Channel Islands National Park, CA

Fly into Los Angeles Airport (LAX). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.

Take the free airport shuttle to local hotel (TBD)

Equipment shakedown

"Before" measurements taken

Trail mix distribution

Trip to REI, 1800 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, (310) 727-0728, for forgotten or last minute equipment. Hours 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Go out for dinner (Dinner not included in trip cost)

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.

Ground shuttle 2.5 hours to Ventura

We will eat breakfast in the shuttle vehicle(s)

Board the Noon Island Ferry, to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park

Have a picnic lunch on board

Arrive at Scorpion Beach, sea level

Carry all your stuff about 0.2 miles to Scorpion Camground, group site TBD. Potable water available.

Set up base camp

Start Day Hiking at Scorpion Campground, Elevation 100'

Day-Hike 1.0 miles on the Cavern Point Loop Trail to the North Bluff Trail, elevation 250'

Day-Hike 1.5 miles back to Potato Harbor Overlook, elevation 350'.

Day-Hike 0.1 miles back to unnamed trail intersection, elevation 350'.

Day-Hike 2.2 round trip miles on the unnamed trail and back, elevation 500'

Day-Hike 1.4 miles back to the Cavern Point Loop Trail, elevation 250'.

Day-Hike 0.4 miles back to Scorpion Campground, elevation 100'.

Camp at Scorpion Campground, elevation 100'

Miles today: 6.6. Total miles: 6.6

Day-Hike 3.5 miles via Cypress Grove to Smugglers Ranch, elevation along the way 500'

Day-Hike 3.5 back to camp, elevation 100’

Go snorkeling, snorkeling. According to the National Park Service "Some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world can be done right here within the park."

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 13.6

Day-Hike almost 1.5 miles towards Potato Harbor Overlook, elevation 350'.

There is a well-marked left turn just before the Potato Harbor Overlook. The next several miles will be on an unmaintained trail that will just disappear at times. However, following the landforms we were successfully able to navigate these areas to get to the more established trail.

Day-Hike about 3.0 miles on an unmaintained trail up a ridge to a high point, elevation 1532'. When we top out, we will join an established ridge trail that will take us back to the Montanon Trail.

Day-Hike 4.0 on the Montanon Trail back to camp, elevation 100’

Miles today: 8.5. Total miles: 22.1

Break Camp and head to the Scorpion Pier

Make sure to be carrying at least 2.5 gallons (10 liters) of water in your full pack. This is all the water we will have for the rest of the trip

Take the 10:30AM ferry to Prisoners Harbor

Backpack 1.4 miles to the Eagle Canyon Trail, elevation 500'

Backpack 2.1 miles to Del Norte Camp, elevation 550'

Base camp at Del Norte Camp, elevation 550'

Miles today: 3.5. Total miles: 27.1

Day-Hike 7.0 round trip miles on the Del Norte Trail to Chinese Harbor, elevation along the way 1000'

Starting at camp, Day-Hike 1.0 round trip miles on the Del Norte Trail to a restored historical ranch, elevation 1100'

Base camp at Del Norte Camp, elevation 550'

Miles today: 8.0. Total miles: 35.1

Break camp early and backpack 3.5 miles to Prisoners Harbor, elevation Sea Level

Arrive at Prisoners Harbor by 10:00AM

Drop backpacks and meet a naturalist from Island Packers for an orientation.

With the naturalist, day-hike 4.0 round trip miles on Nature Conservancy land to Pelican Bay, elevation Sea Level

End of hiking

Miles today: 7.5. Total miles: 42.6

Take the 3:30PM ferry back to Ventura

Shuttle back to Los Angeles

Check back into hotel (TBD)

After measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony. Dinner not included in trip cost.

Take Free Airport Shuttle