National Park Service Channel Islands U.S. Department of the Interior Channel Islands National Park Hiking Eastern Santa Cruz Island Several trails and roads traverse eastern Santa Cruz Island, providing visitors with spectacular hiking opportunities. These trails and roads range from the maintained, relatively flat, signed trails of Scorpion Valley to the unmaintained, rugged, mountainous paths of the Montañon area. Hikers need to assume individual responsibility for planning their trips and hiking safely. To increase your odds of a safe hike, decrease your disturbance to wildlife, and lessen damage to resources, visitors should be in good physical condition and must follow the regulations and guidelines in the “Limiting Your Impact” section of the park newspaper and those listed below: • Stay on trails and roads while hiking—avoid animal trails which are • No hiking is allowed beyond the national park boundary onto The narrow, uneven, unstable, and dangerous. Nature Conservancy property. The boundary is marked by a fenceline between Prisoners Harbor and Valley Anchorage. • Cliff edges should be avoided at all times since they tend to be crumbly and unstable. Stay well back. Rock throwing from cliffs is not permitted • When departing from the islands, visitors are responsible for meeting as it can be dangerous for kayakers below. the boat concessioner on time. Be aware of departure time by looking at your boarding pass or asking the ranger or concessioner employees. • Hikers should avoid hiking alone—use the buddy system. This allows someone to go for help if you encounter trouble. • Pack out what you pack in, including your trash. There are no trash cans on the island so please take your garbage with you. • Carry plenty of water and drink it. One quart for short walks, more for longer hikes. • Do not directly or indirectly feed the wildlife. Secure your trash and food at all times. Use the storage boxes provided at the picnic tables or • Be aware of poison oak, “jumping” cholla cactus, ticks, and scorpions. behind the kiosk in the orientation area. Gulls, ravens, skunks, mice Poison oak can be identified by its clusters of three shiny leaflets. Some and especially foxes have all gotten into visitors’ food. Unfortunately, ticks carry disease; check your clothing and exposed skin after hiking. foxes in the Scorpion area have become habituated to human food. • In order to help prevent wildfires, do not smoke on trails or in brush Failure to store your food and trash properly or intentionally feeding areas. Smoking is allowed only on beaches. wildlife will result in a citation and fine. Destination Distance Difficulty Description (miles, round-trip) F r o m S c o r p i o n B e a c h: 1 Historic Ranch .5 Easy View the historic Scorpion Ranch complex dating to the late 1800s. Exhibit areas include an orientation kiosk, blacksmith shop, farm implements, and a visitor center located in the Scorpion ranch house. 2 Cavern Point Loop 2 Moderate Not to be missed. Magnificent coastal vistas and seasonal whale viewing. To avoid a steep climb, hike clock- wise, beginning from campground (near site #22) and looping back to Scorpion Anchorage. From Cavern Point, you may also follow the North Bluff Trail west for 2 miles out to Potato Harbor. 3 Potato Harbor 5 Moderate A longer hike than the Cavern Point hike, but also with spectacular coastal views. No beach access. 4 Scorpion Canyon 4.5 Moderate to A scenic loop hike to the interior with a chance to see the unique island scrub-jay. To avoid a steep climb, Loop strenuous hike clockwise starting on the Smugglers Road towards the oil well and eventually down into Scorpion Canyon and back out to the beach. Hike off trail into the right (or northwest) fork of Scorpion Canyon to see the island scrub-jay, but be prepared for extremely rocky conditions. 5 Smugglers Cove 7.5 Strenuous Follow the Smugglers Road to the beach at Smugglers Cove. Carry water. No water available at Smugglers. 