My son and I are on a captivating Channel Islands camping trip immediately after his high school graduation. We decide to go and camp to Santa Cruz Island, which is the largest and most diverse of the eight islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park, and it offers a variety of activities and attractions for campers of all levels.
Packing and Getting There
We plan our trip and need to pack the gear that we will need for three nights on the island. We have backpacks, sleeping bags, a tent, a cook stove, and the other gear we will need for the adventure. We made sure to bring binoculars and cameras as well. We reserved a tent campsite for three nights.
The first leg of our trip is to drive to Ventura, spend a night in a hotel, and then catch the Island Packers Ferry to Santa Cruz Island. It is morning after our hotel stay, and we catch the morning ferry to Santa Cruz Island. We pass Sea lions, Seals, and even dolphins racing the boat. It is an easy, scenic three-hour cruise.
The campsite is only a short half-mile hike over level ground, but with the ice chest and the gear, we will need to make two trips. We get our gear to the site and start setting up camp when a couple curious Island Foxes come by and watch what we are doing!
Highlight of the Trip: Island Fox
One of the main attractions of Santa Cruz Island is the Island Fox, a small and charismatic mammal that is endemic to six of the Channel Islands. The Island Fox is a subspecies of the gray fox, but it is much smaller and has distinctive markings. The Island Fox has a long history of coexistence with humans on the islands, dating back to the Chumash people, who inhabited them for thousands of years. The Chumash revered the Island Fox as a sacred animal and a source of fur and meat.
However, the Island Fox faced a serious threat in the late 20th century, when non-native predators such as golden eagles and feral pigs invaded the islands and decimated their population. By the early 2000s, the Island Fox was on the brink of extinction, with only a few hundred individuals left on each island.
Thanks to an intensive recovery program by the National Park Service and other partners, the Island Fox was successfully restored to its former numbers and removed from the endangered species list in 2016.
Today, you can see the Island Fox roaming freely around Santa Cruz Island, especially near the campgrounds and visitor centers. They are curious and friendly animals, but you should not feed or approach them, as they are still wild and need to maintain their natural behavior. You can also learn more about their history and conservation at the Nature Conservancy’s visitor center at Prisoners Harbor.
First Day on the Island
With the Island Foxes nearby, Dustin coaxes one of them to get close, but not close enough to touch, He was having a great time with these cute animals that neither of us had ever seen before. When the Island foxes finally ran off, we finished setting up our camp and went to explore the island in the daytime.
We hike on the trail at the campsite and head towards the coast. We ended up on several different trails and saw the seabirds in the air, the coastal cliffs with the sea a couple of hundred feet below the trails, and you could see specks of orange and yellow that were kayaks with people on them. What fantastic views in every direction!
We stayed on the trails until sunset and watched a beautiful sunset from our vantage point. Once the sun set in the horizon, we made our way back to our tent just before it was completely dark. With all the excitement of the Island Foxes and the exercise of the day-long hiking, we sleep great until morning.
Day Two on the Island
We get up early, just after dawn, and have breakfast. We have another big day planned today. Right after breakfast, we have a guided kayak tour through the sea caves of the islands. My son and I each had our own kayak and there were a dozen other people in one or two-man kayaks, and our Channel Islands National Park guide leading us to the sea caves.
The caves were impressive, and the guide warns us to always be aware of the tides and the waves coming in. If you are in the sea caves at the wrong time, they can be very dangerous, with almost no headroom above you and your kayak. This was a great adventure, and we got our exercise in at the same time!
Our day is not done yet, next we go snorkeling to explore a part of the extensive Kelp Forest around Santa Cruz Island and the other islands of the Channel Islands chain. The water is not too cold, but we rent shorts and short-sleeved wetsuits; as well as the rest of the gear for half-a-day. There is a great place to snorkel nearby, so we immerse ourselves in the amazing Kelp Forest. We did not see any brightly colored fish here, but some schools of small fish, as well as clams and crabs on the seabed.
