Openings · last 7 days
14
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 14 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-232499
When Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry reopens
Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
42
Openings · last 90 days
103
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dMonday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected. 26 of 103 openings detected in the last 90 days occurred on a Monday (25.2%), with Tuesday (20) and Friday (16) next in line.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 02:00 and 03:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 25 of 103 detected openings (24.3%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Pacific Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 7 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 3–14 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 004 | 29 | 28.2% |
| 001 | 29 | 28.2% |
| 002 | 23 | 22.3% |
| 003 | 22 | 21.4% |
Site 004 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 29. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027 · of 4 monitored sites
Of the 732 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027): 432 open for online reservation · 300 reserved.
Where the open windows are
41% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 432 of 732 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online41%
Open site-nights432 / 732
Reserved (of online inventory)300 / 732
Weekday openings310
Weekend openings122
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 310 fall on weekdays and 122 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 2027January holds the most room. 93 of 124 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 4 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 4 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 1 | Open | |
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: 3 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 002 | 116 |
| 003 | 109 |
| 004 | 107 |
| 001 | 100 |
The 4 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Nov 2
Next open weekendFri · Nov 6
The next bookable night is Nov 2; the first open weekend starts Nov 6. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
432 open site-nights across 4 sites at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 81 2-night, 64 3-night, 16 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 2 at site 001.
All 4 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Not recorded | None | 116 | 11 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 6, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 18, Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 6 +104 more |
| 003 | Not recorded | None | 109 | 19 nights | Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 29, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 15, Dec 16 +97 more |
| 004 | Not recorded | None | 107 | 13 nights | Nov 3, Nov 5, Nov 10, Nov 18, Nov 29, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 6, Dec 7, Dec 8 +95 more |
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 100 | 10 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 6, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 8 +88 more |
About Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry
Overview
For a truly remote getaway full of backpacking and breathtaking scenery, take a backcountry trip to Santa Cruz Island's Del Norte Campground. Del Norte is currently the only backcountry campground on Santa Cruz Island. The National Park Service opened this backcountry site in recognition of its rare wilderness values. As you explore these wild areas, please take the responsibility to help us protect and preserve these delicate natural resources for future generations.
While backcountry camping is an incredible experience, it is not for the inexperienced backpacker. Due to difficult weather, rugged terrain, and off-trail hiking, backcountry camping is an arduous endeavor and should be undertaken only by experienced, well-conditioned backpackers.
To reach this backcountry site, visitors will backpack along a historic ranch road/trail through a series of canyons and ridges, to a vista about 700 feet above sea level. This moderate to strenuous 3.5-mile hike from Prisoners Harbor travels through island oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub plant communities.
Recreation
From Prisoners Harbor, the shortest route to the Del Norte Campground is 3.5 miles via the Del Norte Trail. Follow the Navy Road out of Prisoners Harbor for 1.5 miles (600-foot elevation gain; strenuous). This gravel road is still used daily by vehicles, so please use caution while hiking along it. During winter and spring, visitors need to be prepared for a wet creek crossing at Canada del Puerto in Prisoner's Harbor.
At the signed turn-off for Del Norte Trail, leave the gravel road and continue east (left) along the trail for 1.8 miles. The trail winds up and down two canyons (Cañada del Agua and Cañada del Muro)) to the signed junction with the Del Norte Road that leads .2 miles to the campground.
The longer route (5 miles), which provides views of the south side of the island, follows the Navy Road as it climbs 1,200 feet over 4 miles and eventually reaches the junction with the Del Norte Road. At the signed junction, turn north (left) and descend 1 mile to the campground.
From Scorpion Anchorage, Del Norte Campground is approximately 12 miles via the Navy Road.
Beach access is at Prisoners Harbor. There is no access to the beach at Del Norte Campground.
Recreational activities on Santa Cruz Island include hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and wildlife/wildflower viewing. There are no services on the island, so all gear has to be brought to the island. Guided kayak trips and kayak rentals must be arranged before arriving on the island. For more information about recreational activities in the park, visit https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/index.htm .
Facilities
The Del Norte Campground has four primitive campsites (four persons per site) and users must camp within these designated sites. A picnic table and pit-style toilet are provided (campers must bring their own toilet paper). Visitors are encouraged to pack as light as possible (backpacking style) as they will need to carry all of their gear, food and water to the campsite. Water is not available. Access to the island is by Island Packers Cruises or by private boat.
Natural Features
Del Norte is nestled in a shaded oak grove and provides scenic views of the island's pristine coastline.
The largest of California's Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island is one of the five islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park. The island is rich in cultural history, magnificent landscapes, and unique flora and fauna. Native American Indians inhabited the island for over 10,000 years and Europeans explored and ranched on the island for over 150 years.
Over 600 plant species, 140 land birds, 11 land mammals and a handful of amphibians and reptiles call the island their home. The island fox and island scrub-jay are exciting finds, as they're unique to the island, found nowhere else in the world.
4 monitored sitesNo hookupsIslandMax party 4
Getting there
Boat transportation can be arranged with Island Packers from Ventura Harbor. To park headquarters in Ventura, California: Highway 101, exit Victoria or Seaward to Ventura Harbor.
1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001805-658-5730
BackpackingBirdingCampingHikingPhotographyWildernessWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-232499 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-232499 · Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry · Ventura CA9 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
Reservations for Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry are made through Recreation.gov. 432 of 732 tracked site-nights are currently open (59%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 103 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
Campsite Sniper detected 14 site-date openings at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry in the last 7 days, 42 over 30 days and 103 over the last 90.
Which day of the week had the most detected openings at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
Monday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected in the last 90 days: 26 of 103 (25.2%). Days reflect when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, not when the change occurred upstream.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
64 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 2 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
January 2027, with 93 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 124.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 7 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 3-14 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Nov 2 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Nov 6. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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