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Scorpion and Little Scorpion Anchorages
Little Scorpion Anchorage is the primary overnight anchorage. It usually affords protection from the prevailing westerlies, but the swell can enter the anchorage, making for rough and sleepless nights. If I plan to spend the night, I also plan a backup. Swell, wind and, on one occasion, the Smell from Bird S**t Rock have encouraged me to find another spot for the night.
Finding the anchorage couldn't be much easier: Bird S**t rock is visible for 10 miles in moderately clear weather. Shape a course to the rock and then pick a spot 100-150 yards to the east. The anchorage is quite deep and you'll find that you have to maneuver in fairly close to get in to less than 30 feet. The bottom is mostly sand. We generally anchor bow & stern to prevent swinging. Other boats line up beam-to-beam in a N-S line all along the east side of the rocks. I prefer the spots closest to the island proper, but will accept the second tier spots that are farther out. There is also room to moor east of the primary spots close to shore.
Hazards: Nothing that you can't see. The bottom is sand and holding is excellent and kelp is not an issue these days.
Scorpion Anchorage
The shore near Gherini (Scorpion) Ranch has two distinct anchorages. Island Packers uses the western one at the mouth of the valley where the ranch house is located. We stay well clear of their dock, which is tucked in the west corner of the anchorage. We prefer to drop a single hook just shoreward of the western most rock in 20-25 feet of water, but will accept a spot almost anywhere along the beach and will anchor to within 100 yards west of BS rock if we have to. But remember, for a yacht on a single hook, this is, at best a fair weather anchorage. The swell frequently creeps around the corner in the Island Packers anchorage and it is difficult to get close enough to the shore to get out of the westerly wind. The bottom in this area is sandy in many parts, but there are areas of mud and weed where holding is less secure. On the other hand, this is where you can bring your dinghy or kayak ashore with ease. There is no breaking surf, which makes this one of the few easy places to come ashore on Santa Cruz. The beach comprises fairly large rocks, so water shoes or sandals are essential.
Scorpion Attractions Scorpion has the best kayaking spots on the island. , further west, is far more vast, but the caves near Scorpion are easily accessible and require no spelunking gear. They're not very scary, either.
Don't miss the Blue Grotto, sometimes called Emerald Cave, which is accessed on the east side of BS rock. It's got a cathedral-high ceiling, a grand light show and a passage through BS rock.
If you drop your boat in the water when the sun just peaks over Anacapa, you'll likely find glass-smooth waters and excellent visibility. It can be more revealing than any aquarium as you see in this picture of the bottom, which was not shot from underwater, but sitting in my plastic boat.
Kayakers Caution While this is a great spot for exploring in your plastic boat, many of the caves are fairly low. A little bit of tidal rush, a biggish wave, maybe just the wake off a tourist boat can ram you into the ceiling. We always wear helmets when we paddle inside, but you could still be crushed if you've picked a cave with minimum clearance. Additionally, if you leave the shelter of the anchorage, be aware of the afternoon westerlies, particularly in summer, which can make paddling back to your boat extremely difficult. We generally paddle west in the morning and, if we're on a long trip, in good position to ride the westerly home.
Landing Permits NOT Required Permits not required; it's your national park. For information about camping ashore, guided tours and facilities (not much), go to National Park Service. For additional information about the joint conservation efforts of Nature Conservancy
Updates If you have new or amplifying information concerning this anchorage or the surrounding area, please contact Capt. Dan. His e-mail link and phone are top left.
 Photos:
 Map: Scorpion Anchorage, Channel Islands National Park Google Map
 Video:
 Links:
NPS Santa Cruz Info
Visitor Center
Nature Conservancy Santa Cruz Info
NPS Boating & Fishing Rules
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