here are no other goods, services, or accommodations (lodging) available on the island. We are looking for a full day of hiking and scenic views. Scorpion rock is pretty far, but devoted snorkelers can make it on a nice day. Frequently, our boats land at Scorpion Anchorage to offload passengers and gear before continuing to Prisoners Harbor. more. However, the sharp barnacle-covered rocks make water access challenging for all but the most dexterous. Travel time to Scorpion is a little over an hour and Prisoners Harbor, on direct route is about one and a half hours. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. They are usually more than willing to work with you to help you plan your camping trip. Please note that you may only explore the Pelican trail . 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. View Our Latest Marine Mammal Sightings Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. Prisoners Harbor offers hiking trail options from short, level-ground walks, to truly strenuous hikes. The landing is rocky and the surroundings desolate and uninteresting. Hikers should not expect to reach Pelican Bay on this hike. The five islands comprising this national park are Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and Santa Rosa. Another main difference here is that Prisoners Harbor lies on a boundary between the National Park Service (NPS) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) property. The pier, which you'd think would be very prominent, is often hard to see, particularly in late afternoon sun. If you have limited mobility, Id honestly reconsider traveling here at all due to the ladder you will be required to climb to set foot on the island. As long as the timing works out, this is an efficient and cost-effective option in comparison to making another channel crossing a different day. If youve reached Cavern Point and would like to continue hiking for a bit longer, consider extending your hike toPotato Harbor Lookout. If you only have time for some of the loop, my recommendation is to begin at the cutoff just before Potato Harbor Lookout enjoying outstanding views the entire way, then turning around in time for the ferry. Santa Cruz Island is the perfect place for a one-day trip and short or long overnight camping trips. is a short 3.5 miles from Prisoner's Harbor, but it feels more deliciously remote . This view shows the submarine's line handling crew aft of her. Prisoners Harbor, on Santa Cruz Island's north coast, now serves as a port of entry for visitors arriving by boat. One option is a rocky beach called Tinker Beach and the next is the tide pools at Pelican Bay, just five minutes further up the trail (continue up the river bed). We motor across Chinese Harbor to Prisoners, staying on or outside the 20 fathom curve if we can't see shore, which keeps us clear of all obstructions. This bird is much larger and brighter blue than its mainland relative. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. You must bring all of your water for your stay, although you may stow extra water in the fox boxes by the pier for the next days activities to save weight. Hi- I will be visiting with 3 friends over Memorial Day weekend. Shade is available in some of the picnic area. The route ends at Scorpion Anchorage. There are no other goods, services, or accommodations (lodging) available on the island. Which one do you recommend? 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. Exciting right? For those looking to cover more ground, there are a few more strenuous options for you to explore. Santa Cruz includes three mountain ranges; the highest peak of all the Channel Islands (Mount Diablo rising above 2000 feet,) a large central valley/fault system, deep canyons with year round springs and streams, and 77 miles of craggy coastline cliffs, giant sea caves, pristine tide pools and expansive beaches. . For those who take comfort in knowing there are others around, there are plenty of helpful Channel Islands National Park rangers, Channel Islands Naturalist Core volunteer naturalists, Island Packers staff, and Channel Islands Adventure Company kayak guides around to give you advice and answer questions, and there always options for guided hikes andguided kayak tours. While visitors may explore the national park property on Santa Cruz Island, no hiking is allowed beyond the national park boundary onto The Nature Conservancy property. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Oxnard, Ca 93035 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. The other campground is called Del Norte. Scorpion Marine Reserveis a marine protected area (MPA) where fishing is illegal, and it encompasses all of Scorpion Cove. Scorpion is about 15 miles from Prisoners via a trail that winds in and out of canyons and up and over mountains and bluffs. You can do day hikes at either location. 6. It is only found on Santa Cruz Island, and will not fly between islands. A third moderate hiking option is thePelican Bay Trail. Be sure to pay close attention to when your boat departs, but the campground is a mere half mile away from the dock. A population of invasive feral pigs ended up on the island which attracted golden eagles who in turn started to hunt the foxes. Goods and Services 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. 3 baths. As with all the Channel Islands, visiting Santa Cruz Island is an exercise in preparation and self-reliance. Usually the offload at Scorpion takes about 30 minutes, then the ride to Prisoners takes about 20 minutes. Kids & dogs welcome! 