Also, my watch clocked me at 14.5 miles not 12.5. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. I told you that you could do it! I yell. Beautiful green fields, glorious views and no one else out since a big storm is coming this afternoon. Its now a significant obstruction. Most day trippers will get dropped off at the Scorpion Anchorage, which is closest to a variety of trails, kayaking tours, and the largest campground on the island. I really liked it. It usually affords protection from the prevailing westerlies, but the swell can enter the anchorage, making for rough and sleepless nights. The route ends at Scorpion Anchorage. This hike would be the best in the spring when Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since it is mostly internal through the canyon. We really enjoyed walking by the river. Scorpion in foreground, Little Scorpion in the distance. There are two Island Packers [], Taking a whale watching cruise off the coast of Southern California is exhilarating and gives you a high likelihood of seeing gray whales up close, but its fun to watch [], Channel Islands National Park protects five rugged windswept islands off the central coast of California. Check out this blog post: Channel Islands National Park Animals. From the abandoned oil well to the near-empty trail studded with classic trail signs, it felt like a journey right out of literature. Follow this guide for how to do a day trip to Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island. Weather was nice although a little warm in the sun. Are we going to die? Sam asked. Really fun trail. Answer 1 of 5: I have one day in February to visit the Channel Islands National Park. The wind over the course of the day will frequently vary between nadaand 20 knots. Use caution during this section. Due to their more unpredictable weather and waters,. I'm deciding between the two and have a few questions. The River loop is great - just be ready to get your feet wet. We stop to watch a large group of sea lions playing in the water, one of whom comes a couple feet from our boat to investigate. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. Super shady and green. There are two locations that Island Packers goes to on Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage. But, Im lying. Your email address will not be published. With the wind and water totally calm, the ten of us paddle along the serene, rocky, golden coast. But, when I called the Channel Islands Kayak Center three days before our departure to reconfirm the kayak rental reservation I had made months before, an employee blindsided me by telling me (for the first time) that the company discourages renters from taking kayaks more than a half-mile away from Scorpion Anchorage and that their kayaks dont have hull storage space for camping gear. The flowers are popping off like crazy. Great hike along the River and some cool places to stop! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Some of the tracks looked like mountain lion tracks. This is probably the best All Trails map for the hike to Del Norte campground on Santa Cruz from Prisoners Harbor -- on the map, it includes the green to the yellow circle. We started at Prisoners and camped at Del Norte backcountry campsite. For additional information about the joint conservation efforts of Nature Conservancy. Didnt do the loop, wasnt prepared for height of water. We attempted to retrieve it but wind and waves made that too hazardous. We crossed the water and we had a snack and back home. Round trip fare is $63 for adults, $58 for seniors, $45 for children and free for infants younger than 3 years old. a hill. Great for sea cave kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and camping! If you start Cavern Point Loop counterclockwise, the trail starts about a 5 minute walk up from the pier, past the bathrooms. Look for animals on your way back such as dolphins, whales, and birds. Pass that point is an easy 4 mile stride downhill to the scorpion campground. Reviews (4,028) Photos (4,701) 5: 4: 3: 2: 1: 4.5. If you miss it youre stuck overnight. The beach comprises fairly large rocks, so water shoes or sandals are essential. About 6.5 miles in you start a scramble of sorts up a steep trail leading you up to the ridge overlooking Scorpion. I should have believed her; but, so often, its impossible to adopt the faith that others have in us for ourselves. Weve put together an easy guide to help plan your trip to Channel Islands National Park. 0:39 - Turnoff for the Del Norte Trail (times are approximate) Loved the sound of water all along the trail. Scorpion Anchorage is our MOST POPULAR year round sea cave kayaking tour. Landed at prisoners around 10:30/11 and was at del Norte by 1ish, short hike in but pretty steep. We only saw 2 others on the trail. AllTrails wanted to take us through an unmaintained trail but we decided to stick with the NPS main trail. I recorded 12.3 miles however, that was started after I was already hiking so it is more. Your adventure begins on the Island Packers ferry where hopefully youll spot a pod of dolphins during your journey or even whales. Bring lots of water and wear comfortable shoes. 