Santa Cruz Traverse

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail ascends to High Mount and follows the ridgeline of the island, offering stunning views of the ocean, mainland, and the surrounding Channel Islands. It eventually descends to the bluffs that guard Prisoners Harbor where beautiful sunsets can be enjoyed on the island's moors.

This route is commonly done as an overnight, so you'll have to plan your trip around the ferry schedule. A nice place to camp along the trail is the Del Norte campgrounds. However, the only water on this trail is at its genesis, Scorpion Ranch. Del Norte backcountry campground has none and neither does Prisoners Harbor. All water must be packed in.

The trail starts at Scorpion Ranch as you make your way through the ranch area and campground to the Scorpion Canyon Loop trailhead via Scorpion Valley Road. Once on the trail the path bisects the Scorpion Canyon for roughly 0.75 mile until you bare southeast and begin the steep ascent to High Mount Trail, passing an historic oil drilling sit along the way. Just past the high point of High Mount is a stunning vista that affords a 360-degree view of both sides of the island, Anacapa Island, and the mainland.

This view generally marks the gradual and undulating descent along the ridgeline towards the East End Road. Once on the road, the path is generally flat and enjoyable and the ground significantly less rocky and loose. The road ends into a former Navy road that should be taken north to connect to the Del Norte Trail. Once on this trail, follow it over the moors of the island until you once again dead end into the Navy Road. Take the road north, descending the entire way down to the beach of Prisoners Harbor and relax until the ferry arrives to pick you up.