California’s national parks draw travelers from around the globe, yet one of the state’s most breathtaking destinations remains remarkably uncrowded. Channel Islands National Park welcomed only 227,186 recreational visitors in 2025—a fraction of Yosemite’s 4,278,413.
Now there’s another compelling reason to make the trip across the Santa Barbara Channel. The National Park Service has completed construction on the new Prisoners Harbor Campground on Santa Cruz Island, with reservations now available ahead of its first overnight stays on August 27, 2026.
With rates starting at just $15 per site per night, the intimate campground provides an affordable launching point for exploring the island’s wild shoreline, sweeping ocean vistas, and isolated trails.
A new overnight option on Santa Cruz Island
Prisoners Harbor Campground has just six sites, each designed for up to four campers.
Previously, visitors hoping to camp on Santa Cruz Island generally chose between two very different options: the remote Del Norte Campground, which requires a demanding 3.5-mile hike from the pier, or Scorpion Campground, a larger, more developed campground often favored by families and newer campers.
The Prisoners Harbor campground lands somewhere in between. It retains the quiet, low-key feel of an island backcountry trip, but sits within easy reach of the Prisoners Harbor pier.
It is also the first new campground on Santa Cruz Island in decades. The addition creates more room for multi-day adventures, including itineraries that combine hiking and kayaking between Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoners Harbor, while maintaining protections for the island’s sensitive environment.
“For our park rangers, Prisoners Harbor Campground is one of those rare opportunities to create a new inspirational experience that will be here for generations to come,” said Ethan McKinley, Channel Islands National Park Superintendent, in a press release. “It’s a small, thoughtfully designed campground that’s in tune with nature. Visitors will fall asleep listening to the gentle rhythm of cobblestones rolling in the surf.”
Camping at Prisoners Harbor
The Prisoners Harbor campground is located about a quarter mile from Prisoners Harbor Pier on Santa Cruz Island. In addition to their campground reservation, visitors must also book the separate 90-minute Island Packers boat trip from Ventura Harbor to Prisoners Harbor. Campfires and smoking are prohibited, and you must bring in all your own water, food, equipment, and supplies.
📍 Location: About one-quarter mile from Prisoners Harbor Pier on Santa Cruz Island
📅 Opening date: August 27, 2026
🎟️ Reservations: Available starting August 18, 2026 via National Park Service
💲 Cost: $15 per site, per night