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. The southeast end, from Prisoners Harbor east to San Pedro Point, is part of the park. BRING WATER, lots of motivation, and your sense of wonder because it is so stunningly beautiful. Camping is located at both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. The maximum number of people that can camp at Scorpion Anchorage is 30. To get to Prisoners Harbor, take the Island Packers Ferry. But, after a lasagna dinner, I announce that we should aim to be on the water in the morning by 6 AM. Rentals include paddles, flotation jackets, and helmets, but dont expect the equipment to be well-organized when arriving on Santa Cruz, because no representatives from the rental company work on the boat or the island. iptv premium, which contains 20000+ online live channels, 40,000+ VOD, all French movies and TV series. Did it with two kids 4 and 8 and they loved it. Completed this trail 4/16/21. I also explained the risks on the phone to Renske, who didnt seem perturbed either. Hiking Santa Cruz Island was incredible, but we felt like the first loop was enough for us to get a good taste of the island by land. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. It is very well maintained; truly a moderate level of exertion for this trail.. 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. It's expected to take six to eight months. We made it to Prisoners Harbor with about 40 minutes to spare before the ferry left at 3pm. Scorpion Anchorage features the friendliest waters, followed by Anacapa, where you'll find incredible tide pools at isolated Frenchy's Cove. iptv m3u. I cant really say how this trail is since there is not enough parking, so we couldnt stay to take the trail. Island Packers operates trips to Santa Cruz Island 5-7 days a week, year round. No one seems hopeful. Theres a small free parking lot right at its start. Island Packers recommends getting to the harbor 45 minutes before the departure time. High 70 afternoon hike. Good views! This was a beautiful trail no doubt! You will find many unique sea caves near Scorpion Anchorage, making Santa Cruz Island a unique place to kayak. You may cross over a very small stream, or two, in the first couple of miles, but don't count on there being water there unless it's rained recently, and there is nothing after that. Ventura, CA is only 1.5 hours from Los Angeles, CA and 30 minutes from Santa Barbara, CA. Dry and a lot of switch backs. Be sure to pack food and water for your time on the island. Great views. If youre interested in doing it all at Prisoners Harbor you can camp at Del Norte campground which is a 2-3 mile hike from Prisoners Harbor. My. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. This location has stunning views of both the island and marine environment. The best place to rent a kayak from to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is from Island Packers. (As of November 2019 this location is closed for construction of a new pier and will reopen summer 2020). 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! Theres no way were all going to make it to Prisoners Harbor.. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. From Los Angeles to Ventura Harbor, its about a 60-70 mile drive depending on where in LA you are coming from. The point where you turn around is Potato Harbor Overlook (pictured in the last photo above), where you will see this amazing view of the clear blue water and can also see sea lions. Parts of the trail were a bit overgrown so be mindful of ticks. On our first day, we kayaked only 3 miles west along the coast from Scorpion Anchorage due to strong winds, but an 8-mile day trip to Smugglers Cove might be nice with less wind. It can get cold on the boat on the way to and from Santa Cruz Island so be prepared with additional layers. Add Your Recommended Routes RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult Santa Cruz Traverse 13.4 mi 2,573' Up 2,568' Down Anacapa, CA RECOMMENDED ROUTE Intermediate Potato Harbor Loop 5.0 mi 511' Up 510' Down Santa C, CA Santa Cruz Island Hiking 67 Miles of Trail There were a lot of ups and downs but really nothing unbearable for a someone fit. Anything to help us forget tomorrows inevitable middle-of-the-ocean-emergency-rescue, I think. Cruises to both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor leave from the Ventura Harbor location year-round. Hi there, we do not rent kayaks at Prisoners Harbor. Santa Cruz Island used to be one big ranch which provided food, hay, grain, pasture, sheep, cattle, wine and more. Prisoners Harbor Landings are at a pier. We rarely anchor here overnight. Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island. If this isnt it, Im going to kill myself!. Its our best chance to get to Prisoners Harbor, I say, hoping to avoid the afternoon ocean swells that ruined todays kayak. See, it all turned out okay, Renske whispers in my ear. Dan . Snorkeling is another fun activity you can do on your Santa Cruz Island day trip. We spent the day doing a long hike but we wish we would have spent the money and done the kayak tour. 2023 Channel Island Adventure Co. Privacy | Terms. Scorpion, the gateway to the islands activities, is open once again and the pier is available to Island Packers, NPS and other government boats. Park day fee is $3 to park. Painted Cave* Tours ONLY runs in the Summer. Round trip tickets cost an obscene $79 (plus $28 per kayak transported), proving that a world with boat transportation monopolies is a bad world indeed. The campground was amazing and clean. It's a spectacular hike, and we didn't see a single person on the trail once we left the campground. The Scorpion Anchorage is the most visited destination in the park, with about 65,000 people coming ashore each year to enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, camping, kayaking, and swimming, according to park staff. After hiking to Scorpion Anchorage there will be a campground and the Scorpion Anchorage Harbor where boats can take you back to the mainland. We reluctantly tied a fender to our aft rode and jettisoned the ground tackle. The high surf also caused minor damage to both the Prisoners Pier on Santa Cruz Island and the Santa Barbara Island landing dock. The first fire started on the flat about half way between Pelican Bay and Prisoners' Harbor and about half way between the ocean and the top of the ridge. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. Today - Dec 31 Reservations required (limited quota) Select a start date 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. Totally doable in that time period if the math works for your pace. We were heading across nearly 22 miles of the Pacific toward Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. Campsite 1 & 2 great views; campsite 3 & 4 have shade. The trail is pretty overgrown at points and covered with foxtails. If you have more time you can combine multiple hikes and do both the blue and green loops. Lots of people have needed to be rescued trying to kayak from Scorpion to Prisoners because the winds against you, the employee said. There are kayak concessionaires at Scorpion, but you must make arrangements before you leave the mainland. 9a departure. I did this going the other direction, from Scorpion to Prisoners. The Island Packers boat to Santa Cruz Island leaves early from Ventura Harbor, so I recommend booking accommodation nearby for the night before. The second loop, Scorpion Canyon Loop Trail, is marked in green in the map above. 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. 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. If I plan to spend the night, I also plan a backup. The hike is especially difficult for Natalie and Norberto, who seem to have unloaded enough supplies from their kayak to live on the island without support for a year. Note that the Centers kayaks do not have cargo space inside the kayaks (though there is ample space for backpacks on top of the kayaks even with two people), and they prefer that people dont leave Scorpion Anchorage with their kayaks. Im a sports expert and lover. Trail was so much fun! If you want to make sure you get the best seats you could arrive earlier to get in line sooner. We visited in September and had hot weather in the 80s. Scorpion Cove vs. Such as French, German, Germany, Portugal, Portuguese, Sweden, Swedish, Spain, Spanish, UK etc Then, unable to remain totally calm, I sent another, more dramatic e-mail: Please remember that this will be an adventure, and things may not go exactly as planned, but at least we have each other.. Remember to carry plenty of water! The Scorpion Anchorage pier construction is scheduled to start in November. The trip is about 12 miles each way and [] It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to get over to Scorpion Harbor. No shade. We are looking for a full day of hiking and scenic views. Check out these activities on Get Your Guideincluding a Brunch Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise,and a sea kayaking tour at La Jolla. Our boat was not heading to Prisoners Harbor but the Scorpio to Anchorage. Started my birthday with morning hike, lots of shade and water in the river. Scorpion Anchorage is drier & similar to the mainland while Prisoner's Harbor is forested. 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. It is on the border of the Channel Islands National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. Sorry! It costs $60 per person roundtrip to Santa Cruz Island. I planned this trip to be much easier than either of those, I said, trying to keep everyone relaxed. Dont follow this trail, its not to the river at all. Are you spending time in San Diego? Channel Islands National Park is open year round. You can stay at Scorpion Anchorage for up to 14 days. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. 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. Weather was perfect. But remember, for a yacht on a single hook, this is, at best a fair weather anchorage. The Catalina kayaking trip I did with Hank a few years ago was also the hardest thing Ive done in my life, Natalie added, also sounding like it took her years of therapy to move past the incident. Little Scorpion is a fraction of a mile east. 