Backcountry Information

Backcountry camping and hiking is part of the Channel Islands experience.

Plan Around Backcountry Information

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Backcountry Information Details

If you're looking for a more challenging experience during your visit to the park, backcountry camping is available year-round at the Del Norte campsite on Santa Cruz Island, and certain times of year on Santa Rosa Island. To access the Del Norte campsite, which is 700 feet above sea level on Santa Cruz Island, you'll need to hike 3.5 miles (from Prisoners Harbor) or 12 miles (from Scorpion Anchorage). Once there, you'll find four primitive campsites (4 people per site), a picnic table, and a pit-style toilet (be sure to bring your own TP). No water is available at the campsite, and no fires are permitted. You're also required to store your food in the park-provided food storage boxes to keep it away from scavenging animals. Backcountry beach camping along Santa Rosa Island's 55 miles of undeveloped coastline is available mid-August through December, but access varies. From Aug. 15 to Sept. 15, boaters, kayakers, and backpackers can camp on East Point to South Point beaches only. From Sept. 16 to Dec. 31, camping is open on all beaches, except those around Sandy Point and between Carrington Point and East Point. Hiking distances from the island's pier to backcountry camping sites range from 4.5 miles (Lobo Canyon) to 18 miles (Johnson's Lee via East Point), and kayaking distances range from 3.5 miles (Ford Point to Johnson's Lee) to 16 miles (Johnson's Lee via East Point). Anyone camping on Santa Rosa Island is required to check in with a ranger upon arrival for on-site orientation. Camping is only allowed on the beaches, and fires are not allowed on the island. Park rangers strongly warn that backcountry camping is not for the inexperienced camper, and should only be undertaken by experienced, well-conditioned backpackers. For backcountry camping on either island, a $15 per night, per site camping fee is assessed. Call 877-444-6777 or visit [Recreation.gov]( http://www.recreation.gov/) to make reservations.

Difficulty

Open

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Basic Information