Hiking Trail Guide: Santa Cruz Island - Scorpion to Smugglers Cove

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Santa Cruz Island - Scorpion to Smugglers Cove

Distance
9 miles

Elevation
1400 feet gain

Difficulty
5/10

City
Ventura ,CA (93004) 56.9 miles from you Weather Map

Trailhead
Take a boat from Ventura or Santa Barbara to get here. Be sure to always check in with the ranger - he won't check on you.

From Scorpion Harbor on Santa Cruz Island - follow the well marked system of trails. The road leading up the south hill is the trail. It is incredibly easy to find. The park supplies good maps that are easy to follow and read.

Description

A truly spectacular hike along an old ranch road. Actually, all hikes on Santa Cruz Island are along old ranch roads, and all are easy trails to follow, with not very much gain in elevation. You actually lose a lot more than you gain on this trip. It's the return where you will be coming back up the steep dirt roads you once descended.

This trail takes you past a beautiful cypress grove planted by one of the former female residents of the island. You get wonderful vistas of Anacapa Island, and as the trail climbs - you can get a sense of the entire eastern side of the island.

The trail drops you down into the beautiful Smuggler’s cove, a perfect beach to soak your feet and cool off. There weren't any olives in the grove during our trip, but Smuggler's ranch, just .25 miles down the trail had an orange tree with some mighty fine tasting organic oranges.

Continuing to Montanon will take you off-trail and up a rough ridge, but you can make the trip a loop.

Map / Directions: