The Island Fox can be spotted at both locations along with the Island Scrub-Jay. 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. No water at Del Norte. There is no water you must bring your own and take care of it. The Prisoner's Harbor area is part of The Nature Conservancy section of the island. The only water on the island is at scorpion so you would be stuck carrying a lot of water if you went out and back. There was a sign at the beginning of the trail saying the trail was closed up ahead but we were able to hike the whole thing. We get accustomed to an effective paddling rhythm, our kayaks moving surprisingly quickly across the surface of the water. So much bright spring green making it like a fairyland. The hike out is well marked except for the west side of the peak where is gets a bit more fun(interesting) to navigate. [], Island Packers Cruises is your ticket to Channel Island National Park. As for wildlife, we saw ducks in the river and a juvenile Rosie boa crossing in the path. Island Packers Cruises is the exclusive concessionaire to the national park. The transportation to Santa Cruz Island is with Island Packers and goes out of Ventura Harbor. We return to the campground to find the less-experienced paddlers, Suzanne, Lisa, Sam, and Whitney, already there. In summer and fall, it's hot and dusty. You'll wish you hadn't left your canteen on the boat. Inside, I find two huge bags of lemons. The swell frequently creeps around the corner in the Island Packers. The ferry takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to cross the channel. The name of the island that Prisoners Harbor is located on is Santa Cruz Island. Lots of grass with sharp needle like pointers that I was constantly reaching down to pull out. The climb to montaon ridge was a bit of a scramble and pretty difficult with a heavy pack. We appreciated the thick marine layer as the trail has no shade. The Scorpion Anchorage pier construction is scheduled to start in November. 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. A few short scrambles over rocks and two small streams to jump. This hike would be the best in the spring when Santa Cruz Island has more foliage since it is mostly internal through the canyon. Park day fee is $3 to park. Youll likely spot Scorpion Canyon next. Gorgeous views of El Capitan and the valley below, everything is so green right now, we felt like we were in Ireland. my dogs loved it and were in and out of the river. 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. Recommended Routes in Santa Cruz Island - 2 Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. 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. parts of the trail were moist due to the mist. There are two locations that Island Packers goes to on Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage. Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor are the two most popular destinations that the Island Packers stops at. If I did it again the only thing I would change is to bring gaiters. On the boat to Santa Cruz Island, the nine of us discussed our past outdoors trips, and Lisa reminisced about the Mount Whitney summit trip she completed with me, Rich, and Wendy. Also went across the Diamond Creek twice to explore other connecting trails, This is a fabulous trail. Did this trek over 3 days and 2 nights. If you want to book a kayak or snorkeling tour you will have to do that ahead of time. a hill. It's expected to take six to eight months. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. Overall, the trail is beautiful, especially when youre on the ridge and can see the ocean down both slopes. Weather was perfect. Prisoners Harbor is our newest location and will be open during the construction at Scorpion Anchorage. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 21 min to complete. No shade. 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. They will get into your shoes and pants. Del Norte Campground (starting location) is approximately 3.5 miles from Prisoners Harbor where the boat from the mainland drops visitors off. Keep all belongings protected from small animals and birds by packing them in a backpack or small cooler. Active birding zone and saw a trout jump. The campground is great. Your adventure begins on the Island Packers ferry where hopefully youll spot a pod of dolphins during your journey or even whales. The high winds almost drove us insane, and the water carry sucks, but overall very worth it. 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. I have at least another hour in me! After about 30 minutes, the rest of the group joins us on the beach. There are two campgrounds, one at Scorpion Anchorage and another near Prisoners Harbor. Backpacking Santa Cruz Island: Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Harbor Updated: January 05, 2020; Post By: Matthew Hengst; January 3rd to 5th, 2020. this was very difficult because of the climbing uphills. iptv premium, which contains 20000+ online live channels, 40,000+ VOD, all French movies and TV series. Im a sports expert and lover. You will find many unique sea caves near Scorpion Anchorage, making Santa Cruz Island a unique place to kayak. Your email address will not be published. If the current is this bad tomorrow, I yell to Renske. KAYAK RENTAL: The Channel Islands Kayak Center in Ventura sits next to Island Packers, and they rents kayaks for $35/day for single kayaks and $55/day for double kayaks. We also hiked the Navy Road portion of this trail to Del Norte, which many will tell you is "easier" to take on the way back in terms of steepness. Permits not required; its your national park. It can get cold on the boat on the way to and from Santa Cruz Island so be prepared with additional layers. I think thats Prisoners Harbor. Within an hour, Rich, Wendy, Renske, and I complete the last three miles of the nine-mile paddle. Hi there, we do not rent kayaks at Prisoners Harbor. Reviews (4,028) Photos (4,701) 5: 4: 3: 2: 1: 4.5. Disembarked ferry at Prisoners at 1115a and started straightaway. The extreme conditions of the park made for, Colorado is a beautiful state with tall peaks, incredible lakes, and four unique national parks. Camping is located at both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor. After setting up our tents and playing a surprisingly vicious game of Cancellation Hearts, the group congregates at a couple picnic tables overlooking the ocean. 