Caves, Waves, and a Greenroom

Kayak tour off of Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Island National Park

Etched into volcanic rock awhirl with swooping brown pelicans, sea caves make for dramatic echo chambers, hissing with foam and swelling with ocean waves. And you, in the thick of adventure! Don’t miss exploring one of the Channel Islands’ most dynamic stretches of coast on a three-hour expert-guided kayak tour with Santa Barbara Adventure Company. You’ll explore west of Scorpion Cove, a protected marine reserve and a West Coast breeding mecca for sea- and shorebirds.

Paddling into caves brings you to some wild scenes, and wildlife! Harbor seals keep themselves protected on a small beach, and a roaring blowhole drenches you whenever the swell hits just right. Ask your guide to take you to the “greenroom,” a beautiful alcove that tunnels through a giant offshore rock pummeled by waves. In a kayak, one can ride the surf through its narrow, barnacle-encrusted corridor as Brandt’s cormorants watch from guano-stained perches above.

kayakscorpion2-image-jpeg

BONUS: Although kayaking is the main draw here, snorkeling in and around the cove is fun, too. Beneath the surf, giant kelp forests sway in the shimmering depths, attracting an array of sea life, including spiny lobster, rockfish, and California sheephead. Grab a snorkel mask and flippers and then plunge in and scope the waters east toward Scorpion Rocks or west past the currently damaged pier (a wet suit is highly recommended). Among the kelp blades, you’re likely to spot bright orange Garibaldi and schools of Pacific jack mackerel, glittering silver. Sea lions often play in the shallows as well, and are known to swim right up to snorkelers to give them the once-over.

snorkelscorpion1-image-jpeg

Santa Barbara Adventure Company’s 3-hour kayak adventures. They also provide snorkel gear and wet suits free of charge after kayak trips. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View