6 Montañon Ridge 8 Strenuous For experienced hikers. Great views. This ridge can also be reached from Smugglers Cove (8 miles round- trip and off-trail hiking) and Prisoners Harbor (21 miles round-trip). F r o m S m u g g l e r s C o v e: 7 Smugglers Canyon 2 Strenuous Off-trail hiking in a stream bed (seasonal water) with native vegetation and steep canyon walls. Be prepared for uneven terrain and loose rock. 8 Yellowbanks 3 Strenuous This trail leads to an unmaintained route to the beach. 9 San Pedro Point 4 Strenuous This off-trail hike leads to an overlook. No beach access. For experienced off-trail hikers. F r o m P r i s o n e r s H a r b o r: 10 Prisoners Harbor .5 Easy View the historic Prisoners Harbor area and search for the island scrub-jay (usually found in nearby trees or stream-side vegetation). Walk up the Navy Road for a short distance to get a nice view from above. 11 Del Norte Camp 7 Strenuous Follow the rugged Del Norte trail east to the backcountry camp. Carry water. No water at this campground. 12 Navy Road / Del 8.5 Strenuous Longer loop route which visits Del Norte Camp and provides views to the south side of the island. Route Norte Loop includes the Navy and Del Norte Roads and the Del Norte Trail. 13 Chinese Harbor 15.5 Strenuous A long hike via the Del Norte trail or Navy Road that ends at a cobblestone beach. 14 China Pines 18 Strenuous Follow the Del Norte trail or Navy Road to an unmaintained trail to see the unique Santa Cruz Island pine. 15 Pelican Bay 4 Moderate to This trail may only be traveled by Island Packers (boat concessioner) passengers that are accompanied by strenuous Island Packers staff. Access to The Nature Conservancy coastal property, including this trail, is permitted to private boaters who have a valid landing permit. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Painted Cave State Marine e ag ge or ra Conservation Area ch ho n nc A A ’s z e W rd e r ag es a ld o r t Point z a rb ho a V a c H a n v H A r e ’s o u y lo rb C d b a a ia H r Painted Cave L D ’s o Scorpion State Marine Reserve b State Marine e No commercial or recreational fishing. y r ag e Painted r a r ag (Refer to the National Marine Sanctuary's Protecting Your Channel Islands brochure for more information) o r F H Conservation Area ch ho t n nc in ’s A A Po t ’s z e r t rd e r g *Please avoid disturbing sensitive Cave We ld o ra e s a s la t Point z a rb ho pinniped and seabird areas found ra a V a c P H a H n throughout the island. F v A r e ’s o Scorpion Canyon Detail u y lo rb Cavern Point d b a Northwest Shoreline Closure 2 C a ia H r Closed to landing to protect nesting seabirds. rn Po L o e in Scorpion Marine Reserve D s v t ’ a b Lo Potator C No commercial or recreational fishing. y op Scorpion Painted r a (Refer to the national marine sanctuary's Protecting Your Channel Islands brochure for more information) T r a f i l F f H u S Anchorage e l r v i c e t R n s B Forney’s i Harbor o P o t 1 ’ a o a h t o N o r t Pier P t d r t Potato H a r b Cave o e r a Harbor s l R o a d Scorpion Rock ra Cavern Scorpion Canyon Detail P 3 Point Cavern Point F Trailhead 1 Northwest Shoreline Closure 2 Closed to landing to protect nesting seabirds. Cove Black Mount Diablo PotatoLittle Scorpion Anch. S Harbor Scorpion Anchorage Forney’s 4 m Pier corpio Potato Scorpion S n H n corpion ar u C o S Ca bor Road Rock any n Pelican y g o 3 n g Little Scorpion Anchorage L n Black Coche N l o Cove Mount Diablo o y o e n p a r Sco Point r C 15 T pion s 2450 ft Bay r a i Point Point Pelican l 2450 ft R 4 o Coche Bay a d Sm San Point uggler San 0 .5 mi s R o a Pedro 747 m d 9 Point 747 m r Pedro o rb C 10 a e 13 H n Prisoners Harbor se 7 Pointyo n t e Montañon Ridge mu an r Pier S g N a Chinese in g C l h lers 6 (1808 feet) C Smugglers C China Prisoners Harbor V 5 Cove Kinton a Harbor Pines e l P l yo 14 e l n e N Pier r Montañnon Ridge D n n o y m r T u a t t e r a S 8 o i l g r Point Del Norte C a 11 g p Camp lers l Yellowbanks e The Nature r a o t N y d a v R 0 1 km 12 Smugglers Conservancy y V B Kinton HE ATURE ONSERVANCY ROPERTY T N C P a o Property Cove China u Sandstone 0 1 mi l l e l Pines n N P S P R O P E R T Y Point e N D *Please avoid disturbing sensitive o d y Main pinniped and seabird areas found r T t e r a i a l throughout the island.