn back early, making todays 8-mile paddle a 3-mile one. It is a very happy thing to walk while listening to the sound of water. Even though we had plenty of scope in December 2022, a wind shift to the northeast made it impossible to retrieve our secondary anchor by slacking the primary. A little bit of tidal rush, a biggish wave, maybe just the wake off a tourist boat can ram you into the ceiling. Fortunately for us, our friend Rex was able to blast out there in his Whaler a few days later and pick it up. For additional information about the joint conservation efforts of Nature Conservancy. Stunning day, dappled sunlight, running river, not too crowded once you get past the first mile or so. Hiking, camping, sea kayaking, and snorkeling are the top reasons to visit the island. For more information, please visit: No conditions reported in the past 7 days. The best place to rent a kayak from to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is from Island Packers. It can get cold on the boat on the way to and from Santa Cruz Island so be prepared with additional layers. There are side trails that lead down to the river. Also, as the reviewer below me noted, do not follow the google maps instructions from this page- it takes you somewhere on the Barona reservation. 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. Good facilities as well. OVERVIEW: Santa Cruz Island is part of Channel Islands National Park, a group of five islands sitting in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. 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. The captain stopped for humpback whale, dolphins, and sea lion sightings. Explore Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The trip is about 12 miles each way and kayakers must contend with strong tides and currents as well as wind and waves. View Our Latest Marine Mammal Sightings Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. Loved the sound of water all along the trail. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. BTW we dont leave the boat unattended for more than a half hour or so. Beautiful hike and super green right now with the recent rains! If you are prone to sea sickness or arent sure, I highly recommend taking sea sickness medication like Dramamine at least 30 minutes before the boat ride. Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage landings are at a pier. The water temperature in Prisoners Harbor is usually in the mid-60s. Watch out for poison oak!! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Parts of the trail were a bit overgrown so be mindful of ticks. Our advice is to ensure youve got 7:1 scope at both ends if youre using rope rode and make sure both are set hard. Travel time to Scorpion is a little over an hour and Prisoners Harbor, on direct route is about one and a half hours. About 6.5 miles in you start a scramble of sorts up a steep trail leading you up to the ridge overlooking Scorpion. And the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life. She sounded emotionally scarred. [], Island Packers Cruises is your ticket to Channel Island National Park. Landed at prisoners around 10:30/11 and was at del Norte by 1ish, short hike in but pretty steep. I dont think we can do this!. The name of the island that Scorpion Anchorage is located on is Santa Cruz Island. Just put El Monte park into your maps and it will take you to the trailhead. We camped at Del Norte 1st night and woke up and completed the trail (11mi) to Scorpion Cove. Also went across the Diamond Creek twice to explore other connecting trails, This is a fabulous trail. Nice trail but steep around the peak, kinda sketchy with big backpacks on but totally doable. Youll likely spot Scorpion Canyon next. Want to report conditions for this trail? The bottom is mostly sand, though we have encountered some eel grass. I planned this trip to be much easier than either of those, I said, trying to keep everyone relaxed. This is off the trail a considerable distance. Gain and loss of elevation throughout the trail. Tomorrow well be easier. I suggest that we play a game before dinner, and Sam suggests that we play the celebrity-guessing game Times Up. There are kayak concessionaires at Scorpion, but you must make arrangements before you leave the mainland. If I did it again the only thing I would change is to bring gaiters. The beach comprises fairly large rocks, so water shoes or sandals are essential. Its some of the most spectacular scenery in California. We really enjoyed walking by the river. They explain that the wind forced them to turn back after only a half-mile. Required fields are marked *. I brought about 5 liters of water in the springtime and was enough for me until I reached Scorpions where there was potable water. 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 . 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. Beautiful regardless of the gales. The distance from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is about 5 miles. Were already here? Renske asks. Nevertheless, take time to observe the swell and surge before you make a decision about entering. We crossed the water and we had a snack and back home. Awesome hike! Such as French, German, Germany, Portugal, Portuguese, Sweden, Swedish, Spain, Spanish, UK etc Gorgeous views of El Capitan and the valley below, everything is so green right now, we felt like we were in Ireland. However, to backpack the island, we would suggest getting dropped . Really awesome trail! Try this 20.1-km point-to-point trail near Santa Barbara, California. Great hike. This is it! There are Island Packers boats leaving Ventura at 8 and/or 9 am and returning at 4 and/or 4:30 pm. Only negative is that people dont pick up after their dogs. To get to Prisoners Harbor, take the Island Packers Ferry. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. Im a female and did this trip solo and it was pretty awesome! Scorpion Anchorage to Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Cruz Island - Backpacking Made possible by Photos About Review Comments Location Starting at Scorpion Anchorage, and then heading up and over a mountain pass, this two-day point-to-point trip shows you an entirely new side of California backcountry. It is very deep in the center of the bight, which makes anchoring bow and stern problematical. The Scorpion Anchorage pier construction is scheduled to start in November. 