Santa Cruz Island 🏕️
Jun 01, 2022
Spent three days/two nights backpacking across Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands. One of California’s least visited national parks it felt especially isolated due to gale-force winds allowing a single boat to drop-off campers the first two days of our trip. We were the only two people dropped off at the dock at Prisoner’s Harbor and we did not see a single person for the entirety of our hike to Scorpion’s Anchorage the following day.
Despite the boat shuttle being mostly canceled we had good weather, it was sunny and always remained in a 55°F - 75°F range. The wind was brutal at times, but the morning to mid-afternoon was always beautiful.
Hiking to the Del Norte Campground, our first campsite
Sunset on the first night
Top of Montanon Peak, the highest point of the second day’s hike (and overall)
An Island Fox; only native to six of the eight Channel Islands. One of the smallest canid species in the world
View near second day’s camp
Dad hanging out on the Scorpion Anchorage dock
The dock at Scorpion Anchorage, where we were picked up on the final day
The route we took