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. Kayaking from Prisoners Harbor is also very scenic. Please arrive at your harbor of departure 45 minutes before your scheduled mainland departure. All the locals and those who work on the Channel Islands will tell you some of the best views on Santa Cruz Island can be seen from the Pelican trail, which starts at Prisoners Harbor. The old bones are creaking as we speak. Shuttle tickets also provide an option to squeeze in a day trip for those who find one of the campgrounds sold out for the night. Island Packers recommends visitors utilize the National Park Service App for a more complete island experience.420 + Parks all in one App. It requires a signed waiver for access due to its location on private property (ask for one in the Island Packers office). Remember that it is illegal to directly or indirectly feed animals in the park. Hi, I am visiting Santa Cruz island on a half day trip soon. 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. Notably, the island scrub-jay, the Santa Cruz Island fox and eight plant species are found on Santa Cruz and nowhere else in the world (endemics). The water temperature is about the same as the air temperature. Montaon Ridge Loopis quite strenuous and long, but meanders along the highest ridge line on the east end of Santa Cruz Island. Has anyone else had a problem with sea sickness on this boat? There are only 4 sites, so you wont have many neighbors, but you are required to reserve a site in advance. 93001, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. There are two main transportation methods between Scorpion and Prisoners: take a shuttle trip by boat or walk on your own two feet. The Navy Road is a fairly well maintained dirt forest road that winds up a hill past two trail junctions. There is water available at Scorpion Anchorage. If any of those activities sound exciting, awesome! The Scorpion site has a large campground and the old ranch. The hike can be done in either direction; however, because there is potable water at Scorpion Anchorage, hiking eastbound will allow you to refill your water at the end of the hike. Distance 16.0 miles Destination Distance From Downtown 26.8 miles Difficulty To make this a two day trip, backpackers must hike 16 miles to reach Prisoner's Harbor, all without access to water. Let me . Luckily, the boat ride is usually only two hours max depending on your destination, and visitors rarely feel sick on the ride home due to the favorable swell direction. . For the most diversity in plant species, Id recommend hiking the Pelican Trail at Prisoners Harbor, especially between March and June when flowers are in full bloom. Of those five, the most popular island is Santa Cruz Island, the largest island off the California coast. 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. Beginner hiking is something that sets the hikes at Scorpion Cove vs. The cove will also be closed to boats during. 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. Despite the unfortunate reality that I need to work to afford to live, and I cannot focus all my energy on hobbies, I do what I can when I can, and still find a way to have memorable adventures in new places on a budget. Fishing is allowed on Santa Cruz Island outside of the marine reserves. The strenuous nature of the trail begins after marker 11, and continues to the end of the trail at Pelican Bay where you will findtwo locations for water access. Within a quarter mile, youll rise above the trees and catch a glimpse of Prisoners Harbor from above. Channel Islands Adventure Company, the authorized kayak guide and outfitting concession in the Scorpion Anchorage area, operates guided sea kayak tours (there are NO kayak rentals on the island), limited convenience item sales (no food items), snorkel equipment rentals, and guided snorkel tours at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island only. The submarine Scorpion ties up alongside tank landing ship Tallahatchie County outside Claywall Harbor, Naples, on April 10, 1968. More These trails and roads range from the maintained, relatively flat, signed trails of Scorpion Valley to the unmaintained, rugged, mountainous paths of the Montaon area. Persons that participate in this guided hike must complete and sign a TNC Releaseform which Island Packers provides. If you want to see Painted Cave, the world's largest sea cave, you will need to go to Prisoners Harbor. A hat and sunscreen are recommended. Beach access is also available at Prisoners Harbor and by hiking over to Smugglers Cove, but the snorkeling is not as good at these locations. Australia Forums; United States Forums; Europe Forums; Canada Forums; Asia Forums; . You can hike up around the area on nice trails and have great views of the ocean. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and metal food storage box. The Pelican Bay Trail is a beautiful hike through the canyons and along the bluffs of The Nature Conservancy property on Santa Cruz Island. For those with very limited mobility, consider a walk through the lower and upper campground. You can hike up around the area on nice trails and have great views of the ocean. CA Can I hike around Prisoner's Harbor if I do a day trip from Ventura? Is it possible to see each other on the same trip as in hiking to it? It feels more deliciously remote perfect place for a one-day trip and or... 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