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 Wingate by Wyndham LAX, 10300 S La Cienega Blvd, Inglewood, CA,90304

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)

Early (5AM) wake-up

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 or at least consolidate it into 1 bag.

Ground shuttle 2.5 hours to Ventura

We will eat breakfast in the shuttle vehicle(s)

Board the 9AM Island Ferry, to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park

Arrive at Scorpion Beach, sea level

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

Set up base camp and have lunch.

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 passing an olive grove along the way, elevation along the way 500'

Day-Hike 3.5 back to camp, elevation 100’

Option A: Day-Hike 2.8 round trip miles to the historic oil well, elevation 750’

Option B: 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 or 9.8. Total miles: 13.6 or 16.4

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 or 24.9

Break Camp and head to the Scorpion Pier

Take the 9:30AM ferry to Santa Rosa Island

Hike 1.5 miles from dock to the Water Canyon Campsite, elevation 100'

Day-hike 5.8 round trip miles on the Cherry Creek Trail up to the summit of Black Mountain, elevation 1298'

Camp at Water Canyon Camp, sites 006, 008 & 010. elevation 100'

Miles today: 7.3. Total miles: 29.4 or 32.2

Day-Hike 10.0 round trip miles on the Lobo Canyon Trail to the Pacific Ocean, elevation along the way 600'

Camp at Water Canyon Camp, sites 006, 008 & 010. elevation 100'

Miles today: 10.0. Total miles: 39.4 or 42.2

Day-Hike 5.5 round trip miles on a loop to Torrey Pines. Take a spur trail to Bechers Bay on return.

Have lunch and break camp

Day-Hike 1.5 miles to the Ferry Dock.

End of hiking

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 46.4 or 49.2

Take the 2:30PM ferry back to Ventura

Shuttle back to Los Angeles

Check back into Wingate by Wyndham LAX, 10300 S La Cienega Blvd, Inglewood, CA,90304

After measurements taken

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

Take Free Airport Shuttle