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
32
Openings · last 90 days
32
Only 32 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 4 monitored sites
Of the 732 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 418 open for online reservation · 314 reserved.
Where the open windows are
42.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 418 of 732 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online42.9%
Open site-nights418 / 732
Reserved (of online inventory)314 / 732
Weekday openings284
Weekend openings134
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 284 fall on weekdays and 134 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027January holds the most room. 104 of 124 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 4 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 3 | 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 | 2 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no site is currently available for the complete three-night stay. Friday and Saturday have no online availability; individual Thursday night remains open. Christmas: 3 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 site is available for the complete two-night stay.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 003 | 111 |
| 002 | 108 |
| 004 | 106 |
| 001 | 93 |
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 Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 18
Next open weekendFri · Sep 18
The next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
418 open site-nights across 4 sites at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 65 2-night, 52 3-night, 20 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site 004.
All 4 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 003 | Not recorded | None | 111 | 24 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 22, Oct 7, Oct 26, Oct 27, Oct 28, Nov 9, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19 +99 more |
| 002 | Not recorded | None | 108 | 13 nights | Sep 18, Sep 27, Oct 4, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 27, Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 15 +96 more |
| 004 | Not recorded | None | 106 | 15 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 20, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 3 +94 more |
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 93 | 12 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Oct 22, Oct 28, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 26, Nov 29, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 2 +81 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. 418 of 732 tracked site-nights are currently open (57.1%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 32 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 Sep 18, 2026 16:19 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, 32 over 30 days and 32 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
52 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site 004. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
January 2027, with 104 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 124.
When is the next open date at Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Filter
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
Watch
We run paced availability checks for Santa Cruz Island Del Norte Backcountry. One watch covers every matching site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.