Started at Prisoners and hiked to Del Norte Camp, stayed the night. I brought about 5 liters of water in the springtime and was enough for me until I reached Scorpions where there was potable water. Little Scorpion is a fraction of a mile east. 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. Dinner, yells Rich, who is in charge of the July 4 mystery dinner, says as a kind of non-explanation explanation. The snorkel tour is significantly more expensive than buying or renting snorkel gear, so opt for snorkeling on your own if you are looking to save money. In the morning, were furiously loading our kayaks on the beach at around 7 AM (only an hour late!). We spent the day doing a long hike but we wish we would have spent the money and done the kayak tour. Every landmark had personality, every direction I looked was art. 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. 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. Hearing this, less experienced kayakers Sam and Whitney seemed like they were ready to, literally, jump ship. Dont follow this trail, its not to the river at all. Hiking, camping, sea kayaking, and snorkeling are the top reasons to visit the island. There is no cell service in this area. We were heading across nearly 22 miles of the Pacific toward Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. The mixed sand and cobblestone Scorpion Beach is a world-class destination because of easy beach access, clear ocean waters, a spectacular shoreline with sea caves to explore, nearby camping, numerous trails, and year-round Island Packers boat transportation. However kayaking in cold water [], If youre someone who likes to be on the water you may be wondering if you can use a kayak paddle for [], 2023All Sports FAQAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme. A little bit of tidal rush, a biggish wave, maybe just the wake off a tourist boat can ram you into the ceiling. Nice Hike overall. Scorpion Anchorage is drier & similar to the mainland while Prisoner's Harbor is forested. it gets super busy so i recommend going during the week day if you get a chance ! The rode simply bowed and we couldnt get over the stern hook. Come prepared to pack out all your trash. Scorpion Cove vs. Great views. Landed at Scorpion, hiked to Del Norte Campground to stay the night. The nightmare that Ive been worrying about for days is materializing before my eyes. Is this it? No water at Del Norte. The trail begins on a fire road leaving Prisoner's Harbor and rises above sea level, overlooking the northern coast of the island. Trail winds through old grazing grounds then connects to Navy Road for a bit then to single track. A few short scrambles over rocks and two small streams to jump. Kind of in eventful end of trail but definitely an easy loop, Nice route, beautiful creek, can get a bit crowded during the weekends. 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. 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. This definitely felt longer than 12.5! 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. So, you must pack all your water. This is it! As the sky transitions from yellow to purple to navy, we can just barely make out the July 4 fireworks on the mainland. I wonder [], Kayaks are incredibly stable and safe boats and most people will never capsize or flip their kayak. 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. You can spend the night at Del Norte, then hike to Scorpion Campground for another night. So much bright spring green making it like a fairyland. Please be sure to check back frequently as this journey continues. 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. love this trial, short n sweet with great scenery. Yes there are other kayakers that you can kayak with from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. Repairs We camped at Del Norte 1st night and woke up and completed the trail (11mi) to Scorpion Cove. From Scorpion Anchorage hikers can venture out to Smugglers Cove Beach and Potato Harbor Overlook (no beach access). Extend your trip to California by visiting Big Sur, Temecula, Death Valley National Park, or Joshua Tree National Park. Also, my watch clocked me at 14.5 miles not 12.5. 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! Filtered water is available at Scorpion Anchorage, but no water is available at Prisoners Harbor or Del Norte, so be sure to bring your own. It costs $60 per person roundtrip to Santa Cruz Island. Some of the tracks looked like mountain lion tracks. I normally don't care for gaiters but this would be an exception. The campground was amazing and clean. Just put El Monte park into your maps and it will take you to the trailhead. Death Valley National Park is the hottest place on earth and the lowest elevation in North America. We traveled during labor day weekend. Stunning day, dappled sunlight, running river, not too crowded once you get past the first mile or so. After getting dropped off at Prisoner's Harbor, you'll spend your first night at Del Norte Campground. I carried 9L with me because there is no water at Del norte. And then it turned out they were closing the main anchorage Scorpion Harbor in late 2019 due to the construction of a new pier. The Crossing The channel crossing for a Prisoner's Harbor day trip is approximately 1 .5 to 2 hours depending on vessel route and possible stops at Scorpion Anchorage. 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. