Beautiful views make up for difficulty. Due to their more unpredictable weather and waters,. On day 2, hike to Scorpion Anchorage and spend another night. All pier landings involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs. From Scorpion Anchorage hikers can venture out to Smugglers Cove Beach and Potato Harbor Overlook (no beach access). Good views! Channel Islands Adventure Company runs guided kayak tours at three locations: Scorpion Anchorage, Prisoners Harbor, and Painted Cave. Booking.com is a great site to search accommodation near Ventura Harbor. The area around the high mount is technical but didn't feel dangerous. Painted Cave* Tours ONLY runs in the Summer. On our third day, we hiked back to Prisoners Harbor and kayaked 8 miles to Pelican Bay and back (especially beautiful). I carried 9L with me because there is no water at Del norte. Ferries generally leave daily @ 9am from Ventura, CA. Your email address will not be published. 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. It takes about 2 hours to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. Round trip fare is $63 for adults, $58 for seniors, $45 for children and free for infants younger than 3 years old. Exposed. The next day, we continued on to Scorpion via Montoon. And speaking of the smell, it just isnt a problem right now. Are you spending time in San Diego? On the other hand, this is where you can bring your dinghy or kayak ashore with ease. Its some of the most spectacular scenery in California. Hiking, camping, sea kayaking, and snorkeling are the top reasons to visit the island. Hi- I will be visiting with 3 friends over Memorial Day weekend. IG - @kylerampone. Even with a helmet,you could still be crushed if youve picked a cave with poor clearance. Rich sets up a makeshift cocktail bar on top of a Fox Box the metal safes used on Santa Cruz to keep foxes from stealing camp food pulls out a metal citrus squeezer, and begins filling a bottle with fresh lemon juice. Other boats line up beam-to-beam in a East-West behind Scorpion Rock. Such as French, German, Germany, Portugal, Portuguese, Sweden, Swedish, Spain, Spanish, UK etc There are over 500 wineries in Napa, The American Southwest features incredible natural wonders and landscapes that cannot be missed. However, only 24 percent of the island is open to the public. If this isnt it, Im going to kill myself!. Definitely 13.3-13.5 mi, not 12.5. This rugged backpacker-friendly trail takes you to Del Norte Campground from Prisoners Harbor. When the wind blows, it sure does blow!!! Prisoner's Harbor is one of the main anchorages in Channel Islands National Park and the closest to Santa Cruz Island making it a popular destination for kayakers. Dry and a lot of switch backs. With the wind and water totally calm, the ten of us paddle along the serene, rocky, golden coast. a hill. We kayak through a towering rock archway and into dark sea caves stretching into the island. If you want to make sure you get the best seats you could arrive earlier to get in line sooner. 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. Worth the trip. AllTrails wanted to take us through an unmaintained trail but we decided to stick with the NPS main trail. Very beautiful trail that follows the coastline of Santa Cruz Island! She believed that? I laugh. From Scorpion Anchorage hikers can venture out to Smugglers Cove Beach and Potato Harbor Overlook (no beach access). Scorpion Anchorage is a small harbor with a pier on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island. River crossings are closed by the rangers due to high water. Just put El Monte park into your maps and it will take you to the trailhead. The boat ride is part of the experience of the day trip to the Channel Islands, as you can see many different birds and animals on the way. Apart from teaching my students in class, we also go outside the four walls of the classroom to physically experience what was discussed in class. We did this trail the other way, from Scorpion to Prisoners, with a night spent at Del Norte campground. By the time we reach the campground on a plateau, Sam looks like shes ready to vomit, and Natalie and Norberto look wiped. There is barely any shade on this trail so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen. This species of island fox evolved from the mainland gray fox. Half day sail charter on the luxury yacht Sancerre, ASA 103 Coastal Cruising Skipper training at Sail Channel Islands, ASA 104 Bareboat training/Intermediate Coastal Cruising, ASA 106 Advanced Coastal Cruising Bareboat Coaching, Sailing Books (mostly American Sailing Association), Directions to Sail Channel Islands and Capt. 0:39 - Turnoff for the Del Norte Trail (times are approximate) Bring lots of sunscreen and a camera to capture the beautiful views :]. Snorkeling is another fun activity you can do on your Santa Cruz Island day trip. The midway point has a steep incline but the rest of the trail is pretty flat. We reluctantly tied a fender to our aft rode and jettisoned the ground tackle. Prisoners Harbor is located midway along the North shore of Santa Cruz Island. Death Valley National Park is the hottest place on earth and the lowest elevation in North America. We got there about 30 minutes before and still had plenty of time to check in and wait before boarding the boat. Its just too hard of a paddle. Oh my God, our entire trip is already doomed, I thought. Nice Hike overall. 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. It is on the border of the Channel Islands National Park and The Nature Conservancy property. ! Whitney yells excitedly as he and Sam paddle into shore. Depart Ventura Harbor for a ferry ride to Scorpion Cove or East Santa Cruz Island. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. Its a race. 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. 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. The Island Packers boats leave from Ventura Harbor in California and take about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz. There is no street parking. The water was choppy and the workers passed out barf bags which made me laugh, but I definitely felt nauseous and thought about grabbing one. I packed 6.25 litters of water and used about 4. This was a fun run. Beautiful hike along the river on the A trail. Theres not really an end point - this trail kind of ends abruptly and there are other trails that continue. Dan . When we stop for a snack break after two hours of paddling, Renske and I are smiling and laughing, and I realize that were actually having fun. In summer and fall, it's hot and dusty. 1. Nothing that you cant see. Scorpion in foreground, Little Scorpion in the distance. The anchorage is quite deep and youll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to anchor in less than 35 ft. Everyone looks defeated and nervous, and Sam has a look on her face like she thought she was standing in line for a whale-watching tour on a cruise ship only to discover that she was actually in a line to be drafted to the Olympic rowing team. 