Anchorage

Little Scorpion anchorage

Shelter: SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage on the north-east side of Santa Cruz Island, in Channel Islands National Park, California, a short distance east of Scorpion Anchorage, on a sand bottom.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

The anchorage is deep, so you must work in fairly close to find less than 35 feet under the keel. The bottom is mostly sand with patches of eel grass where holding is less sure. It usually shelters from the prevailing westerlies, but swell can still roll in, making for an uneasy night. A fair-weather anchorage best used on a single hook in settled conditions.

Practical

No facilities on the island. The nearest fuel, water and provisions are at Vintage Marina and Sail Channel Islands on the mainland, 17.4 miles to the NE.

Ashore

Santa Cruz Island lies within Channel Islands National Park. The sea caves near Scorpion, including the Blue Grotto, are reachable by tender or kayak with no caving gear, and there is rarely breaking surf to land through. A two-mile walk leads to the cliff edge above Scorpion Anchorage.