During a normal year of rainfall, wildflowers are best viewed in late winter and spring. Of those five, the most popular island is Santa Cruz Island, the largest island off the California coast. By that I mean it is an unofficial trail that hasnt yet been completed. The old bones are creaking as we speak. 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. Possession of a valid California state fishing license with an ocean enhancement stamp is required and all California Department of Fish and Game regulations apply.More It is important to note that both main hiking options are uphill, and both are out and back trails. 93001, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. You probably wont be alone. 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. If you arent up for a strenuous hike, thats okay. CA 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. After exploring Smugglers Cove, you will want to go back the way you came. Its call is loud and easy to identify, which makes finding it relatively easy as well. Often, there will be no ranger here, so common sense is critical. Maybe youll seek out endemic species, maybe youll explore the giant kelp forests, or maybe youll even walk where humans have thrived for over 10,000 years. You can do day hikes at either location. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. A ranger station is also located at Scorpion Ranch. Visitors to Prisoners Harbor can join the guided hike, hike on their own, swim in the ocean, enjoy the pier, snorkel through shoreline kelp forests, or just relax on the cobblestone beach. 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. The Pelican Trail at Prisoners is great for spotting bush lupine, island bush monkeyflower, island deerweed, and island ironwood (at marker 11). You might want to stay in all day, but the limiting factor will be your core body temperature, (water temperature fluctuates between 50 and 70 degrees) so be sure to pack a 5-7mm wetsuit. Tinker Beachis a rocky little beach with relatively easy water access and an abundance of life along the rocky walls. If youre running short on time, there is an option to cut the hike short and descend down Potato Road to the upper campground as a more straight shot to the beach. The campground is broken into two sections with most of the regular sites closer to the pier and the group sites in the back. The Prisoner's Harbor area is part of The Nature Conservancy section of the island. If you bring your own, be sure to book it in advance and check with Island Packers for size limits. Shade is available in some of the picnic area. Otherwise, plan to rent a kayak in Ventura. Scattered along the trail are remnants of the ranching operation that ended in the 1980s. He built corrals and houses for himself and his employees and expanded the road system. I guarantee youll see a fox within 15 minutes of sitting at a bench in Scorpion Campground. Locals often wait for October to head out to the islands. I have seen plenty near the ranch house andvisitor center at Scorpion as well as in the wetland at Prisoners. Usually, this hike is less crowded than the others due to the increased difficulty. In addition, there isnopotable water access, so you have to bring enough with you. Exciting right? Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. On a clear day, you can see San Nicholas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and Santa Catalina Island out to the south. As I said, most of these can be avoided with a little preparation and common sense, but somehow they are recurring issues out on Santa Cruz Island. Once there, youll find a small beach across from the rock to rest for a bit if you need a break. Public phones are not available. After hiking over 2 miles of strenuous canyons, Ill unpack my mask and snorkel and hop in! First of all, this 15 mile journey is not a day hike unless you are a devoted trail runner. The name of the harbor commemorates a series of events in 1830 that almost transformed the island into a local version of Australia's infamous Botany Bay penal colony. Im Brittney. Island foxes are often seen around the ranch and campground at Scorpion Anchorage. 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. Transportation to Prisoners Harbor takes approximately 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on wildlife sightings and if the ferry stops at Scorpion first. If you choose to bring a kayak, you will have access to more area and there are plenty of small coves and beaches to bring your kayak ashore to rest and clean your catch. The Channel Island National Park visitor center is located on Ventura Harbor at 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001. Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Ventura. Availability The Adventure Tour meets on Santa Cruz Island daily at 10:30am and select days at 9:30am Tour Time (~4 hours) At the end, youll reach a much quieter beach that is usually more protected from the wind. In contrast to Scorpion Cove, your only option for kayaking at Prisoners Harbor is to rent a boat in Ventura or bring your own across on the ferry. You can hike up around the area on nice trails and have great views of the ocean. Landing is via a pier at both locations. Please arrive at your harbor of departure 45 minutes before your scheduled mainland departure. There is no potable water available at Prisoners Harbor. Santa Cruz Island is the perfect place for a one-day trip and short or long overnight camping trips. This is the most family friendly campground on the islands. Once we hiked over High Mount and rejoined the trail it was basically all downhill. 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. Looking for more local adventures? To the east, there are long beaches and rocky outcroppings to explore. There are no other visitor centers on the island. My SO and I are hoping to hike some of the Pelican trail and kayak after, all in a day trip. You are more likely to see island foxes at Scorpiondue to the larger human impact there, especially in the campground. Visitor Center A visitor center is located in the historic Scorpion ranch house. For this reason,Id recommend renting a kayakif you plan to fish during your day at Scorpion. Ive even napped next to the endemic island fox, gotten mugged by whales, and swam with spotted harbor seals. Most haveoutstanding views, though none have much shade. Scorpion Campground does have potable water. 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. For this reason, I couldnt recommend them enough! 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. Browse forums; All. The channel crossing for a Prisoners Harbor day trip is approximately 1 .5 to 2 hours depending on vessel route and possible stops at Scorpion Anchorage. There are two main transportation methods between Scorpion and Prisoners: take a shuttle trip by boat or walk on your own two feet. After that, continue on to the far west wall of Prisoners Harbor and explore the rocky shoreline and intertidal zone. (Crows on the other hand are so aggressive on the island they've been known to open zippers!). They are also quite intelligent and have learned that humans are not so intelligent, so they tend to hang out near picnic tables and campsites. