During winter and spring, visitors need to be prepared for a wet creek crossing on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. After heavy rains, water in creeks can increase dramatically in a short period of time, becoming fast moving, over 3 feet deep , and capable of sweeping hikers off their feet and vehicles off roads.
All canyons on these islands are susceptible to flooding. However, the canyons that visitors come in contact with most frequently include:
Santa Cruz Island
Cañada del Puerto (Prisoners Harbor area)
This creek crossing is required for visitors that are hiking or camping east of the Prisoners Harbor area. Hiking on the Pelican Bay trail on The Nature Conservancy Property does not require a creek crossing. After heavy rains, this crossing can be very swift, swell to up to 3 feet deep and become impassable. Be flexible with trips dates to wait for water to recede and have a backup hiking plan. If you are coming from the east and cannot safely cross the canyon, you will need to be prepared to return to Scorpion Anchorage and notify Island Packers of your change in pickup via cell phone.
Scorpion Canyon
All hikes to the south of Scorpion Canyon (including Smugglers Cove) require a creek crossing. Water may back up at the mouth of Scorpion Canyon requiring visitors to walk through standing water. After heavy rains water may be deep and swift, but usually recedes quickly as weather dries out. Water crossing are also possible just beyond Scorpion Ranch and beyond the upper campground.
Smugglers Canyon
Only hikes beyond Smugglers Ranch, to Yellowbanks or off trail up Smugglers Canyon require creek crossings. After heavy rains, water may be deep and swift, but usually recedes quickly as weather dries out.
Santa Rosa Island
Water Canyon
There is a footbridge over the creek at the Coastal Road crossing. However, this footbridge can be damaged or washed-out during winter and spring rains. Without the footbridge visitors should expect to water to be up to 4 feet deep. This canyon must be crossed to access Torrey Pines, Skunk Point, East Point, and the South (Wreck Road) that leads to backcountry camping in the southeast quadrant.
Knowing how to cross creeks safely is an essential skill for travel within the park during winter and spring. Never underestimate the dangers associated with creek crossings.
Crossing creeks can be VERY dangerous without preparation, patience, and planning. Hikers must be familiar with safe techniques for crossing creeks. Learn the signs of hypothermia – shivering, loss of manual dexterity and coordination, slurred speech, mental impairment – and know how to treat its victims by rewarming their core body temperature. Remember, no creek crossing is worth your life.
Check the park website alerts and check with a ranger for current creek conditions along your route prior to departing on your hike. Make a backup plan in case the water is too high, cold, or swift to cross.
ALWAYS BE WILLING TO TURN BACK OR WAIT FOR A MORE SUITABLE TIME IF A CROSSING APPEARS TOO DANGEROUS.
Please follow the guidance below to ensure safe creek crossings.
Protect Your Feet
NEVER cross in bare feet. Crossing barefoot decreases traction and exposes your feet to submerged hazards such as rocks, boulders, logs, and other debris.
Wear boots or bring extra shoes for crossings. Open-toed sandals do not protect your toes from these hazards and create drag that can cause you to fall. If you do not have extra shoes, remove your socks and insoles and cross in your boots.
Move one foot at a time, sliding it across the bottom.
Pack wool or synthetic socks. They will keep your feet warm even if wet.
Choose the Safest Time to Cross
Plan extra time into your trip, so you can wait until water levels are lower.
Wear and pack quick-dry fabric clothing. Pack shorts to change into for the crossing. Long pants increase drag and won't keep you warm when wet.
Be aware of weather conditions in the area and cross before storms whenever possible. Water levels may vary drastically according to season, time of day, temperature and up-creek weather conditions. Do your research and be prepared.
Plan on turning around, waiting it out or going elsewhere if the water is too high, too cold, or too swift.
Choose the Safest Place and Method to Cross
For general creek crossings, the widest or most braided portion of the channel is usually the most shallow and straight channels usually exhibit uniform flow while bends often reveal deep cut banks and swift water on the outside edge.
Water has less momentum on level ground than when flowing down an incline.
If hiking solo, use a hiking staff or trekking pole, held up creek, to create a more stable, three-point stance. Move only one contact point at a time.
Two or more hikers should cross parallel to the current with the strongest and heaviest member up creek to lessen the force on the other hikers. Walk across with arms linked, or face up creek and sidestep across.
Keep your eyes on the far shore. You may become dizzy if you look down at the swirling water.
In deep water, the triangle method is safest. Facing each other, three people grip each others shoulders or packs and work their way across one person, one leg, at a time.
Assess the Water’s Properties
Toss a stick in up creek to get a feel for the water's speed: the swifter the water the shallower it has to be to cross safely. If you cannot walk as fast the stick is floating down creek, it is probably not a safe spot to cross.
Standing waves indicate submerged boulders, logs, swift water, or an uneven bottom.
Small, closely spaced ripples should be indicative of a shallower, smoother bottom. This is a better place to cross than where there are standing waves.
Toss a rock into the water. A hollow "ka-thump" sound indicates deep water. If the rock moves down creek before sinking to the bottom, or if submerged rocks can be heard rolling down creek, the current may be too swift to cross at that point.
Avoid crossing through water deeper than your knees if possible. The only time to wade through deeper water is when you locate a flat pool with little or no current.
Prepare to Get Wet:
Release the waist and sternum belts of your pack. Should you fall, you must be able to remove the pack before it turns you over, face down into the water, fills up with water and drags you down or becomes snagged on debris in the creek. You might lose the pack if the straps aren't connected, but consider the alternative.
Be familiar with pack buckles and be prepared to shed your pack to remain afloat. Be prepared to lose your pack if you fall or trip in the creek.
Pack your essential items such as sleeping bags, and clothes in watertight stuff sacks or plastic bags to keep them dry in case you do fall. Insulation could save your life if subjected to cold water for long periods. This also enhances your pack's buoyancy.
In faster currents, face up creek and cross at a slight angle down creek. Lean slightly into the current, and shuffle-step sideways.
Normally, when hiking trails, water crossings are singular events and dry clothing can be removed and put back on once the crossing is complete. However, if raining stay in your clothes, socks, and footwear. Have dry clothing, especially socks, to change into once you’re done traveling in the rain.
Before crossing, place your communications devices and basic survival gear (emergency space blanket, etc.) in a waterproof bag and store it on your body during the crossing. If your pack gets away and is lost, your survival may depend on these critical items.
If a crossing seems too risky...it probably is! Always include an option for a retreat back to shore should the crossing become too difficult.
