A Weekend Exploring Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz island is a part of Channel Islands National Park, where small island foxes roam and sea life thrives off the coast of Ventura, California. It’s an easy day or weekend trip from Los Angeles. The smell of salty sea air fills your senses by day, and you’ll only see the light of camp fire by night. This island doesn’t have any hotels or residences, only camp sites. Sea caves are carved out by the crashing waves, and inland rolling hills and rugged cliffs are waiting to be explored. In this post, I’ll give you an itinerary for what to do if you have a weekend to explore this small island.

Info

  • This is an island, you’ll have to take the Island Packers boat from Ventura Harbor to get here

  • Book a campsite at Recreation.gov

  • There are no hotels or restaurants, it’s all pack in and pack out. Make sure you bring ample food and water for the length of your stay.

The Island Fox

If you're camping, lots of little endangered foxes appear around dinnertime looking for scraps (which of course you shouldn't feed them). They are cute little animals that only exist on the Channels Islands.

Endangered Island Fox

Day 1

Hike the Cavern Loop Trail

Experience the breathtaking 1.7-mile Cavern Point Loop Trail on Santa Cruz Island, offering spectacular views of the clear blue Pacific and neighboring islands from high bluffs along the coastline. This easily accessible trail starts near a historic ranch house. The trail ascends steeply, where you can see the volcanic cliffs and rustling grass reeds. Upon reaching Cavern Point's edge, you’ll see dramatic ocean views, crashing waves, and feel the winds whipping up from the sea. For a longer hike, extend the journey along the North Bluff Trail to Potato Harbor before completing the loop.

Sunset on the Cavern Loop Trail

It was a muddy day in January when we did this hike, Spring would be beautiful with all the flowers! The one nice thing though was we didn’t run into a single person on this hike.

Our muddy hiking boots

View on Anacapa Island in the distance

Hike the Potato Harbor Trail

This trail is linked to Cavern Loop so you can combine the two for a longer hike. This 5-mile loop that starts in Scorpion Canyon showcases the island's rugged vibes. You'll wander through lush forests in the valleys and breezy meadows along the ridges, soaking in all that natural beauty. Then, it takes you up to the ridge, tracing the coastline for a while, giving you killer views of those rugged cliffs. And as a bonus, keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the underwater kelp forests and chances to spot some awesome marine wildlife. The best part of this hike is Potato Harbor Overlook, a stunning turqouise cove.

Potato Harbor Overlook

Day 2

Kayak with Santa Barbara Adventure Company

Channel Islands Adventure Company has some amazing guided kayak trips to explore the sea caves around the island. This is a nice blend of relaxation paddling across the ocean, stopping to rest and hear more about the island and the extensive wildlife.

As you navigate the coastline, be prepared to encounter mesmerizing sea caves and natural archways carved into the island's cliffs by centuries of tidal action. Guided tours often include stops at these geological wonders, allowing kayakers to explore these a lot closer than you would from a boat or land.

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