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Santa Barbara Channel. A 31-site campground area begins one mile from the pier and is an easy flat walk. The cove will also be closed to boats during. This means you will have less time on the island but more timelooking for whales a trade many are willing to make for a quieter day. Santa Cruz Island is an international treasure. You can also rent snorkel gear on island from Channel Islands Adventure Company (the guided kayak tour concessionaire). 7,341 views Mar 18, 2017 95 Dislike Share Save Description Travel Small Live Big 6.3K subscribers Santa Cruz. 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. Persons that participate in this guided hike must complete and sign a TNC Releaseform which Island Packers provides. Sounds like taking a boat to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz is a must. Both the Island Fox and the Santa Cruz Island Jay make their homes at Prisoners Harbor.Prisoners Harbor is the access point for the private TNC Property, Day Trip Preparation | What You Need to Know & Bring. 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. Address 1691 Spinaker Dr Ventura, CA 93001 Phone (805) 658-5730 Park Name Channel Islands National Park Owner National Park Other Names Scorpion Ranch Activities Wildlife/Wildflower Viewing 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. Prisoners Harbor, on Santa Cruz Island's north coast, now serves as a port of entry for visitors arriving by boat. Prisoners Harbor is to decide when to visit. Its about nourishment and learning. Scorpion cove vs Prisoner? A satellite GPS device isnt a bad idea either. They're also really mellow. With two campsites within the National Park, a one-way hike can be done from the middle of the island to the eastern end. There are a variety ofsea cave kayak toursoffered based on time and experience level. If you just cant fit everything into a day trip, both Scorpion Cove and Prisoners Harbor offer very beautiful and very different camping options. Also, the only visitor center is in a tiny shack called Harveys Hut up on a bluff. 3 beds. Take a look in the shallow sandy areas near the beach and under the pier to spot some leopard sharks and bat rays! It is single track style, takes about 3 hours to complete round trip, and has more shade than any other trail on Santa Cruz Island. Cruises to both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor leave from the Ventura Harbor location year-round. As with all the Channel Islands, visiting Santa Cruz Island is an exercise in preparation and self-reliance. If they are not available to lead hikes, self-guided interpretive trail booklets are available. Boat Transportation A view of lush vegetation, Prisoners Harbor, and pier from the Pelican trail. Hikes generally begin 30 minutes after the Island Packers boats arrive on the island. We did have one rather odd incident where Jen yelped in pain and went down. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Re: Santa Cruz: Prisoner Harbor or Scorpion Anchorage 8 years ago Santa Cruz Island Day Trip & Camper Transport Fares. The other 76 percent is owned by The Nature Conservancy. We didn't get moving until 10:30 figuring we had a relaxing day with only 12 or so miles to cover. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. Day Trip to Prisoners Harbor, Santa Cruz Island ~ Channel Islands National Park! Scorpion is about 15 miles from Prisoners via a trail that winds in and out of canyons and up and over mountains and bluffs. Landing is via a pier at both locations. There are not any trees along the trails. Scorpion Cove vs. You can often see bright orange garibaldi (Californias State Marine Fish) from atop the bluffs. Id recommend referring to both websites before booking anything to be sure that the ferry and campsite availability lines up for the days you plan to visit. For kayak guide and outfitting services in other areas of Santa Cruz Island (excluding Scorpion area), visit the Visitor Services List. 805-642-1393, Santa Cruz Island Hiking & Interpretive Guides, All Rights Reserved | Travel Master Proby, East End Landing Cove Anacapa Island Day Trip, Del Norte Campground | Prisoners Harbor SCI, Camping on Santa Cruz Island-Del Norte -Prisoners Harbor, Driving Directions | Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, Anacapa Island Hiking Guide & Interpretive Trail Guide, Santa Cruz Island Hiking Guide & Interpretive Guide, Santa Rosa Hiking Guide & Interpretive Guides, San Miguel Island Hiking & Interpretive Trail Guides, Santa Barbara Island Hiking and Interpretive Trail Guides, History -Stories -Facts of California Islands, East End Landing Cove AI | K-12 Education, Wildlife & Whale Watching | K-12 Education, Anacapa Island (AI) Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island (SCI) Channel Islands National Park, Santa Rosa Island (SRI) Channel Islands National Park, San Miguel Island (SMI) Channel Islands National Park. Backcountry camping is available year round at the Del Norte campsite near Prisoners Harbor. This is an easy extension to the Cavern Point Loop and doesnt add any difficulty, only 2.5 miles of total distance round trip. Island Packers recommends visitors utilize the National Park Service App for a more complete island experience.420 + Parks all in one App. Island foxes are often seen around the ranch and campground at Scorpion Anchorage. Scorpion Anchorage is the best area of the Channel Islands National Park to kayak. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. 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. Both Scorpion and Prisoners are on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, so the rock is primarily volcanic and the beaches are either all rocky or rocky with sections of course black sand, depending on recent weather events. Sadly the fox population declined drastically prior to 2005. Watersports Of the eight Channel Islands, five are in Channel Islands National Park. You will be required to climb a ladderto set foot on the island. There is a lot of exploration possible here! This rugged backpacker-friendly trail takes you to Del Norte Campground from Prisoners Harbor. For even better views you can take a short detour to the highest point on the NPS-owned side of the island, which sits at 1,808 feet. We typically pick a spot 40 yards from the western wall in 35 ft. of water and drop the upwind anchor. There are two locations that Island Packers goes to on Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage. From millions of years of isolation, many distinctive plants and animal species have adapted to the islands unique environments. Four 4-man campsites are located 3.5 miles up the trail above the cove with beautiful overlooks. I 100% recommend this for devoted hikers. You can hike up around the area on nice trails and have great views of the ocean. 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