RT Santa Cruz Island

Largest island in Channel Islands National Park with island's coastline having steep cliffs, large sea caves, coves, and sandy beaches

General Information

Hours:

Accessible year-round via Island Packers ferry service
Visitor centers open daily 8:30am to 5pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Island access subject to weather and sea conditions

Fees:

No entrance fee for Channel Islands National Park
Island Packers ferry service: $63–$85 per adult depending on route and season
Children (2–11): $45
Infants under 2: Free (must sit on adult’s lap)
Camping: $15 per night at Scorpion Canyon Campground

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed

Closest cities with hotels:

Ventura, CA (20 mi by boat)

Seasons:

Spring for wildflowers and nesting seabirds
Summer and Fall ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and calm seas
Winter offers solitude, sunsets, and whale watching

Location:

Santa Cruz Island

Website:

nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/santa-cruz-island.htm

How to Get There

From Los Angeles (70 mi to Ventura Harbor): Take US-101 N to Victoria Ave in Ventura, then follow signs to Ventura Harbor Village where Island Packers ferry departs to Santa Cruz Island.

Overview

Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in California and in Channel Islands National Park, 22 miles long, off the coast of Ventura, with steep cliffs, sea caves, coves and sandy beaches. It is a favorite for hiking, kayaking, snorkeling and camping, and is best known for Painted Cave, one of the largest sea caves in the world, and for the endemic Santa Cruz Island fox. The highest point is Devils Peak at more than 2,450 feet.

The National Park Service owns about 24% of the island, while The Nature Conservancy owns the rest, mostly a research reserve. Ferries run from Ventura to Scorpion Anchorage on the east end.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Santa Cruz Island", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Featured Locations

Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Scorpion Anchorage

★ 5.0

Harbor and beach area offering access to sea caves, hiking trails, snorkeling, and camping, serving as the main landing site for visitors to Santa Cruz Island.

Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Smugglers Cove

★ 5.0

Secluded beach cove framed by rugged cliffs and turquoise waters, reachable by a strenuous inland hike through chaparral and coastal vistas.

Jeff P from Berkeley, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

Painted Cave

★ 5.0

Massive sea cave carved into volcanic cliffs, featuring multicolored rock walls and deep chambers accessible only by boat or kayak.