The first time I visited Catalina I went to the more well known destination of Avalon. While I enjoyed my visit to the island, I left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the island. This was not the case when I went camping at Two Harbors. This side of the island is much more aligned with how I like to vacation. If you enjoy camping under the stars, adventuring on mesmerizing hiking trails, or gawking at pristine sunsets then read on to learn how to plan your next camping trip!
How to Get to Two Harbors
The most common (and affordable) way to get to Catalina is via ferry. For this reason I am only going to cover this travel method in my post. Other options include chartering a private boat, plane or helicopter. The ferry takes just over an hour and is quite beautiful. On our trip we saw seals and dolphins during the ride over to Catalina.
Ferries leave from the following destinations: San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach & Dana Point. The only direct ferry to Two Harbors leaves from San Pedro. If arriving in Avalon you can either hitch a ride on the Cyclone Ferry for $33 or hire a shuttle for about $280. The cyclone takes 40 minutes and the taxi ride is about 80 minutes.
If you travel from San Pedro, Long Beach or Dana Point you will be going with the Catalina Express. Their full schedule and costs can be found here. Schedules and fees change depending on the season, so always check this when planning your trip! Catalina Flyer operates between Newport and Avalon. Their schedule and cost can be found here.
Two Harbors Campground
Okay so now you have figured out the fun logistics of how to get to your destination! Next is how to reserve your campsite. The campground has a two night minimum stay on weekends between May 1 – October 31 and three night minimum for holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day). Campsites cost $32 per person per night.
This map shows the layout of the campground. After walking the grounds I found that sites 30-33 were the best. They are a bit more secluded than the other sites and have a great unobstructed view of the ocean.
The campgrounds have outdoor showers (unheated), potable water and porta potties for bathrooms. All of the sites have a fire pit and you can add fire wood to your site reservation. There are also showers next to the Harbor Reef Restaurant – make sure to bring quarters – it is $2.00 for 3 min and 20 seconds.
From the campground you can access a small beach. Along the edge of the beach are some rock features and decent snorkeling.
Two Harbors Activities
When I visited Two Harbors I was only able to spend one night on the island. My visit went by much too quickly and I felt like I could have spent a full week there. The first day I took a long 14.4mi hike to another primitive campsite called Parsons Landing. The second day I gave my legs a rest and rented a kayak and explored some of the surrounding coves.
The hike to Parsons Landing can be done via two routes. I decided to do the hike as a loop so I could have a variety of terrain. On the way to Parson’s I walked along a meandering trail that followed the coastline of the island. The walk was largely flat and overall not taxing. If the weather is warm I highly recommend bringing a bathing suit and towel so you can cool off at Parsons.
Along this route you will see amazingly clear ocean water juxtaposed with the bright green hillsides of the island. The color of the ocean and sand truly made me feel like I was on a Caribbean island!
These views of the pristine ocean made me really want to trek down to the beaches and take a swim. But alas I was on quite a long trek already to reach Parsons Landing. If I were to do the hike again I would consider bringing or renting a mountain bike so I could beach hop along the way to Parsons landing!
After hiking for about 7mi we were finally able to see the small strip of beach that comprises Parsons Landing. This beach has 8 campsites and are highly coveted; if you want to camp here you will need to make reservations early! The campground doesn’t have potable water. You can either bring a filter or have water added onto your site reservation.
One thing you should definitely do on Parsons – search for amethyst stones! When you arrive at the beach, if you walk the length of the beach past all the campgrounds you will come to a creek. Follow the creek bed up and keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful crystals!
I decided to take the long route back to Two Harbors. This route takes an extremely steep dirt trail to the tallest point on Catalina Island. In just 3.5mi you will gain 1500 feet in elevation. The trail brings you along the ridge line for about 2mi before starting the descent back into Two Harbors. As we approached the top of the ridge line the weather rapidly changed as the Pacific came into view. The winds changed from nonexistent to whipping ~50mph. The sky changed from sunshine to full cloud coverage. The view from the top and seeing these two sides of the island at once was really cool!
The second day on Catalina I decided to visit the Two Harbors Dive Shop. The shop rents kayaks, paddle boards, power boats, mountain bikes and scuba equipment. They are located at the pier in town, you can’t miss it!
I chose to rent a kayak and thoroughly enjoyed that decision. I was able to take the kayak North from the dock and explore the small coves which were littered with the best sea shells I had ever seen! It was a nice change in perspective to be on the beaches that I had hiked above the day before. From the kayak I was able to look down on the ocean and see kelp forests with bright orange fish swimming below. Next time I visit I definitely want to rent some scuba gear and explore the world below the surface of the ocean!
