This guide will give you everything you need to plan the perfect day trip to Santa Cruz Island in California, whether you choose to conquer hiking trails or a kayak trip through the sea caves (or both!). This trip requires proper planning, so read on; you’re in the right place.
Table of Contents
The Channel Islands are an 8-island archipelago off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean. 5 of the 8 islands make up the Channel Islands National Park, which was established in 1980 and includes a marine sanctuary that protects 6 nautical miles around the islands.
5 islands of Channel Islands National Park:
- San Miguel (14.57 sq. mi)
- Santa Rosa (83.12 sq. mi)
- Santa Cruz (96.51 sq. mi)
- Anacapa (1.14 sq. mi)
- Santa Barbara (1.02 sq. mi)
Santa Cruz Island is off the coast of Santa Barbara, yet is entirely remote and quiet. It is one of the most popular channel islands, being the largest and most accessible, but it is a nature preserve and not a tourist trap, so it is entirely pristine. You can choose to spend your day trip to Santa Cruz kayaking along the coast and through various sea caves or hiking the cliffside and taking in the scenery by land.
Fun Facts
- Santa Cruz Island and 5 other channel islands are inhabited by island foxes! They aren’t found anywhere else on Earth. They are 1/3 of the size of their ancestor, the mainland grey fox, making them the size of a house cat. Don’t feed them.
- The island has over 100 large sea caves, including Painted Cave, among the largest in the world.
- Santa Cruz Island is the largest privately owned island off the contiguous United States. The National Park Service owns 24% and the Nature Conservatory owns the majority.
- Archeological evidence shows that there has been human presence in the Channel Islands for as long as 13000 years. The population were primarily Chumash, and it dwindled when European explorers arrived. The last person left the islands for the mainland in 1822.
- In the 1800s, 30 convicts were released onto Santa Cruz Island, hence the name “Prisoner’s Harbor”. After a fire destroyed camp, they escaped to the mainland.
- In the last 100 years, Santa Cruz Island was heavily used for ranching. The historic Scorpion Ranch house still stands and now holds a visitor center.
I highly encourage you to learn more about the history of the island prior to doing a day trip to Santa Cruz Island, specifically about the native Chumash communities, European contact, ranching era, through today.
Sample Day Trip Itinerary
Below is a sample Summer day trip to Santa Cruz Island itinerary that will give you a little bit of everything. Read about each activity in further depth throughout this guide, and tailor the itinerary to fit your interests.
7am | Arrive at ferry departure point (Ventura, CA) |
8 - 9:30am | Ferry from Ventura, CA to Scorpion Anchorage |
9:30am - 12:00pm | Discovery Sea Cave Kayak Tour |
12 - 12:30pm | Lunch break |
12:30 - 2:30pm | Potato Harbor Trail hike |
2:30 - 4:30pm | Rent snorkel gear and swim at Scorpion Anchorage |
4:30pm | Return on the ferry |
When to Visit Santa Cruz Island
The peak season for the Channel Islands National Park is June through September. In 2022, the most popular month was July, with 37,853 visitors (irma.nps.gov). This number is not broken out per island.
The hottest month is typically July, but in 2022, September took the win with an average high of 87 degrees and average low of 60. The coldest month was December, with an average high of 64 degrees and average low of 45 (raws.dri.edu/).
If you plan to spend your day trip to Santa Cruz kayaking, as many do, peak season is recommended unless you are comfortable in a wetsuit and 55-60 degree water. If you plan to only hike, your window is year-round.
Costs
Required:
- Entry fee: None
- Round-trip transportation: $66/adult
Optional:
- Guided kayaking and/or snorkeling: $124-232/adult
- Kayak rental (w/o tour): $35-55/day
- Snorkel gear rental (w/o tour): $32-60/day
Logistics
Transportation to Santa Cruz Island:
Santa Cruz Island is only accessible by park concessionaire boats or private boat. Private aircraft are not authorized to land in park boundaries.
As of 2024, the only boat option is Island Packers, who does a phenomenal job. They offer trips to the island year-round, 5-7 days per week. The ferry ride leaves from Ventura Harbor and takes about an hour to get to Scorpion Anchorage or two hours to get to Prisoner’s Harbor.
The ferry ride will be bumpy, but they make it as comfortable and educational as possible. Bring Dramamine or another medication for seasickness if there’s a chance you might need it. At least you’ll see plenty of wildlife along the way!
