Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor
The Prisoners Harbor Campground is located near the shoreline, and with a maximum capacity of 24 people, it offers a quieter experience than the larger campground at Scorpion. The campground is a short hike from the pier and is sheltered from harsh ocean winds. As you explore this area, please respect the property boundary and help protect and preserve these delicate resources for future generations. Santa Cruz Island, the largest of California’s Channel Islands, is one of the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park. The island is rich in cultural history, magnificent landscapes, and unique flora and fauna.
More like this: reservable in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 6 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
6 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Partial | No / No | 4 / – | No | |
| 003 | No / No | 4 / – | No | ||
| 004 | No / No | 4 / – | No | ||
| 005 | No / No | 4 / – | No | ||
| 006 | 4 / – | ||||
| 007 | No / No | 4 / – | No | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 11:01 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Accessibility | Site 007 is listed accessible |
The Prisoners Harbor Campground has six primitive campsites (four persons per site) and users must camp within these designated sites. Each site is 8 feet by 20 feet; smaller tents are appropriate for this location. A picnic table, food storage, and vault toilet are provided. Visitors are encouraged to pack as light as possible as they will need to carry all of their gear, food and water to the campsite. Access to the island is by Island Packers Cruises or by private boat.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Prisoner's Harbor on Santa Island may only be reached by boat. Visitors are required to arrange transportation to the island before reserving a campsite. Contact Island Packers the park's authorized concessioner or bring your own private boat.
| Nearest town | Ventura, California |
| Coordinates | 34.0173° N, 119.6821° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- More than 600 plant species, 140 land birds, 11 land mammals, and a variety of amphibians and reptiles call the island home.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBryson
49 mi from the campground · 200 acres · 0% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Surf N Wear's Beach House ↗ | 27.3 mi |
| Dump station | Carpinteria State Beach ↗ | 27.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Harder RV Storage ↗ | 29.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 7.4 miScorpion Ranch Visitor Center On Santa Cruz Island ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
The Prisoners Harbor Campground is nestled in a shaded oak grove. The largest of California's Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island is one of the five islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park. The island is rich in cultural history, magnificent landscapes, and unique flora and fauna. Native American Indians inhabited the island for over 10,000 years and Europeans explored and ranched on the island for over 150 years. The island fox and island scrub-jay are exciting finds, as they're unique to the island, found nowhere else in the world.
Recreation
From Prisoners Harbor, the campground is only 0.3 miles from the pier. The road does follow a road which passes through a seasonal creek. While the campground has an accessible site and an accessible toilet, transportation to the campground requires use of a ladder and on an uneven road. This road is still used daily by vehicles, so please use caution while hiking along it. During winter and spring, visitors need to be prepared for a wet creek crossing at Canada del Puerto in Prisoner's Harbor. From Scorpion Anchorage, the campground is approximately 14 miles via the Navy Road. Beach access is at Prisoners Harbor. Recreational activities on Santa Cruz Island include hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. There are no services on the island, so all gear has to be brought to the island.
Guidebooks for Channel Islands National Park and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor?
Sites at Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor?
Check-in 11:01 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor have?
7 sites, including 6 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor?
Site 007 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor?
From Prisoners Harbor, the campground is only 0.3 miles from the pier. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor?
Ventura, California.
Source: Getting there
What if Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry (1.3 mi), Santa Cruz Island Scorpion (7.2 mi), and Anacapa Island (18 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor in?
Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor is a Channel Islands National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Channel Islands National Park