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. We generally paddle west in the morning and, if were on a long trip, in good position to ride the westerly home. Would recommend going from the peak to potato harbor then to scorpion! Then the following morning hiked to Scorpion and stayed another night. Backpacking Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Harbor Updated: January 05, 2020; Post By: Matthew Hengst; January 3rd to 5th, 2020. Disembarked ferry at Prisoners at 1115a and started straightaway. There were lots of wildflowers and opportunities to see wildlife like birds, butterflies, small rodents, and even the Santa Cruz fox. At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. Long way down on either side of the trail at the mountain. Lots of shade. Ferries generally leave daily @ 9am from Ventura, CA. During the game, I do my best impression of Dumbo; Sam does her best impression of eating lemons because, well, Meadowlark Lemon; and Rich does his best impression of Jack Woltz discovering a severed horses head in his bed, which, unexpectedly, seems to help everyone relax a bit. Approaching the ridge was probably the most difficult and treacherous part for someone backpacking (~0.2 miles) with steep cliffs, rocky, unstable trail. We both had about a liter left over at the end of the hike. Required fields are marked *. The distance from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is about 5 miles. Stunning day, dappled sunlight, running river, not too crowded once you get past the first mile or so. It can be more revealing than any aquarium as you see in this picture of the bottom, which was not shot from underwater, but sitting in my plastic boat. Other boats line up beam-to-beam in a East-West behind Scorpion Rock. Little Scorpion is a fraction of a mile east. Try this 20.1-km point-to-point trail near Santa Barbara, California. I couldnt have done this trip without my hiking sticks! As you continue hiking the trail there will be more breathtaking views of the large cliffs and you will also be able to spot sea caves. The other option is you could bring your own kayak or rent a kayak from Channel Islands Kayak Center for the day and pay a fee to Island Packers to transport it for you. The name of the island that Prisoners Harbor is located on is Santa Cruz Island. Beautiful views make up for difficulty. It is possible to kayak from Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage but it is a long and challenging journey. There are also snorkeling and hiking option, plus a great visitor center. 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. But otherwise beautiful, I completed this trail with my Dad this weekend, 6/19/22 - it was absolutely beautiful. This loop trail leaves from the eastern harbor, Scorpion Anchorage (as opposed to Mid Santa Cruz, or Prisoner's Harbor). Absolutely gorgeous. Theres not really an end point - this trail kind of ends abruptly and there are other trails that continue. Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. 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. KAYAK RENTAL: The Channel Islands Kayak Center in Ventura sits next to Island Packers, and they rents kayaks for $35/day for single kayaks and $55/day for double kayaks. I invited my friends on this three-day, 24-mile, July 4 kayak-camping trip six months in advance, knowing that it would be easier to get campsites and people to commit well before the trip. On the southwest corner of the campground you will see the Scorpion Canyon Loop trail. Good facilities as well. There are side trails that lead down to the river. And the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life. She sounded emotionally scarred. If youre planning on kayaking from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage be sure to check the weather and tides beforehand. 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 also hiked the Navy Road portion of this trail to Del Norte, which many will tell you is "easier" to take on the way back in terms of steepness. If you planning on going go early to get parking or else come back another day cause you may not find parking. Once you enter you go right to the farthest parking section to find the trail head. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. Bring more water than you think. Great views of the ocean and cliffs. Look, there is nothing tragic happening here as far as I can tell, Wendy texted me. And speaking of the smell, it just isnt a problem right now. We took the Island Packers ferry to Scorpion Harbor which left Ventura at 8am. 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. At this point we were in danger of being blown into the rocks to the east. 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 an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Bringing a Kayak with you to Santa Cruz Island would be the cheaper option but definitely more effort to coordinate. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 islands. 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