22
Channel Islands National Park › California
› Ventura County
› Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground
› Campsite #22
Campsite #22 at Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground, Channel Islands National Park, CA
$15
Tent Site #22
| Walk-In | 6 people |
| 0 | fair |
2/26
2/27
Campsite #22 Features: Walk-In access, Back-In parking, Food Storage Locker, Picnic Table, Tent Site, No Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 84% |
| 4 star | | 12% |
| 3 star | | 4% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@NikkiC18C41929 · Camped on Oct 3, 2025 at Campsite #22
Amazing. Don't let the hike to the campground deter you, it's really easy. We saw plenty of people carting small coolers and even babies but also was wonderfully quiet with everyone enjoying the island. The waters, hikes, foxes, even the boat ride over, so awesome and worth it.
Some Coverage
@ZacharyB979819 · Camped on Jul 4, 2025 at Campsite #22
Saw a whale on the ferry ride over and a huge pod of dolphins on the way back! Campsite was great, quiet and just the right walk for anyone transitioning from car camping. Hike to watch the sunset is super close and I would recommend renting snorkel gear for the kelp forest in the harbor.
Some Coverage
@IvanA4790D1AAC · Camped on Jun 4, 2025 at Campsite #22
Amazing well-spaced out campground with plenty of water spigots. Rangers are awesome and explain things well. Hikes were great and camping allows you to do more of the park! Ravens and foxes will eat your stuff if you leave it out, very opportunistic.
Major Issues
@lindav5763447 · Camped on May 14, 2025 at Campsite #22
The campground was very quiet and peaceful. I loved having the orientation upon our arrival. It made me feel better having that information as a second time visitor, first time camper there. I would highly recommend this trip to friends and family who are interested in visiting the Channel Islands.
Some Coverage
@KristinaM52819 · Camped on May 10, 2025 at Campsite #22
Such a great experience!! Book your trip to Santa Cruz Island asap! We backpacked from Prisoners and only spent one night in Scorpion but I cant wait to come back. We were in campsite 22 which was nice but a little close to bathrooms. Pottable water, pit toilets. Island is beautiful!
No Service
@JaminBDB902E1D · Camped on Apr 21, 2025 at Campsite #22
Our site was just a short walk from the pier, close to the outhouse and potable water was nearby. The campground is convenient for access to hiking trails too. Beware of foxes and ravens which are smart enough to open backpacks to access items. All food should be stored in the critter boxes ( we also put our stove and other kitchen items away).
Some Coverage
@HarrisonLAC648 · Camped on Jan 25, 2025 at Campsite #22
Really awesome campsites just a short walk away from the dock.
Major Issues
@KelleyW883B489 · Camped on Jan 11, 2025 at Campsite #22
Fantastic Campground on a remote island. Hooray.
@Madeleine78CDD · Camped on Dec 20, 2024 at Campsite #22
Montaon Ridge was so beautiful and very worth the hike, but the downhill towards Smuggler's Cove was "off-trail" and a little steep. Pit toilets were so clean and had a light, tp, and hand sanitizer. Great spot!
Major Issues
@PaulG9606243 · Camped on Dec 3, 2024 at Campsite #22
Had the entire campground to myself. Awesome experience. Campground is in great shape
No Service
@JamesM9879118 · Camped on Sep 17, 2024 at Campsite #22
Short flat easy walk from boat to camp. Always shaded. Watch out for thieving ravens and cute but thieving channel island foxes. Dont forget to sign up for kayaking.
Some Coverage
@MariannaZ41445 · Camped on Mar 28, 2024 at Campsite #22
I stayed at the lower campground, which is in a valley with eucalyptus trees. Campsites were a short 10 min walk from the anchorage, and are well-positioned for a variety of hikes. It got pretty windy at night; the valley acts as a wind tunnel. The sites are good sized and have soft ground for staking tents, and eucalyptus trees give some branches to hang wet clothes if you go kayaking or snorkeling, although their branches could fall so don't recommend pitching a tent right underneath them. Everyone is along the same trail in a valley, so adjacent sites are within hearing distance of each other, not super private. Campground pit toilets were surprisingly not too bad, perhaps because they're only really used by campers. Water spigots were available to fill up empty water bottles you bring. Do use the fox/bear lockers for storing food. I made the mistake of eating some snacks inside my tent to avoid the wind and had a curious fox sneak under my rainfly - we each gave the other a little scare.