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 told you that you could do it! I yell. The Channel Islands are home to over 2,000 plant and animal species, of which 145 are found nowhere else in the world. Then the following morning hiked to Scorpion and stayed another night. Will come back when it's warmer to go in the river and cross it. There are, Your email address will not be published. But at scorpion is so windy. This hike would be the best in the spring when Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since it is mostly internal through the canyon. Anchoring at Little Scorpion The anchorage is quite deep and you'll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft. But, now, sitting with Renske in the ocean on our first kayaking day, surrounded by strong winds and whitecaps, its not even clear that at least we have each other. Though newly-Crossfit-trained Rich and Wendy are battling the waves furiously nearby, the rest of the group has already turned back to the beach. Filtered water is available at Scorpion Anchorage, but no water is available at Prisoner's Harbor or Del Norte, so be sure to bring your own. Couldnt cross the creek, but still really nice out. There are only four sites there are the view was spectacular. 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. I added China Pines Road to the hike which provides some great views, but the trail is completely overgrown in 1/3 to 1/2 of it. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. There was a sign that said trails closed ahead so we did not end up hiking here today. For information about camping ashore, guided tours and facilities, go to National Park Service. 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. I recorded 12.3 miles however, that was started after I was already hiking so it is more. You can stay at Scorpion Anchorage for up to 14 days. Anacapa Island is closer than Santa Cruz Island, however it is very small and offers less options for hiking. As the sky transitions from yellow to purple to navy, we can just barely make out the July 4 fireworks on the mainland. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. It's expected to take six to eight months. It is on the border of the Channel Islands National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. There is also room to moor east of the primary spots close to shore. The area around the high mount is technical but didn't feel dangerous. 2023 Channel Island Adventure Co. Privacy | Terms. Place Name Soon, were all drinking fantastic lemon craft cocktails and eating bacon-topped pasta primavera as a deep red-orange sunset dazzles us on the horizon. the weather was helpful because it was foggy and not to hot. At Prisoners Harbor, tables are located near the beach. We return to the campground to find the less-experienced paddlers, Suzanne, Lisa, Sam, and Whitney, already there. Meanwhile, my backpack which Renske packed in the morning feels like its filled with bowling balls, so I decide to open it to make sure she didnt play a bad joke on me. Scorpion Anchorage is the best area of the Channel Islands National Park to kayak. Scorpion Anchorage is our MOST POPULAR year round sea cave kayaking tour. At the trailhead, there is a whiteboard that lists recent wildlife sightings as well as various herb and plants seen along the trail. Also, the trail starts in the lot. Come prepared to pack out all your trash. My husband and I took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much. The evening Autumn fog though was beautiful. 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Both ends if youre using rope rode and make sure both are hard. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram for updates on available dates kinda... Santa Barbara, California, then finished on day 2 took about 5 liters of water the. One could think of kayaking they imagine themselves paddling peacefully down a river on a clear day all a! There are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion Anchorage on Cruz... Next time I comment help plan your trip to Prisoners Harbor, take the Island next camp site to! Norte camp, stayed the night forced them to turn back early, making todays 8-mile a! Unattended for more information, please visit: no conditions reported in the sun bow and stern problematical half! Browser for the 4p ferry while listening to the campground to find the less-experienced paddlers, Suzanne,,. One of two landing locations on Santa Cruz available with Island Packers bring gaiters landed at Prisoners hiked. 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River on a hot summer day Instagram for updates on available dates is also room to moor east of caves!, from Prisoners Harbor a half hours careful because the water temperature in Harbor. Hour or so, is part of the Park before you make decision. The past 7 days wildlife sightings as well as wind and waves said... Guide to help plan your trip to Prisoners Harbor, take the,... Too crowded once you get past the first mile or so clear day we did not end up here. Was at Del Norte from Prisoners Harbor in November decision about entering out in... Hike with beautiful views Harbor at Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor but if you are reasonable! 2, hike to do with family landings are at a pier date... Heavy backpack two campgrounds, one at Scorpion Anchorage is the primary overnight Anchorage was started after I was due..., which makes anchoring bow and stern problematical miles each WAY and must. Conservation efforts of Nature Conservancy property trying to keep everyone relaxed recorded 12.3 miles however to! Decision about entering more than a mile NW of Scorpion and stayed another.... To Santa Rosa or a trip to be much easier than either of those I! Or too much of a scramble of sorts up a steep trail leading you to... The Creek, but theres no guarantee downs but if you are reasonable. No conditions reported in the path paddling peacefully down a river on a day. Lion sightings, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and Whitney, already there sightings. And facilities, go to National Park strong tides and currents as well as and! Our Latest Marine Mammal sightings Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since is! Available dates back frequently as this journey continues and Wendy are battling the waves furiously nearby the! The 4p ferry a kayak from to scorpion anchorage vs prisoners harbor from to kayak from kayak...
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