Channel Islands National Park, off the Southern Coast of California, will open Prisoners Harbor Campground on Aug. 27, giving visitors a new place to stay on Santa Cruz Island. The National Park Service says it is the first campground added to the island in decades.
The campground contains six primitive sites, each accommodating up to four people. Reservations opened Aug. 18 through Recreation.gov, and the nightly rate is $15 per site.
Each campsite is approximately 0.3 miles from the Prisoners Harbor Pier in a shaded oak grove beneath Eagle Ridge. The location is intended to provide a quieter alternative to the larger Scorpion Canyon Campground without requiring a long backcountry hike.
Sites measure 8 feet by 20 feet and include a picnic table and food-storage box. A vault toilet is available, but campers must carry in all their food, drinking water, and equipment.
The campground fills a gap between two existing options
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Santa Cruz Island previously offered two distinct camping experiences. Scorpion Canyon has drinking water and more sites, making it better suited to families and first-time campers.
Del Norte is a four-site backcountry campground reached by a strenuous 3.5-mile hike from Prisoners Harbor. The new campground combines a more secluded setting with much easier access from the pier.
The park included a Prisoners Harbor campground in its 2015 management plan. Construction began in 2022 before the project experienced delays, according to SFGATE.
Campers can hike or kayak between the island’s harbors
The new campground creates another endpoint for backpackers traveling between Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage. The overland route covers approximately 14 miles along Navy Road.
Experienced kayakers also can travel between the two harbors as part of a multi-day coastal trip. The park recommends this option only for paddlers prepared for the island’s remote conditions.
Boat transportation must be booked separately
Most visitors reach Santa Cruz Island aboard an Island Packers boat from Ventura Harbor. The crossing takes approximately one hour, although weather and sea conditions can affect schedules.
Campers should reserve their campsite and boat transportation for matching dates. Landing at Prisoners Harbor requires climbing from the boat to a steel-rung ladder on the pier. Keep in mind that there are no stores, restaurants, or trash services on the island. Campfires are prohibited, and campers must use chemical-fuel stoves and pack out all trash.