Duration | Summer Departures | Winter Departures | |
Ventura to Scorpion Cove | 1-1.5 hours | 8am - 2pm | 9 / 9:30am |
Scorpion Cove to Ventura | 1-1.5 hours | 4 / 4:30pm plus 10am or 12pm on the weekends | 3:30 / 4pm |
Ventura to Prisoner's Harbor | 2 hours | 8:30am - 2pm | 9 / 9:30am |
Prisoner's Harbor to Ventura | 2 hours | 3:15-4:30pm | 2:45-4:30pm |
Transportation on Santa Cruz Island:
There is no transportation available on the island. You can only get around by foot, kayak, or private boat.
Scorpion Anchorage vs Prisoner’s Harbor
For a day trip to Santa Cruz, Scorpion Anchorage is much more feasible simply because Prisoner’s Harbor adds an hour to the ferry ride each way. Plus, all of the guided kayak and snorkeling tours operate out of the Scorpion Anchorage area. If you have an interest in going to Prisoner’s Harbor, consider camping overnight, or you will feel extremely rushed.
Day Activities
Kayaking
Unless you are unable to kayak, kayaking is an absolute must for your day trip to Santa Cruz Island. Seeing the island from the coastline is unmatched, and kayaking is the best way (maybe the only way) to appreciate the sea caves around the island.
Unless you are a highly experienced kayaker or are visiting with a kayaker familiar with the island, you need to book a guided tour. The tour guides are familiar with the sea caves and will guide you safely into them and out of them, timing it right to avoid the swell of the ocean. They will also give you the confidence to enter caves and continue on when you feel nervous.
If you have never kayaked, I personally would not recommend this being your first trip. The ocean can be very rough, and I was regularly instructed to “paddle as hard as you possibly can.” If you’re on the fence, call the Channel Islands Adventure Company and ask them if certain months or times of the day are calmer than others.
The only authorized concessioner for guided Kayak Tours is Channel Island Adventure Company. They offer 4 tours, all at Scorpion Anchorage:
1. Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour
- Cost: $205/adult
- Availability: 9:30am – 10:30am offerings on various days
- Time: 3.5-4 hours (including 1 hour orientation)
- Paddling Distance: 2.5-3 mi
- Difficulty: Beginner through advanced
- Ferry Departure Time: The 10:30am tour requires a ferry departure of 9am or earlier, and the 9:30am tour requires a ferry departure of 8am.
2. Discovery Sea Cave Kayak Tour
- Cost: $145/adult
- Availability: 9:30am – 1:30pm offerings on various days
- Time: 2-2.5 hours (including 1 hour orientation)
- Paddling Distance: 1.25 mi
- Difficulty: Beginner through advanced
- Ferry Departure Time: The 9:30am tour requires an 8:00am ferry departure, and the 12:30pm tour requires a 10:00am ferry departure or earlier.
3. Ultimate Sea Cave Kayak Tour
- Cost: $275/adult
- Availability: 9:30am on various days
- Time: 4-5 hours (including 1 hour orientation)
- Paddling Distance: 4-5 mi
- Difficulty: Intermediate through advanced
- Ferry Departure Time: 8am or prior nights camping
4. Snorkel & Kayak Tour
- Cost: $275/adult
- Availability: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from mid-May to early October
- Time: 5 hours (including 1 hour 45 minute orientation)
- Paddling Distance: 1.25 mi
- Difficulty: Intermediate through advances (prior snorkeling experience is required)
- Ferry Departure Time: 8am ferry departure or prior nights camping
Keep in mind that if you’d like time for a hike, you may need to opt towards the Adventure or Discovery Tours. If you want to do the longer tours and explore by foot, consider a night of camping.
Kayak rentals: If you are an experienced kayaker and you prefer to rent your own kayak, you can rent your kayak through Channel Islands Kayak Center. This will cost you between $35-55 for the day, depending on if you rent a double or single kayak. Notify Island Packers (the ferry operator) ahead of time as there will likely be an extra fee.
Snorkeling
If you’d like to snorkel during your day trip to Santa Cruz, you can bring your own gear, rent it on the island, or choose between 2 guided tours. These are also provided by the Channel Islands Adventure Company.
