Scorpion Island Channel Islands National Park. Photo courtesy Doug Mangum.
VENTURA — Island Packer Cruises, established in 1968, has recently begun to operate daily scheduled trips for day visitors and campers from Ventura Harbor Village to Scorpion Anchorage in Channel Islands National Park – The Galapagos of North America.
The new pier at Scorpion Anchorage now allows Island Packers, the official park concessionaire, to offers safe and accessible access at Scorpion Anchorage.
Channel Islands National Park Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island is located 18 miles off the coast of Ventura County. At 96 square miles, Santa Cruz Island is the largest of Southern California’s eight Channel Islands. Visitors can opt to arrange a kayak tour of Scorpion Anchorage from Santa Barbara Adventure Company.
At present, The upper Scorpion Canyon Campground is now open, but The lower Scorpion Canyon Campground remains closed until further notice.
Scorpion offers a beautiful backdrop for picnics, hiking or camping as well as a user-friendly beach area with access to one of the Marine Reserves. Snorkel with the diverse sea creatures of the kelp forest or take a kayak tour through the sea caves with Santa Barbara Adventure Company.
Island Packers will also continue to offer daily trips to Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, regular service to Anacapa Island, weekend trips to Santa Rosa Island, and special day trips to lesser-known island destinations. There will also be multi-island day trips and inter-island camper shuttles to expose visitors to the great diversity of the Channel Islands.
Along with their regularly scheduled Winter whale watching cruises, Island Packers plans to also offer extended Wildlife Cruises, most of which will include a brief cruise along the shoreline of one of the iconic islands.
Island Packers continues to operate safely under pandemic protocols, including:
- Passenger loads limited to under 50% capacity to better facilitate social distancing
- Island Packer employees are health screened before every shift
- Eating and drinking permitted outside cabin area
- Passengers in office or boats are required to wear face covering.
- Office and boat crew wear appropriate PPE when in contact with the public
- Office and vessels are sanitized during stops and between runs
Follow Island Packers on social media, or check our website frequently for specific details about these and additional opportunities to visit the National Park and National Marine Sanctuary.
About Island Packers: — Island Packers is the authorized concessionaire servicing the Channel Islands National Park and has been family-owned and operated since 1968. For information, reservations or to purchase gift certificates: Visit www.islandpackers.com, call 805-642-1393, or visit Island Packers at 1691 Spinnaker Dr., Suite 105B, in Ventura Harbor Village. Visit www.islandpackers.com or find us on Twitter to follow Island Packers most recent marine life sightings.
About Channel Islands National Park – The Galapagos of North America — Channel Islands National Park preserves the five northern Channel Islands and one mile of ocean around each. The islands are San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Established by Congress in 1980, the park protects a rich array of natural and cultural resources. Called by scientists the North American Galapagos, the islands are home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, including the diminutive island fox, the large Santa Cruz Island scrub jay, and the island poppy. The isolation and protection of the islands, combined with the extremely prolific food sources with the ocean waters, make the park essential in the lives of 99% of the sea birds of California and over 100,000 seals and sea lions. The largest animal ever to live on the earth, the blue whale, is a summer resident in the cold waters of the park. www.nps.gov/chis
About Ventura Harbor: — Situated along the picturesque California Central Coast, endowed with breathtaking views, Ventura County’s Ventura Harbor is bordered by the City of Ventura on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the west, the site of one of the largest squid offloading harbors in North America. Ventura Harbor has a total of 1,500 boat slips, 40 unique shops and dockside restaurants, two waterfront hotels, beaches, green spaces, water sports, and boating and cruising options, all part of an affordable, multigenerational vacation destination. Ventura Harbor is 20 miles from Santa Barbara, within 15 miles of Oxnard and is 60 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. It is accessible in just minutes from scenic US Highway 101.
From 6-foot dinghies to 88-foot commercial fishing seiner boats, scores of pleasure boats call Ventura Harbor home. Ventura Harbor Village marina is one of the top offloading squid harbors on the Pacific Coast and in the nation and Ventura Harbor Village marina is home to some of the largest fishery companies. Ventura Harbor Marina & Yacht Yard, Ventura Isle Marina and Ventura West Marina service recreational and some commercial boaters. Ventura Harbor has two yacht clubs, two boat yards, and Ventura Boat Rentals in Harbor Village. Other boats docked at the Ventura Harbor include dive boats, 64‘Catamarans concessionaire for the Channel Islands), Vessel Assist, National Park Service Vessels, and two oil recovery vessels. www.VenturaHarbor.com