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Channel Islands National Park › California
› Ventura County
› Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground
› Campsite #23
Campsite #23 at Santa Cruz Scorpion Campground, Channel Islands National Park, CA
$15
Tent Site #23
| Walk-In | 6 people |
| 0 | fair |
3/4
5/20
Campsite #23 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 | | 88% |
| 4 star | | 12% |
| 3 star | | 0% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@LucyPD7C315346 · Camped on Feb 23, 2026 at Campsite #23
This place is so awesome! So many trails to hike too!
@DavidE7840041 · Camped on Oct 4, 2025 at Campsite #23
Great campground. Beautiful with abundant wildlife and nearby attractions. Good distance between sites. The upper campground is more beautiful, but will mean a little more walking to/from the beach.
No Service
@NoahZ38A68B912 · Camped on Jul 14, 2025 at Campsite #23
Fantastic! Although a bit further to walk, highly recommend upper campground. #23 is pretty secluded, and all these at the end of the campground have a beautiful unobstructed view up the valley into the mountains. There's NPS-reserved site in between 23 & 24 that's not on the map, which creates separation or, if you have both 23 & 24, a huge joint space (it was unused when we were there). 24 & 25 are pretty close to one another but otherwise secluded and so would make a great pair. Highly recommend kayaking despite the price. If you can manage the extra distance (steadily but not severely uphill), getting to the Montanon Ridge off the Scorpion Loop was spectacular.
@DavidC2858387 · Camped on Feb 10, 2025 at Campsite #23
All time gorgeous campground. Ranger Alex was friendly and very helpful with weather/boat logistics. A+ experience.
Major Issues
@RachelR8534803 · Camped on Jan 27, 2025 at Campsite #23
Upper 023 was lovely! Separated from most of the busy dayhike trails, but will note that it is right where one trail enters the campground so there's still a small amount of foot traffic.The massive trees are beautiful and provide shade when you need it. Potable water and pit toilets are within reasonable distance. Bear proof food lockers are great for storing both food and other belongings.There are camper lockers by the pier to store things after check-out while waiting for the ferry.
@LisaR8773346 · Camped on Jan 18, 2025 at Campsite #23
Stayed in the upper campground for one night after backpacking from Del Norte Camp. The upper campground is mostly for groups but there are a few singles. Loved staying there. The groups around us were a little gregarious as you might expect but the campground got quiet early and we loved being at the edge of un-spoiled nature. Keep your stuff in the provided lockers as the Island Foxes and Scrub Jays were diligent about looking for "goodies".
@KathleenL99212 · Camped on Oct 22, 2024 at Campsite #23
#23 is the closest to the trailhead if arriving from Prisoners/Del Norte, and was definitely a welcome site after that hike. There were no groups present when I was there, so the upper sites were very isolated and quiet. Had a few island foxes milling around. A very quick ~mile to the beach from the furthest campsite. Upper & Lower have similar views/conditions but upper sites seem quieter and further apart, would highly recommend those sites despite the slightly further distance from the pier.
Major Issues
@PeterP6271166 · Camped on May 8, 2024 at Campsite #23
Great experience! Arrived Wed morning, left late Friday. Danny and the rest of the Island Packers crew, as well as the Park Rangers, were awesome. Loved the solitude of the hikes. Saw only one couple on a hike to view sunset at Potato Harbor and saw no one on our hike to Smugglers Cove and Yellowbanks, then looping back. However, Cavern Point loop hike was quite busy, probably due to the day guests.. Beautiful scenery everywhere. Surprised by and immensely enjoyed the diverse ecosystems. Great to see the cute island fox, multitude of birds at Smugglers Cove and lots of dolphins on the return boat trip. Lucked out - weather was perfect!
Major Issues
@SarahT3094084 · Camped on Apr 20, 2024 at Campsite #23
Incredible experience; hikes were fairly well-marked, views were spectacular. Pit-toilets were well stocked in the campground. Trees at the campsites seemed to support hammocks (though our party did not use). No fires allowed. Foxes in fact did try to steal our food.
Some Coverage
@PaulP7190708 · Camped on Mar 12, 2024 at Campsite #23
Great place to get away from the crows and have quite time/great views.
Some Coverage
@ThomasB3452376 · Camped on Nov 18, 2023 at Campsite #23
Scorpion Island campground is well kept and easily accessible from the boat ramp. Be prepared to stay longer than you plan, as winds extended our trip an extra night.
No Service
@MatthewM156652 · Camped on Oct 17, 2023 at Campsite #23
Santa Cruz really is a paradise. Marine wildlife, island flora and fauna, caves, cliffs, ocean views. The hiking is fantastic and, if you are up for it, do yourself a favor and hike up to Montaan Ridge. Bring plenty of water, but the views are the absolute best on the eastern part of Santa Cruz.
Major Issues
@IanIFAAC6DCCCE · Camped on Jun 21, 2023 at Campsite #23
The most beautiful experience on a paradise-like island.
Major Issues
Major Issues
@IanIFAAC6DCCCE · Camped on Jun 21, 2023 at Campsite #23
The most beautiful experience on a paradise-like island.
Major Issues
Major Issues
@Alexandra58759 · Camped on Jun 17, 2023 at Campsite #23
The most amazing place in the world. The rangers are super nice. Do the junior ranger book even if you are not a kid!
No Service
@MicahB4712483 · Camped on May 6, 2023 at Campsite #23
Great campsites! Foxes were cute
@TroyE0B26888C8 · Camped on Feb 11, 2023 at Campsite #23
Our group of 4 had an awesome 3 day 2 night trip to Santa Cruz Island where we stayed our first night at Del Norte and the second night at Scorpion Ranch. We took the 9am Island Packers ferry from Ventura and were able to step out on the Prisoners Harbor pier a little after 11am. The ferry makes a stop at Scorpion first and then we got lucky to watch a juvenile Grey Whale play in the water on the trip westward to Prisoners for about 20 minutes. Once at Prisoners we decided to drop our bags in a bear locker on the beach and take day packs to Pelican Bay. We would highly recommend the roughly 4 mile round trip hike as we scored a quiet, well maintained trail to an empty beach. This also gave us a later start time (roughly 2:30 pm) to start the trek up Navy Road and towards our first night's campground. We arrived at Del Norte and were surprised but happy to see that we were the only ones in the campground. We spread out across sites 3 and 4 for protection from high winds after enjoying an awesome sunset and dinner at site 1. Luckily, we had 5G service and were able to call the Island Packers status line early the next morning to get the update that all ferries for the day had been cancelled. We took our time getting out of Del Norte and made our way across a beautiful, but very windy trail over to Scorpion. We got to Scorpion Upper Campground early in the afternoon and rejoiced in the open campground, well maintained campsites, and water. We left the next day at 330pm from Scorpion and landed at Ventura a little after 440pm. IMHO the trails and facilities make this a great introductory backpack, but DO NOT undersell your contingency plans to spend an extra night or 2 on the Island due to ferry cancellation.
Good
@AndrewC2299590 · Camped on Dec 28, 2022 at Campsite #23
Great place to spend a holiday away from the human built environment. I highly recommend at least one night camping over a day trip because youll have a sunrise and a sunset. Awesome winter light at the golden hour.
Some Coverage
@TimothyH300936 · Camped on Oct 30, 2022 at Campsite #23
Rustic campground with just the basics. Potable water close by, and pit toilets available. The campground is centrally located to hiking trails. Note that the upper loop is a bit of a hike further than the lower loop, maybe an extra 0.5 miles. Sunrise over the islands from the pier is a recommended activity!
No Service
@CarolynC362536 · Camped on Oct 16, 2022 at Campsite #23
When the island is busy, Upper campground is SO much nicer than the Lower Campground (lots of loud groups close together). If you can, grab one of the two 6-person sites at Upper Campground... a little farther than Lower but totally worth it :)
No Service
@JeremyR5922528 · Camped on Aug 23, 2022 at Campsite #23
Lots of foxes everywhere. Such an amazing NP. Must visit.
No Service
@JuliaD7608932 · Camped on May 13, 2022 at Campsite #23
We stayed at scorpion for 2 nights in Site 11, lower campground. Would highly recommend upper campground. More private and greener. Surprised it was so brown for early May. Great hikes but you definitely dont need more than 2 days. Wish wed gone to other islands but transport between island is my only complaint! Not often enough. Take water on hikes as its plentiful at Scorpion.and then double that! Fabulous ride over and back.
Some Coverage
@RaymondK310BBE · Camped on Jan 30, 2022 at Campsite #23
Great little campground on Santa Cruz Island. Easy to get to, nice flat spots for tents, well spaced out.
No Service
@BrittanyR650 · Camped on Nov 24, 2021 at Campsite #23
One of my most favorite trips to date! Our site was spacious and the fox box was in great shape.
No Service
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