How to Get a Campsite at Channel Islands in 2026 (Boat-Only Scorpion Canyon)

Updated August 2026 · 7 min read

Scorpion Canyon Campground is the campground most national park travelers never see: it sits on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, reached only by boat, with no vehicle access of any kind. You book the site on recreation.gov, book the Island Packers ferry from Ventura Harbor separately, then walk roughly a mile uphill from the pier carrying everything you need. It is one of the more memorable nights of camping in the Park Service system precisely because almost nobody commits to the logistics.

Here is how the two-part booking actually works, what the campground's 31 sites look like, and what to do if your dates are sold out.

Two Bookings, One Trip

The campsite itself books on recreation.gov like any federal campground. The ferry does not. Island Packers, the concession boat out of Ventura Harbor, runs its own schedule and sells its own tickets, and the campground tip sheet is blunt about it: book the ferry separately from the campsite, because you need both and the boat has limited seats. Before locking anything in, check the crossing schedule and cancellation policy - spring through fall is the reliable window, while winter brings rougher water and a real chance of canceled sailings.

What the 31 Sites Look Like

Scorpion Canyon lists 25 tent-only sites plus 6 group sites. There are no hookups and no vehicle camping - everything on the island arrives by boat and by foot, including your water, food, and gear. The walk from the pier to camp is roughly a mile uphill, so pack light enough to carry it all in one trip. There is no trash service on the island: whatever you pack in, you pack out.

If Your Dates Are Sold Out

With only 31 sites, Scorpion Canyon fills fast for fair-weather weekends. Cancellations happen as plans change, and released sites post back to recreation.gov. Camp.land watches this exact campground and emails you the moment a site opens for your dates - set a free alert below. If the island does not work out, Ventura has motels and vacation rentals that keep the trip alive as a mainland base.