Santa Rosa Island Geo-hike Backpack to the Southeast Quadrant

Geo-hikes Backpack to the Southeast Quadrant Santa Rosa Island, 9/3-6/2025. Thom Davis will be explaining geology along the way.

ATTENDANCE PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO THOSE THAT HIKE FREQUENTLY WITH GEO-HIKES.

THERE IS A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE AVAILABLE TO THE GEO-HIKES GROUP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I WILL BE ADDING SOME PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGISTS TO THIS TRIP.

Santa Rosa Island (SRI) beaches are pristine and especially the south coast are wild and provide a glimpse of the southern California coastline of several hundred years ago. It is unique and we keep returning each year. On the other hand, it is not an easy backpack, and you need to carry more water. We are required to camp on the beach by the National Park Service, and you should read some of the other rules listed near the end of this summary.

Itinerary:
9/3, Island Packers boat to SRI pier and backpack to East Point (~7 miles with small elevation gain).There are three water sources on this route (Vale-Vickers Ranch, at the start; Water Campground; and Quemada Canyon).
If it turns out to be too warm for hiking further, we may choose to hang out at East Point until 9/6.
9/4, Backpack from East Point to Ford Point via use trail along the east side of San Augustine Canyon (~8 miles with 1300-1400 ft elevation gain). This is hard and the only water sources are Clap Springs (a several mile detour and at the mouth of San Augustine Canyon that is the end of the route.
9/5, Local hikes in the Ford Point area (we will figure this out on the island). Water is available at mouth of San Augustine Canyon.
9/6, Return backpack to Pier and take Island Packer boat back to Ventura (9-10 miles, 1700 feet elevation gain). This is hard, only water is at Clap Springs (a several mile detour) and near the end of the route (Water Canyon Campground and the Vale-Vickers Ranch area)

Everyone goes on a waitlist:
If you are new to the group send me a message with a few words about your hiking experience. You will go on a waitlist, and I will add you to the trip after looking at your experience.

You are responsible for making and paying for your Island Packers boat reservations to and from Santa Rosa Island. Book: 9/3, 8:00 AM departure to SRI from Ventura and 3:00 PM return to Ventura on 9/6.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you are on the trip before booking anything. It is always best to call Island Packers to make reservations. Sometimes online shows as full but calling will get you a spot.

Along the route, some of the time will be spent by Thom describing and photographing locations for subsequent Geo-hike’ backpacks and to place in a hiker's geology guide to the island being developed. We should stick together as a hiking group as much as possible, especially if you have not hiked on the remote parts of the island.

You will need to carry at least four liters of water, five if it is warm. Fresh water sources are limited on the island and available near the Pier, at Water Canyon Campground, Clap Springs (off the Wreck Road by about 0,6 miles), and San Augustine Canyon near the beach (just east of Ford Point). You will need to purify water from the backcountry sources.

Cost of the trip $100/person that includes backcountry camping reservation, instruction, and guidebook, but cost does not include the Island Packer's boat transport costs. Payment is made at the start of the event and by check made out to the Geologic Maps Foundation.

The National Park Service (NPS) has a lot of helpful information and maps at https://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/backcountry-beach-camping-on-santa-rosa-island.htm

IMPORTANT: Please read the NPS rules and regulations too:
Check-in with a ranger on arrival for an on-site orientation.
Camping is prohibited year round at Lobo Canyon and between Carrington and East Point (except in the Water Canyon campground).
From January 1 - August 14, backcountry beach camping is closed to protect pupping seals/sealions and nesting seabirds.
From March 1 to September 15, the back beaches and sand dunes between and including Skunk Point to just north of East Point are closed to hiking to protect the nesting area for the snowy plover, a federally listed, threatened shorebird. Please remain on the wet sand (below mean high tide) or the road throughout this area.
To protect sensitive resources, the Sandy Point Area is closed. This includes all beaches and land areas 300 ft. inland from 0.75 miles north from the Sandy Point benchmark to 0.85 miles south from the Sandy Point benchmark.
Travel between China Camp and Cluster Point is restricted to on-trail travel only, as indicated by signs on both sides. Travel off trail in this area is prohibited, except for the China Camp Corral area, located on the west side of the trail. Beach access to Cluster Point from the northwest is prohibited. Dispersed camping on the beaches to the northwest of Cluster Point and the southeast of China Camp is allowed with a valid camping permit for the Southwest Quadrant.
Travel is restricted to on-trail only from the mouth of Lobo Canyon to Cow Canyon. This is further delineated in several locations with post and rope stanchions and signs. Travel off trail, beyond signs, or post and rope stanchions is prohibited.
It is prohibited by law and regulation to leave human solid waste in the backcountry or in the wet intertidal sand. Human waste and toilet paper must be packed out for proper disposal. A variety of commercial "WAG" (human waste collection) bags are available from vendors. WAG bag collection containers are located at the public bathroom in the ranch at Becher's Bay and at the Wreck Corral along South (Wreck) Road near Ford Point along the southeast coast.
Camping is only allowed on beaches. Camping is prohibited in any other areas, including coastal bluffs.
No fires are allowed.
Since the mice do carry hantavirus, some basic precautions should be taken: do not feed any wild animals; keep food and drink in rodent-proof containers; and prevent entry of mice into your tent by keeping it zipped up at all times. Click here for more information on hantavirus.
Pack out all trash.