Parking
No car access. Arrive by boat at Scorpion Anchorage and begin near the Scorpion Ranch/campground access; carry water and keep a wide buffer for the return boat.
Overview
About Montañon Ridge Trail
Montañon Ridge Loop is a strenuous, roughly 10-mile round trip from Scorpion Beach/Anchorage on eastern Santa Cruz Island. It is for experienced hikers only; plan on a long, exposed day with substantial climbing and about 6–8 hours on the route, depending on pace and conditions.
Why go
- Panoramic Pacific, Anacapa, and Santa Cruz Island views
- Remote ridge terrain and a demanding backcountry-style day
- Wildlife and seasonal wildflower viewing on eastern Santa Cruz Island
Heads up
- Unmaintained, rugged sections require route-finding and a topographic map
- Long, fully exposed day with no dependable water along the route
- Boat access and limited signage leave little margin for delays
Choose this loop for rugged terrain, solitude, and big island views. It is a serious day for experienced hikers, especially because parts of the ridge route are unmaintained.
Parkwolf’s verdictBottom lineMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Channel Islands map
Full mapElevation16–1,339 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Channel Islands alerts
- ClosureSanta Rosa Island wildfire-recovery closuresAvoid closed routes and shorelines on Santa Rosa Island during recovery from the 2026 wildfire.Official details
- ClosureSanta Barbara Island dock closed; landings restrictedThe Santa Barbara Island dock is closed; landings are restricted to the adjacent rocky ledge. - Severe winter storm damage caused the closure, and repairs are not expected in the near future.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Channel Islands Tour Guide
Your drive to Montañon Ridge Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Channel Islands National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Channel Islands audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Scorpion Anchorage: The Island's Activity HubListen
“You're heading toward Scorpion Anchorage, the main base of operations on Santa Cruz Island. This is the starting point for most popular activities, all located right at the landing.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Channel Islands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- South Bluff Trail: A Quiet Coastal Connector
- Scorpion Ranch: The Heart of Santa Cruz Island
- Scorpion Rock: A Protected Seabird Sanctuary
- Scorpion Anchorage Overlook and Cavern Point Loop
- 47 audio storiesacross Channel Islands’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Island Fox, Humpback Whale, Blue Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 31 trails, 49 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Montañon Ridge Trail
Route and terrainThis loop uses the Scorpion Canyon and North Bluff/Potato Harbor approaches around Montañon…
This loop uses the Scorpion Canyon and North Bluff/Potato Harbor approaches around Montañon Ridge. The National Park Service notes that it can be accessed via Smuggler’s Road or via the North Bluff Trail near Potato Harbor. The section from Potato Harbor Overlook to Montañon Ridge is not maintained, and route-finding is part of the experience. Expect rocky, steep, rugged terrain, long sunny stretches, and limited signage.
What you’ll seeThe ridge and North Bluff side offer broad views of the Pacific, Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz…
The ridge and North Bluff side offer broad views of the Pacific, Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island’s coast, and the interior valleys. Montañon’s high country feels much more remote than the maintained valley and bluff walks near Scorpion.
Logistics and essentialsThere is no car access: arrive by boat at Scorpion Anchorage and begin near the Scorpion…
There is no car access: arrive by boat at Scorpion Anchorage and begin near the Scorpion Ranch/campground access. Carry plenty of water because there is no dependable water along the route. Bring sun and wind protection, sturdy footwear, a topographic map, and navigation backup. Leave a generous buffer for the return boat. No pets are allowed on the islands.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Channel Islands
2,232 sightingsIsland FoxMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
282 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
79 sightingsBlue WhaleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
101 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
364 sightingsCalifornia Sea LionMost seen around noonSighting map
105 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Channel Islands. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
