Santa Cruz Scorpion
Channel Islands National Park — ocean access, fishing, hiking
Location: ventura, CA, CA
Price: From $15 per night
Price range: $15–$40 per night
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (682 reviews)
Season: May through October
Fantastic ocean views and relaxing beach time is practically guaranteed at Scorpion Canyon Campground, the most family-friendly campsite on Santa Cruz Island. Set on the eastern part of the island, the campground is a short hike from the pier and is sheltered from harsh ocean winds. The largest of California’s Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island is one of the five islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/santa-cruz-scorpion to be notified when sites open up.
Scorpion Canyon Campground offers fantastic ocean views and family-friendly beach access on Santa Cruz Island with a short hike to the pier, sheltered from harsh ocean winds. Google reviewers praise it as great value with excellent amenities including water spigots, toilets, and shaded sites with eucalyptus trees.
Wildlife alert: Northern Elephant Seal, Santa Cruz Island Fox, Island Loggerhead Shrike, Common Raven, Island Scrub-Jay, and Urocyon littoralis santacruzae present within 8km
Insider tips for Santa Cruz Scorpion: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Boat transportation arranged through Island Packers from Ventura Harbor Lower campground offers shaded sites with eucalyptus trees
Skip Santa Cruz Scorpion if: You need hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Santa Cruz Scorpion: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Santa Cruz Del Norte Backcountry (Ventura, CA), Anacapa Island (Ventura, CA), Santa Rosa Island (Ventura, CA), Santa Rosa Island Backcountry Beach Camping (Ventura, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Santa Cruz Scorpion
Cell signal at Santa Cruz Scorpion (ventura, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Fantastic ocean views and relaxing beach time is practically guaranteed at Scorpion Canyon Campground, the most family-friendly campsite on Santa Cruz Island. Set on the eastern part of the island, the campground is a short hike from the pier and is sheltered from harsh ocean winds. The largest of California’s Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island is one of the five islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand
Boat transportation arranged through Island Packers from Ventura Harbor
Lower campground offers shaded sites with eucalyptus trees
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Boat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura Harbor. To park headquarters in Ventura, Ca: exit Highway 101, at Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Channel Islands National Park fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Channel Islands National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Santa Cruz Scorpion cost per night?+
What season is Santa Cruz Scorpion open?+
Does Santa Cruz Scorpion have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Santa Cruz Scorpion?+
How do I make reservations at Santa Cruz Scorpion?+
What is the cell service like at Santa Cruz Scorpion?+
What season is Santa Cruz Scorpion open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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