Channel Islands National Park, CA
Rugged 3-mile out-and-back from Smugglers Cove to the remote Yellowbanks beach
Overview
This rugged out-and-back follows the route from Smugglers Cove to Yellowbanks beach on eastern Santa Cruz Island. The route crosses the historic ranch area, climbs through exposed island terrain, and descends to the remote beach entrance before retracing the same corridor.
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Channel Islands Tour Guide
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 area
Smugglers Cove: A Hike to a Historic Cove“The area ahead contains Smugglers Cove, a major highlight for visitors up for a serious day hike.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Channel Islands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
The visitor route is 3 miles round trip from Smugglers Cove, matching the National Park Service distance convention. The stored line is the one-way physical corridor; hikers retrace it on the return. The mapped corridor is approximately 1.93 miles one way, and the final approach to the beach is unmaintained.
Expect broad coastal views, open island grassland and chaparral, the historic Smugglers ranch/olive-orchard setting, and the secluded Yellowbanks shoreline. The beach approach is rugged and the route is remote.
The National Park Service rates Yellowbanks strenuous. The route is exposed to sun and wind, with uneven and loose footing and no water or services. Carry all water and supplies, stay on the established route, and use extra care near the beach and any steep or unstable edges.
There is no vehicle access to Smugglers Cove. Arrive by boat at Scorpion Anchorage, then hike the separate Smugglers Road approach to the cove; the National Park Service lists that approach as 7.5 miles round trip from Scorpion Beach. Pets are not allowed on the islands, and visitors must pack out all waste.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
ModerateNorth Bluff Trail3.8 mi · 2 hr · 1.9 mi awayExposed coastal loop from Scorpion Anchorage via Cavern Point and North Bluff to Potato Harbor views
ModerateBluff Trail (Santa Cruz Island)5 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.9 mi awayExposed island bluffs leading from Scorpion Beach to Potato Harbor
ModerateScorpion Canyon Loop Trail4.5 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.9 mi awayClockwise 4.5-mile island loop from Scorpion Anchorage with coastal views, an historic oil well, and endemic wildlife
ChallengingSmugglers Cove Trail7.5 mi · 4.5 hr · 1.9 mi awayRemote island climb to a turquoise cove with big ocean views
ChallengingMontañon Ridge Trail10 mi · 6.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA strenuous, exposed loop to Montañon Ridge with sweeping island and ocean views
EasyScorpion Anchorage to Cavern Point2 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA short coastal loop from Scorpion Anchorage to Cavern Point
ModeratePotato Harbor Trail5.2 mi · 2.8 hr · 2.1 mi awayA moderate 5.2-mile coastal out-and-back from Scorpion Anchorage to a clifftop view of Potato Harbor
ModerateCavern Point Loop2 mi · 1.3 hr · 2.2 mi awayShort bluff-top loop from Scorpion Ranch with huge ocean views and a steep start
Beach · At the trailheadSmugglers CoveRemote cove with big views at the end of a stout hike
Sight · 0.2 mi awaySmugglers Ranch HouseRestored 1889 ranch house tucked above secluded Smugglers Cove
Sight · 1.8 mi awayScorpion RockOffshore seabird sanctuary with misty cliffs and marine views
Sight · 1.9 mi awayMontañon PeakHighest accessible island summit with big 360-degree views
Sight · 1.9 mi awayScorpion AnchorageAll-in-one hub for hikes, sea caves, and kelp snorkeling
Sight · 2.1 mi awayScorpion AdobeRanch-era adobe steps from Scorpion Anchorage with island history
Sight · 2.1 mi awayChannel Islands Adventure CompanyGuided sea-cave kayaking at Scorpion with expert, eco-minded guides
Sight · 2.1 mi awayScorpion RanchHistoric ranch hub for hikes, kelp snorkeling, and sea cave kayakingParkwolf’s Channel Islands ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