I brought my waterproof and shockproof Olympus Tough Camera, and my son and I trade off using it. We got some amazing underwater photos, but my favorite is Dustin’s selfie here! We had a great time snorkeling and returned our rented gear.
Last Day on the Island
For our last day on Santa Cruz Island, we had a hot breakfast and hiked around the island some more. We hiked several miles through the old oak trees, and the scrub brush of the islands. After a day out, we relaxed at the campsite, saw the Island Foxes once again, and went to sleep shortly after dark.
The next morning we got up early, packed our gear, and mad our way to the ferry landing. We caught the morning ferry back to Ventura and made the drive back home, tired, but happy!
Activities You Can Do on Santa Cruz Island
- Choose your campground. There are two campgrounds on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion Canyon and Del Norte. Scorpion Canyon is closer to the pier and has more amenities, such as water, picnic tables, and pit toilets. Del Norte is a backcountry campground that requires a 3.5-mile hike from Prisoners Harbor and has only four sites, a picnic table, and a pit toilet. You will need to bring your own water and toilet paper if you camp at Del Norte.
- Explore the trails. Santa Cruz Island has over 70 miles of trails that range from easy to strenuous. You can hike through oak woodlands, coastal sage scrub, and fennel fields, and enjoy panoramic views of the island and the ocean. Some popular trails include Cavern Point Loop, Potato Harbor Trail, Smugglers Cove Trail, and Mountain Ridge Trail.
- Watch the wildlife. Santa Cruz Island is home to many endemic and endangered species, such as the island fox, the island scrub-jay, the Santa Cruz Island silver lotus, and the Santa Cruz Island pine. You might also spot marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales, from the shore or on a boat tour. Birdwatchers can look for pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns, and more.
- Kayak or snorkel in the kelp forests. One of the best ways to experience the underwater world of Santa Cruz Island is to kayak or snorkel in the kelp forests. You can rent equipment or join a guided tour from the pier at Scorpion Anchorage. You will see colorful fish, sea stars, urchins, anemones, and maybe even a shark or a sea turtle.
- Learn about the history and culture of the island. Santa Cruz Island has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. You can learn about the Chumash people who lived on the island for over 10,000 years, the European explorers who visited in the 16th century, the ranchers who raised sheep and cattle in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the conservation efforts that are ongoing today. You can visit historic sites, such as the Scorpion Ranch complex, the Del Norte Adobe ruins, and the Prisoners Harbor pier.
History of Channel Islands National Park
The park was established in 1980, but its origins date back to 1938, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands as Channel Islands National Monument. These two islands were chosen for their geological and scientific interest, as they contain fossils of ancient elephants and trees, and examples of volcanism, erosion, and sea life.
In 1949, President Harry S. Truman expanded the monument to include the area within one nautical mile of the shoreline of Anacapa and Santa Barbara islands, recognizing the importance of protecting the underwater world of the islands. The marine sanctuary was later extended to six nautical miles around each island in 1980.
The other three islands that make up the park – San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz – were added in 1980, when Congress passed a law that converted the monument into a national park. These islands have a rich cultural and natural heritage, as they were inhabited by the native Chumash people for thousands of years, and later by European explorers, ranchers, and military personnel.
Today, Channel Islands National Park preserves a remarkable diversity of life on land and sea, with over 2,000 plant and animal species, of which 145 are found nowhere else in the world. The park also offers opportunities for recreation, education, and research for visitors who can access the islands by boat or plane.
We Will be Back!
We had a great time camping at Channel Islands National Park. There was so much to see and do, and it was an absolutely awesome father and son outing. Hopefully next time, Mathilda can join us as well!
Camping on Santa Cruz Island is a rewarding and memorable experience that will connect you with nature and history. Make sure you plan ahead and make reservations for your transportation and campground. Also, be prepared for changing weather conditions and pack accordingly. For more information on camping on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/camping.htm.
See our adventures on YouTube: @HBMaverick
Read the story and view the photographs on Street Photography in Balboa Park.
“We will see YOU on the next adventure!”
