Santa Cruz Island Backpacking Trip Report (3 Days): Sea Caves, Coastal Trails, and Camping in Channel Islands National Park

Santa Cruz Island is the largest island within Channel Islands National Park and one of the most unique backpacking destinations in California. Often called the “Galápagos of North America,” the island combines rugged coastal cliffs, quiet coves, rolling hills, sea caves, and clear ocean water all within a completely car-free environment.

This trip took place in May 2026 as a 3-day, 2-night backpacking trip across different areas of the island.

• Day 1: Ventura to Scorpion Harbor
• Day 2: Ferry from Scorpion Harbor to Prisoners Harbor + hiking and camping
• Day 3: Prisoners Harbor back home

The trip blended backpacking, snorkeling, coastal hiking, and camping with long stretches of quiet island scenery and ocean views in every direction.

Unlike many backpacking trips focused on elevation or mileage, this one felt slower and more peaceful. Life on the island moves differently. Once the ferry leaves, everything becomes quieter—just ocean, wind, trails, and the sound of waves below the cliffs.

The trip started early in Ventura Harbor, loading packs onto the ferry as the California coastline slowly disappeared behind us.

The boat ride itself already felt like part of the adventure. Dolphins occasionally appeared alongside the ferry while the Channel Islands slowly came into view through the morning haze.

Arriving at Scorpion Anchorage immediately felt different from the mainland.

Clear water, dramatic cliffs, rolling green hills, and almost no noise beyond birds and ocean wind.

Campers from the night prior were still in our spot since the ferry arrives before campground checkout, so we dropped our stuff in a bear box and headed to the ocean.

The snorkeling ended up being one of the highlights of the day.

Cold water, rocky shoreline, and surprisingly clear visibility made the underwater world feel just as alive as the island itself. Kelp forests moved with the current while fish darted between rocks below us.

After snorkeling, we grabbed our gear and headed toward camp. We got our tent set up, thew everything else into the bear box.

We spent the rest of the day exploring nearby trails and coastline around Scorpion Harbor. The island has a strange mix of calmness and ruggedness at the same time—peaceful beaches sitting beneath steep cliffs and exposed coastal ridgelines.

By sunset, the island became even quieter.

As the last boats disappeared, it finally felt remote in a way that’s hard to experience anywhere else in Southern California.

The second day started with another ferry ride, this time from Scorpion Harbor across the island to Prisoners Harbor. The atmosphere on this side of the island felt noticeably different. Less developed, quieter, and more rugged overall.

From Prisoners Harbor, we spent the day hiking coastal trails with sweeping ocean views stretching in every direction. Some sections climbed high above the shoreline while others wound through grassy hills and coastal canyons. The scenery constantly shifted depending on the light and weather moving across the water.

One of the best parts of the island is how disconnected everything feels once you’re away from the harbor areas. There are long stretches where it feels like you have the entire coastline to yourself. The combination of ocean air, slower hiking pace, and constant views made this trip feel more relaxing than most backpacking routes we’ve done.

That evening, camp felt incredibly peaceful. No traffic. No city noise. Just wind moving through grasslands and waves somewhere below the cliffs.

The final morning started slowly. Soft coastal light, quiet campsites, and the feeling that there was nowhere else to be. We spent the morning taking in the coastline one last time before heading back toward Prisoners Harbor for the ferry ride home.

The ocean looked completely calm on the ride back, with the island slowly shrinking behind us as the mainland came back into view. It’s strange how quickly the island lifestyle settles in—and how quickly it disappears once you leave. Even after only a few days, returning home felt louder and faster than before.

Backpacking on Santa Cruz Island felt completely different from any desert or mountain trip we’ve done. The experience is less about pushing huge miles and more about slowing down enough to appreciate the environment around you—coastal cliffs, quiet trails, ocean views, and clear water stretching endlessly around the island.

The combination of hiking, snorkeling, camping, and ferry travel makes the trip feel more immersive than a standard backpacking route. Every part of the experience—from crossing the channel to sleeping beside the coastline—adds to the feeling of temporarily disconnecting from the mainland.

If there’s one takeaway: don’t rush the island. Slow mornings, extra time at viewpoints, and simply sitting near the water ended up being some of the most memorable parts of the trip.

Some places feel adventurous because they’re difficult. Santa Cruz Island felt adventurous because it felt completely separate from everyday life.