1. Guided Snorkel Tour
- Cost: $151/adult
- Availability: Sundays at 11am and 1:30pm from July 1 through September 30
- Time: 3 hours (including 1 hour orientation)
- Difficulty: Intermediate through advances (prior snorkeling experience is required)
- Ferry Departure Time: Morning session requires a 9:30am or earlier departure, and the afternoon session requires a 4:30pm or later return.
2. Snorkel & Kayak Tour
- Cost: $275/adult
- Availability: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from mid-May to early October
- Time: 5 hours (including 1 hour 45 minute orientation)
- Paddling Distance: 1.25 mi
- Difficulty: Intermediate through advances (prior snorkeling experience is required)
- Ferry Departure Time: 8am ferry departure or prior nights camping
Snorkel gear rentals: If you prefer to rent equipment, you may do so at the Channel Island Adventure Company’s rental storefront on the island. Keep in mind the inventory is limited and is first-come, first-served. It will cost $32 or $60 if you also need a wetsuit. If you’re visiting between March and October and you book a guided kayak trip, the site does offer snorkeling gear rental as an add-on.
Hiking
There are multiple hike options in the area of Scorpion Anchorage. These are mostly loops and can be linked to one another.
1. Potato Harbor
- Length: 5 miles / 2-2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Elevation gain: 620 ft
- Type: Out & back
This trail is the most popular on Santa Cruz Island. It starts where Island Packers drops you off and follows the steep shoreline the entire way, providing beautiful coastal views. This hike is the perfect length to incorporate into your day trip to Santa Cruz if you’re wanting to experience a couple hours of hiking but also spend time doing the other activities. Note that there is no beach access at Potato Harbor because you’ll be high on the cliffside. If you really enjoy the scenery and have a few more hours, you may choose to continue on the Montañon Loop Trail.
2. Smuggler’s Cove
- Length: 7.7 miles / 4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation gain: 1414 ft
- Type: Out & back
Smuggler’s Cove is another popular hike on Santa Cruz Island, similar to Potato Harbor with amazing cliffside views, but longer and moderately challenging. You’ll face steep up-down-up-down elevation changes. At the final viewpoint, your reward is a private beach (well, more private than Scorpion Anchorage). You can snorkel at Smuggler’s Cove, but it isn’t as great as the snorkeling at Scorpion Anchorage.
3. Montañon Ridge Loop
- Length: 8.9 miles / 4.5 hours
- Difficulty: Hard
- Elevation gain: 1699 ft
- Type: Loop
Montañon Ridge Loop is a gem of a trail. It first takes you to Potato Harbor, then follows the ridge up the highest publicly-accessible peak on Santa Cruz Island. The trail is extremely close to the cliffside, which is either thrilling or terrifying if you’re afraid of heights. Montañon Ridge has rockier terrain than the above hikes and may require a bit of scrambling.
Other Trails to Consider:
- Scorpion Canyon Loop: Moderate, 4.5 mile loop
- Cavern Point Loop: Easy, 1.7 mile loop. There are are often guided hikes on this trail led by a naturalist. If there is, it will be announced on your ferry ride over.
What to Bring and Wear
Bring a small backpack with any items you will need for your day trip to Santa Cruz. If you kayak, you will have a place to put your things to protect them from the island critters.
- Water – There is limited water availability on the island. Potable water is available at Scorpion Anchorage, but there is no water available at Prisoner’s Harbor. I brought two 32. oz Nalgene bottles when I went. It was more than enough, but better safe than sorry.
- Active Sandals – Wear active, waterproof sandals such as Tevas or Chacos if you plan to kayak.
- Hiking Boots – Wear hiking boots if you plan to spend time hiking on the island.
- Hat – This is necessary since the island is very exposed.
- Sunscreen – This is also necessary.
- Lunch and snacks – There is no food available on the island.
- Jacket or windbreaker – The temperature fluctuates and wind can be heavy, so bring a light jacket or windbreaker, even if you think you won’t need it.
- Towel – If you plan to kayak or swim.
- Swimsuit – If you plan to kayak or swim.
- Seasickness medication – Optional, but bring it if there’s any chance it will happen. The ride is rough.
I hope this guide helps you plan the perfect day trip to Santa Cruz Island of the Channel Islands National Park. Enjoy!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly, and I can try to help based off the day trip to Santa Cruz that I did in 2022.
*Disclaimer: There may be links to products in this article that are Amazon affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission when readers purchase through the link. This is at no cost to the reader, and this does not affect which products are included in the article.