No Service
@MariannaZ41445 · Camped on Mar 28, 2024 at Campsite #22
I had a particular weekday day in mind and nabbed a cancellation a week prior. Make sure to check ferry availability too.I stayed at the lower campground, which is in a valley with eucalyptus trees and is well-positioned for a variety of hikes. Lower campground is a short flat 10 min walk on a dirt trail from the anchorage. I travelled solo and it was easy for me to transport everything in one trip in a large day pack, grocery tote, and a drawstring bag (pretty empty, used as a carry-on for the boat), although there are lockers and it's an easy walk if you need multiple trips. Channel Islands Adventure Company is along the trail between the anchorage and campground, so very convenient to hop onto a kayaking trip (as I did) or rent snorkeling gear (if water conditions are clear/calm).Lower campground was pretty windy when I went; the valley acts as a wind tunnel. The sites are good sized and have soft ground for staking tents, and eucalyptus trees give some branches to hang wet clothes if you go kayaking or snorkeling, although their branches could fall so don't recommend pitching a tent right underneath them. You can definitely see and hear the adjacent/across campsites. Campground pit toilets were surprisingly not too bad, perhaps because they're only really used by campers. Water spigots were available to fill up empty water bottles you bring. Do use the fox/bear lockers for storing food. I made the mistake of eating some snacks inside my tent to avoid the wind and had a curious fox sneak under my rainfly - we each gave the other a little scare. Lots of big scrub jays around the campground too. Didn't have signal (T-Mobile) at the campground, but had signal at the anchorage, occasionally while walking on the North Bluffs Trail to Potato Harbor/Cavern Point, and on the ferry. As for the ferry, keep an eye on the front sides of the boat for dolphins, during migration season look southwards for northbound whales, and bring binoculars and extra layers.
No Service
@GregoryS158769 · Camped on Mar 21, 2024 at Campsite #22
Waking up to the smell of the eucalyptus trees in the Lower grove felt like a dream - the views just up the hill were incredible - and the water/facilities were good.
No Service
@Aljester3FEE3B · Camped on Oct 28, 2023 at Campsite #22
AMAZING PLACE. It's like visiting the past, before the cevelazation took over and it's local animals that are lurking around.
Some Coverage
@BruceH7382571 · Camped on Jun 6, 2023 at Campsite #22
excellent facilities maintenance.
@PaulaH4688450 · Camped on Jun 5, 2023 at Campsite #22
We spent four days camping on Santa Cruz Island and loved it! The Scorpion Campground is an easy walk from the dock. Kids loved playing in the sand on the beach. Adults really enjoyed the kayaking into the sea caves. Even with lots of school kids on their end-of-year trips, the campground felt spacious enough for all. Highly recommended!
Good
@MelissaR426533 · Camped on Mar 28, 2023 at Campsite #22
The beauty and quiet of a small campground after day trippers leave can’t be beat. Site 22 is very well shaded which is great for shelter on sunny days but doesn’t bode well for rainy weather as the ground doesn’t dry out and the useable parts of the site are in a slight depression due to trees around the perimeter. Deep mud puddle directly in front of fox box made use a challenge. It does have privacy on one side due to large bush that blocks off the vault toilet and trailhead up the road.
No Service
@MelissaR426533 · Camped on Mar 28, 2023 at Campsite #22
The beauty and quiet of a small campground after day trippers leave cant be beat. Site 22 is very well shaded which is great for shelter on sunny days but doesnt bode well for rainy weather as the ground doesnt dry out and the useable parts of the site are in a slight depression due to trees around the perimeter. Deep mud puddle directly in front of fox box made use a challenge. It does have privacy on one side due to large bush that blocks off the vault toilet and trailhead up the road.
No Service
@AnnieM6358077 · Camped on Nov 12, 2022 at Campsite #22
The island is clean, beautiful, and relatively quiet during the week. Family camping was easy accessible with a collapsable cart.
Some Coverage
@SethJ6837003 · Camped on Nov 2, 2022 at Campsite #22
Park rangers were very friendly, and the whole island was so clean. Island foxes are all over the campsite. DONT feed them, but clearly people hav before so they will be very curious and fearless, so good photos will be easy to come by without having to disturb their natural diet.
No Service
@GraceG896D9EEC · Camped on Oct 1, 2022 at Campsite #22
It was so much fun and we were not as prepared as we thought but everyone on the staff seemed to have seen it all. We very much had a good time
Good
@JonathanS47608 · Camped on Aug 14, 2022 at Campsite #22
Friendly rangers, clean bathrooms, fantastic location.
Some Coverage
@JoseT24B328BD8 · Camped on Mar 30, 2022 at Campsite #22
Just how I would expect a somewhat primitive camping experience would be. The island was beautiful, I was a little underprepared weather wise. But would not change anything about it. Except for us to have jackets!
No Service
map icon in the lower right corner.
*Earn our 
Show your commitment in keeping our forests healthy and protecting our public lands by earning the Leave No Trace badge.