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. The trip is about 12 miles each way and [] All others must anchor out and it is best to stay well clear of the mooring field, which like the pier, is for official use only. Scorpion Anchorage features the friendliest waters, followed by Anacapa, where you'll find incredible tide pools at isolated Frenchy's Cove. Booking.com is a great site to search accommodation near Ventura Harbor. The distance from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage is about 5 miles. But its our fault for bringing so much stuff, eternally-upbeat Natalie says with a smile. We generally anchor bow and stern to prevent swinging. Nice trail but steep around the peak, kinda sketchy with big backpacks on but totally doable. My husband and I took our 9 year old son and he enjoyed it so much. Im sure youre making a bigger deal of it than it is, she said. Make sure to book your campsites (NPS.gov) and boat ride (Islands Packers) ahead of time. 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. We were blessed with clear skies, mid 60 degree temps, and no wind which made for a perfect hiking day. Check out these activities on Get Your Guideincluding a Brunch Cruise, Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise,and a sea kayaking tour at La Jolla. The trail is pretty overgrown at points and covered with foxtails. Not too washed out and very easy trail to follow. Filtered water is available at Scorpion Anchorage, but no water is available at Prisoner's Harbor or Del Norte, so be sure to bring your own. There is barely any shade on this trail so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen. Place Name Island Packers is continuing its trips to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz, Anacapa Island, weekend rides to . Painted Cave, further west, is far more vast, but the caves near Scorpion are easily accessible and require no spelunking gear. Also my legs were done by the time I got to climb the peak. Scorpion in foreground, Little Scorpion in the distance. the weather was helpful because it was foggy and not to hot. Heading off on a close reach almost always gets us to the vicinity of Cavern Point. Santa Cruz Scorpion Anchorage landings are at a pier. Beautiful hike and super green right now with the recent rains! Check out Prisoners Harbor! The wind over the course of the day will frequently vary between nadaand 20 knots. Additionally, if you leave the shelter of the anchorage, be aware of the afternoon westerlies, particularly in summer, which can make paddling back to your boat extremely difficult. Bring more water than you think. One of the best things to do in Santa Cruz Island is to hike to Potato Harbor Overlook where you can see a beautiful view of the clear blue water below. 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. Great views. Totally doable in that time period if the math works for your pace. Our advice is to ensure youve got 7:1 scope at both ends if youre using rope rode and make sure both are set hard. Theres no way were all going to make it to Prisoners Harbor.. It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to get over to Scorpion Harbor. We both had about a liter left over at the end of the hike. BTW we dont leave the boat unattended for more than a half hour or so. Prisoner's Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. I added China Pines Road to the hike which provides some great views, but the trail is completely overgrown in 1/3 to 1/2 of it. Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links for products and services I recommend. Prisoners Harbor is more secluded in comparison to Scorpion Anchorage offering a completely different experience for Channel Islands National Park guests. Great hike. Very quiet. There is no cell service in this area. Most day trippers will get dropped off at the Scorpion Anchorage, which is closest to a variety of trails, kayaking tours, and the largest campground on the island. Weather conditions can change rapidly, it is best to bring layers and a jacket regardless of the time of year. at Del Nortes fox boxes, but theres no guarantee. We loved it! I took extra care to make sure the adventures logistics were carefully planned and our itinerary allowed the four less experienced kayakers to shirk some paddling miles and still complete the trip. Its our best chance to get to Prisoners Harbor, I say, hoping to avoid the afternoon ocean swells that ruined todays kayak. Gain and loss of elevation throughout the trail. We attempted to retrieve it but wind and waves made that too hazardous. I should have believed her; but, so often, its impossible to adopt the faith that others have in us for ourselves. Nothing that you cant see. Mostly shady under beautiful holly oaks and occasional views of the surrounding scrub hills, greener than usual. It is possible to kayak from Prisoners Harbor to Scorpion Anchorage but it is a long and challenging journey. Ferries generally leave daily @ 9am from Ventura, CA. I really liked it. Lots of running water lots of beautiful trees very quiet. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Whitney has a smile on his face and though Sam, Lisa and Suzanne look very relieved theyre done, they dont seem permanently scarred. I cant really say how this trail is since there is not enough parking, so we couldnt stay to take the trail. When most people think of kayaking they imagine themselves paddling peacefully down a river on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, I didn't see any wildlife yesterday. 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