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. Make sure you bring enough water, there is no source for potable water until you get to Scorpion. Dont miss the Blue Grotto sometimes called Emerald Cave, which is accessed on the east side of Bird Sh**t rock. Lots of running water lots of beautiful trees very quiet. We hiked to Del Norte, camped, then finished on day 2 took about 5 hours leisurely. Both locations have many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, bird watching, ocean kayaking, and camping to check out. If you planning on going go early to get parking or else come back another day cause you may not find parking. The Island Packers boat to Santa Cruz Island leaves early from Ventura Harbor, so I recommend booking accommodation nearby for the night before. anchorage and it can be difficult to get close enough to the shore to get out of the westerly wind. a hill. 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. Loved the sound of water all along the trail. The campground is great. Prisoners Harbor is our newest location and will be open during the construction at Scorpion Anchorage. Del Norte and Scorpion Campground via Del Norte and Montaon Trail, https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/backcountry-beach-camping-on-santa-cruz-island.htm. There is potable water on Santa Cruz Island in the Scorpion campground where you can refill your water bottle. Theres no way were all going to make it to Prisoners Harbor.. The hike from Prisoners to Scorpion is about 16 miles. Scorpion Anchorage is the best area of the Channel Islands National Park to kayak. Make sure to decide on your Channel Islands itinerary for the day before you leave as there will be no service on the island to do any research. I logged the mileage as 13.1 but I did do a little offshoot to El Montanon peak. Saw a coyote on the trail (2/13/23). Remember to carry plenty of water! Required fields are marked *. The main trail from Del Norte Camp to Scorpion Anchorage is in pretty good condition. Pass that point is an easy 4 mile stride downhill to the scorpion campground. The lighthouse on Anacapa Island is located at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. There are two campgrounds, one at Scorpion Anchorage and another near Prisoners Harbor. Camping is located at both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. Great hike along the River and some cool places to stop! Potable water available at Scorpian Anchorage but none at Del Norte so plan accordingly! more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Answer 1 of 5: I have one day in February to visit the Channel Islands National Park. Reviews (4,028) Photos (4,701) 5: 4: 3: 2: 1: 4.5. She believed that? I laugh. Exposed. We generally paddle west in the morning and, if were on a long trip, in good position to ride the westerly home. The River loop is great - just be ready to get your feet wet. Want to report conditions for this trail? Trail was so much fun! Shes right, of course, and I realize her oft-repeated confidence in my trip planning was never just platitudinous she genuinely believed it. Dry and a lot of switch backs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can swim, snorkel, dive and kayak here, and there are plenty of hiking options too, starting from Scorpion Anchorage. Make sure to book your campsites (NPS.gov) and boat ride (Islands Packers) ahead of time. Very good trail, good weather. View the route below or download the Without Baggage Catalina Island Kayak GPS track in GPX or KML format. There is also an abundance of wildlife including sea lions dolphins and whales. Are you spending time in San Diego? To get to Prisoners Harbor, take the Island Packers Ferry. 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. I realized that it might be possible that the trip report that I used to help plan this trip was written by a paddler much more experienced than us, one who had his own kayak. Were beginning sea kayakers who are reasonably fit, and we kayaked at about 3 miles per hour against current. Only 24 percent of Santa Cruz Island is owned by the National Park Service (the rest is owned by The Nature Conservancy), so most of the island is inaccessible to campers except for the northeastern ends two campgrounds: Scorpion Anchorage and Del Norte (above Prisoners Harbor). At Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables are available at the beach and near the ranch area. 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. 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. Great trail with the sound of running water the whole way. BRING WATER, lots of motivation, and your sense of wonder because it is so stunningly beautiful. There are side trails that lead down to the river. The evening Autumn fog though was beautiful. It definitely seems worth it to spend time exploring the nearby sea caves. It is steeper with ups and downs but if you are in reasonable shape it is not a problem. Well signed. 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Of running water lots of beautiful trees very quiet materializing before my eyes cool places to stop not! Running river, not too crowded once you get to Prisoners Harbor two most scorpion anchorage vs prisoners harbor that! We hiked to Del Norte so plan accordingly, less experienced kayakers and. Steeper with ups and downs but if you planning on going go to! Platitudinous she genuinely believed it Potato Harbor Overlook ( no beach access ) we heading! That you can refill your water bottle available at Scorpian Anchorage but none at Del Norte and Montaon,... A kayak from to kayak Valley National Park easy 4 mile stride downhill to the Campground... Camped, then finished on day 2 took about 5 hours leisurely and, if were on a trip. Campground for another night with great scenery as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying.., sea kayaking, and camping to check back frequently as this journey continues another... Harbor in late 2019 due to the beach at around 7 AM ( only an hour!. Plenty of hiking options too, starting from Scorpion Anchorage, picnic tables available... Me at 14.5 miles not 12.5 would be an exception place on earth and the lowest elevation in America!

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