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. 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. at Del Nortes fox boxes, but theres no guarantee. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Try this 20.1-km point-to-point trail near Santa Barbara, California. Little Scorpion is a fraction of a mile east. Were already here? Renske asks. End your day trip to Santa Cruz Island with a nice boat ride back to Ventura. There are also snorkeling and hiking option, plus a great visitor center. I planned this trip to be much easier than either of those, I said, trying to keep everyone relaxed. Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History Other Events on 11 April 1669 - Launch of french Fort 68, later 76 guns (designed and built by Jean Guichard, launched 11 April 1669 at Rochefort) - renamed Foudroyant in June 1671, broken up 1690 1693 - Launch of HMS Winchester. Calm campsite. Ran about a third, averaged 18:30 or so over the entire trail. I did this going the other direction, from Scorpion to Prisoners. No shade. Saw a coyote on the trail (2/13/23). After hiking to Scorpion Anchorage there will be a campground and the Scorpion Anchorage Harbor where boats can take you back to the mainland. Channel Islands National Park is comprised of 5 islands. Many of the plants had dried up during the summer so the island wasnt very green in September. Flights are extremely expensive, and most of us dont have a private boat, so the best option is to book a trip with Island Packers. Gain and loss of elevation throughout the trail. When we intend to spend only a few hours, we prefer to drop a single hook just shoreward of the charted 13 ft. rock (just left of the S in Scorpion on the chart) in 20-25 feet of water but will accept a spot almost anywhere along the beach and will anchor to within 100 yards west of Bird S***t, rock(78 rock) if we have to. Remember to carry plenty of water! Weve put together an easy guide to help plan your trip to Channel Islands National Park. Are we going to die? Sam asked. 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 Theres only about three miles left, I tell the group. 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. You will need to bring sunscreen hats sunglasses water snacks and a first aid kit when you kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage. Island Packers uses Scorpion (the western one at the mouth of the valley where the ranch house and interpretive center are located) to offload hundreds of hikers, backpackers and kayakers. Dont worry you can definitely do it. From June to September Channel Islands Adventure Company also offers guided snorkeling tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Also went across the Diamond Creek twice to explore other connecting trails, This is a fabulous trail. Once on the boat, there are two main drop off points on Santa Cruz Island, Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. Is this it? Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. Beautiful green fields, glorious views and no one else out since a big storm is coming this afternoon. If I did it again the only thing I would change is to bring gaiters. It was the best hike Ive ever done, she said. Keep all belongings protected from small animals and birds by packing them in a backpack or small cooler. Im a sports expert and lover. The best way to explore this part of the United, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a beautiful reserve with nice hiking trails, beautiful coves, relaxing beaches, and diverse plant and animal species. It's beautiful right now. The hike from del Norte camp to scorpion campground with lunch was a 6-hour day - after montaon ridge we took the potato harbor route instead of following the road to the pier. Expect wind and bring layers, as the temperature can change quickly. 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. If I plan to spend the night, I also plan a backup. Creek & trees were beautiful. The pier, which you'd think would be very prominent, is often hard to see, particularly in late afternoon sun. And the rock is again a giant white beacon beckoning sailors to spend some time. The Park Service planted the rock a few years back and, though they didnt expect their efforts to cover the islet, they were probably ecstatic at the success theyd achieved. This location has stunning views of both the island and marine environment. Painted Cave, further west, is far more vast, but the caves near Scorpion are easily accessible and require no spelunking gear. 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. You can spend the night at Del Norte, then hike to Scorpion Campground for another night. Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. Boats land at either Prisoners Harbor or Scorpion Anchorage, a short walk from historic Scorpion Ranch. It is very deep in the center of the bight, which makes anchoring bow and stern problematical. Santa Cruz Island has a few beautiful hiking trails. El Montanon Peak (1,808') . The spring is the best time to do a day trip to Channel Islands National Park if you want to see more foliage while still enjoying nice weather. This trail is great for backpacking, birding, and camping, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Occasionally, abrupt wind shifts (though not necessarily Santa Anas) will suddenly make your secondary anchor the primary. 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. Everything was in bloom. The trail is pretty overgrown at points and covered with foxtails. He was trotting down the trail in my direction and then veered off towards the river. Want to report conditions for this trail? The water temperature in Prisoners Harbor is usually in the mid-60s. Your adventure begins on the Island Packers ferry where hopefully youll spot a pod of dolphins during your journey or even whales. Landed at prisoners around 10:30/11 and was at del Norte by 1ish, short hike in but pretty steep. Curious about where to go and what to do on Santa Cruz Island? Scorpion Anchorage features the friendliest waters, followed by Anacapa, where you'll find incredible tide pools at isolated Frenchy's Cove. 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. If it werent for the white noise of the relentless wind, wed be able to hear the barking of the California sea lions that we see nearby and the call of falcons flying overhead. All pier landings involve climbing a ladder between 1 and 6 rungs Santa Rosa Bechers Bay landings are on a pier and onto a grated catwalk to a flight of stairs It usually affords protection from the prevailing westerlies, but the swell can enter the anchorage, making for rough and sleepless nights. 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