Capt. Dan's Guide to Santa Cruz and Anacapa Island Anchorages

Click on the Anchorage you'd like to explore. If the link doesn't work, that means we haven't been there. If you go, send us your pics and what you learn about anchoring there.

Santa Cruz Island has more great spots to drop your hook than anywhere between the Oregon and Mexico. Except for the 4th of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day, you'll be one of two boats - maybe the only boat - in most anchorages. Holidays can be pretty crowded, but the big, open anchorages like Prisoners and Smugglers can accommodate armadas. In fact, last Labor Day, we counted nearly 80 boats in Smugglers-Yellowbanks. Too many for our tastes, but we had customers who wanted to sail, so we did.

Frankly, it was too much like Catalina for us. It was fairly tight, a bit too loud and a bit too social.

I go there for the peace and quiet, which was a bit disrupted, though not obnoxiously.

Going Ashore on Santa Cruz Island

The Eastern quarter of the island is managed by the National Park Service and no permits are required for landing; however there are some areas that have restrictions. See Boating Info for National Park Service procedures and restrictions for the Channel Islands.

The Western portion of Santa Cruz is managed by The Nature Conservancy and permits are required to go ashore. Some areas are temporarily closed see permit application procedures.

National Park Service Info Santa Cruz Island