Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor
Santa Barbara, California · 16 ft · In Channel Islands National Park
Photos: Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com
At a glance
3 of 8 facts known · recreation.gov, checked Sep 24, 2026
- Elevation
- 16 ft (5 m)16 ft5 m
Sites6
Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor lists no loops, so its sites are listed here. Pick a site to see its details.
From recreation.gov's site list, Oct 10, 2026: 1 staff entry left out.
Other campgrounds in Channel Islands National Park 10
Nearest first. Every place inside the park's boundary.
- Prisoners Harbor CampgroundNational Park · facts not yet known190 ft
- Upper Scorpion CampgroundFee charged6.9 mi
- Lower Scorpion CampgroundFee charged7.2 mi
- Santa Cruz Island Scorpion2 loops · Lower Loop and Upper Loop · 31 sites · $15 a night · Reserve on Recreation.gov7.2 mi
- Anacapa Island2 loops · ANACAPA ISLAND and ANACAPA ISLAND AREA · 7 sites · $15 a night · Reserve on Recreation.gov18 mi
- Anacapa CampgroundFee charged18 mi
Also in the park: 4 backcountry and High Sierra camps · 1 single site
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About
Overview
The Prisoners Harbor Campground is located near the shoreline, and with a maximum capacity of 24 people, it offers a quieter experience than the larger campground at Scorpion. The campground is a short hike from the pier and is sheltered from harsh ocean winds. As you explore this area, please respect the property boundary and help protect and preserve these delicate resources for future generations.
Santa Cruz Island, the largest of California’s Channel Islands, is one of the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park. The island is rich in cultural history, magnificent landscapes, and unique flora and fauna. Native American peoples inhabited the island for over 10,000 years, and Europeans explored and ranched on the island for more than 150 years. More than 600 plant species, 140 land birds, 11 land mammals, and a variety of amphibians and reptiles call the island home. The island fox and island scrub‑jay are especially exciting finds, as they are unique to Santa Cruz Island and found nowhere else in the world.
From Recreation.gov and Recreation.gov — campground rate cards · · Edit
Cell service
Report signal- VerizonNo coverage on FCC map
- AT&T4G LTE
- T-Mobile4G LTE
Cell service at Santa Cruz Island Prisoners Harbor: FCC map Dec 2025
Weather
National Weather Service
- TueSunny68°63°
- WedSunny74°66°
- ThuSunny80°73°
- FriSunny86°73°
- SatSunny79°69°
Nearby camping
SeeSee all on the mapThe nearest other campground is more than 25 mi away. Know one closer? Add it
Location and contact
Data from Recreation Information Database (RIDB) / Recreation.gov, Recreation.gov — campground rate cards
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