It costs $60 per person roundtrip to Santa Cruz Island. 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.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Hank Leukart, All Rights Reserved. Creek & trees were beautiful. 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. Really nice walk along the water. The wind over the course of the day will frequently vary between nadaand 20 knots. At Scorpion Ranch, there is an upper loop and a lower loop of campsites. Boat to Catalina Island for a day trip! Went in mid-March, stunningly green and beautiful, charming weather. 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. Before planning any of these activities consult the national park service and tour company websites for restrictions, schedules, hazards, packing, and important information. My. ! Whitney yells excitedly as he and Sam paddle into shore. Your email address will not be published. Steep incline to ridge! A little long, and some unsteady rocks. You can swim, snorkel, dive and kayak here, and there are plenty of hiking options too, starting from Scorpion Anchorage. We were heading across nearly 22 miles of the Pacific toward Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. Im sure youre making a bigger deal of it than it is, she said. River crossings are closed by the rangers due to high water. Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. Also, the trail starts in the lot. Then, when I called five different kayak-rental outfits in Southern California to find different kayaks with hull storage space, none had enough on hand. Great for sea cave kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and camping! 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is treacherous. Beautiful views make up for difficulty. 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. Dont follow this trail, its not to the river at all. 0:39 - Turnoff for the Del Norte Trail (times are approximate) I dont think we can do this!. Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. 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. Matt. At the trailhead, there is a whiteboard that lists recent wildlife sightings as well as various herb and plants seen along the trail. Nevertheless, take time to observe the swell and surge before you make a decision about entering. Our boat was not heading to Prisoners Harbor but the Scorpio to Anchorage. The best way to see the highlights of Colorado is, Napa Valley offers the perfect weekend getaway to relax, drink wine, eat great food and enjoy beautiful views. Look, there is nothing tragic happening here as far as I can tell, Wendy texted me. We really enjoyed walking by the river. The lower loop is about a 1/2 mile hike in and the upper loop is about a mile, depending on where your site is located inside the loop. Have fun! View full map. Ventura, CA is only 1.5 hours from Los Angeles, CA and 30 minutes from Santa Barbara, CA. Booking.com is a great site to search accommodation near Ventura Harbor. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. We didnt do the whole thing this is definitely longer than 3.6 miles. We ended up leaving 2.5 liters (total) at the campground (there's an emergency stash there but I wouldn't rely on it), and carrying 3 liters each (6 liters total) from Del Norte to Scorpion Anchorage. 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. You will need to bring sunscreen hats sunglasses water snacks and a first aid kit when you kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. Hike from the harbor to del Norte campground took us about 2 hours where we spent one night. No water along trail. 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?! On your Channel Islands day trip dont miss the museum where you can learn more about the Channel Islands. Peaceful and many shady areas. Awesome hike! Pass that point is an easy 4 mile stride downhill to the scorpion campground. Then the following morning hiked to Scorpion and stayed another night. It definitely seems worth it to spend time exploring the nearby sea caves. I have at least another hour in me! After about 30 minutes, the rest of the group joins us on the beach. Did it with two kids 4 and 8 and they loved it. Mostly shady under beautiful holly oaks and occasional views of the surrounding scrub hills, greener than usual. Report inappropriate content 2. 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. The swell frequently creeps around the corner in the Island Packers. I cant really say how this trail is since there is not enough parking, so we couldnt stay to take the trail. Trail was near deserted. Could be a little tricky for some. Follow this path up and you will see incredible views of Scorpion Anchorage, the nearby Anacapa Island, and the large cliffs. All pier landings involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs. Get picked up from the scorpion dock the next morning. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. This location has stunning views of both the island and marine environment. Very beautiful trail that follows the coastline of Santa Cruz Island! We want to go back and explore more! First 4.5 miles to the del Norte campground were strenuous with a full pack and 5L of water. From Santa Barbara to Ventura Harbor, its about a 30 mile drive. But alas, Bird Shit has won in 2021. Snorkeling is another fun activity you can do on your Santa Cruz Island day trip. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. On the southwest corner of the campground you will see the Scorpion Canyon Loop trail. If youre north of the anchorage, locate the steep cliffs of Cavern Point. [], Island Packers Cruises is your ticket to Channel Island National Park. A day trip to Channel Islands National Park is not complete without visiting Potato Harbor Overlook. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. On the other hand, if its late in the day and were the only ones looking for a spot, well sometimes use a single hook in the center of the anchorage. And speaking of the smell, it just isnt a problem right now. 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. Beautiful hike and super green right now with the recent rains! Check out these activities on Get Your Guideincluding a Brunch Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise,and a sea kayaking tour at La Jolla. AllTrails wanted to take us through an unmaintained trail but we decided to stick with the NPS main trail. 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. I recommend purchasing your own snorkel gear ahead of the trip and bringing it with you so you can snorkel off the rock beach at Scorpion Anchorage. 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. A day trip to Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island, is a perfect way to spend a vacation day. But, after a lasagna dinner, I announce that we should aim to be on the water in the morning by 6 AM. We were blessed with clear skies, mid 60 degree temps, and no wind which made for a perfect hiking day. anchorage and it can be difficult to get close enough to the shore to get out of the westerly wind. 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. Lots of grass with sharp needle like pointers that I was constantly reaching down to pull out. 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. 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. If you start Cavern Point Loop counterclockwise, the trail starts about a 5 minute walk up from the pier, past the bathrooms. I formerly head the sports department at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Fortunately for us, our friend Rex was able to blast out there in his Whaler a few days later and pick it up. Today - Dec 31 Reservations required (limited quota) Select a start date ROUTE: Strong winds start blowing southeast at around 11 AM on the north side of the island, so leave for any long kayaking trip early in the morning. Tours depart to this area of the island daily, weather permitting. The companys service is generally good, though plan for the fact that the crew asks all passengers to help unload the boats cargo hold upon docking, which can take 30 minutes. And dont miss the loop trail to Potato Harbor. Make sure to book your campsites (NPS.gov) and boat ride (Islands Packers) ahead of time. Nice trail but steep around the peak, kinda sketchy with big backpacks on but totally doable. Hi- I will be visiting with 3 friends over Memorial Day weekend. Its a race. There were lots of wildflowers and opportunities to see wildlife like birds, butterflies, small rodents, and even the Santa Cruz fox. It's expected to take six to eight months. Im a sports expert and lover. Im worried about 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. We watch the tiny shows, eating miniature blueberry, cherry, and pecan pies, in honor of the holiday. I also explained the risks on the phone to Renske, who didnt seem perturbed either. 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. 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. Scorpion Anchorage - remain clear of the buoys. Channel Islands Adventure Company runs guided kayak tours at three locations: Scorpion Anchorage, Prisoners Harbor, and Painted Cave. Scorpion Anchorage to Prisoner's Harbor Backpacking2 days15 mi(one-way) Itinerary Trailhead directions Scorpion Anchorage 11.9 mi 2,600 ft gain Del Norte Campground 3.1 mi 400 ft gain Prisoner's Harbor Reservations This trip requires aSanta Cruz Del Norte Campground. this was very difficult because of the climbing uphills. As for wildlife, we saw ducks in the river and a juvenile Rosie boa crossing in the path. When climbing near the peak there is a lot of loose rocks and steep climbing. 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