Catalina can be SO amazing - but also SO expensive! I waited until the last minute for booking a…read morefriend's 40th birthday weekend in august and we were totally out of luck in finding a hotel within reason. I'm a pretty seasoned car camper but I have never backpacked so I was a little intimidated by the concept of camping on Catalina... BUT when I realized Hermit Gulch had Tent CABINS complete with cots, stoves and lanterns for less than $300/night (going rate for hotel) - my prayers were answered! From the website: The only campground in Avalon is tucked into scenic Avalon Canyon about two miles from downtown shops and restaurants. Instead of hitting the trail right off the boat, many hikers spend the night here to get an early-morning start on their Trans-Catalina Trail adventure. Amenities: 40 tent sites and 7 tent cabins, potable water, coin-op hot showers, restrooms, picnic tables, BBQs. No open fires. Wax logs and charcoal fires permitted in BBQs. Ranger on site. Pros: - Check-in time is 2pm- & Check-out time is 11 am. - Loud or amplified sound and music, including radios, are not permitted. - Tent cabins so spacious! literally 6 fully functional cots and walking room. - Come with stove, propane & lantern! - Picnic tables outside tent so nice to eat/play games at. - Host present from 10-5p with a little supply shop for some items. - Easy trolley ride from the harbor up to the campground with your gear. - Only about a mile walk to the store/downtown. - Tent cabins - $75/night + $29 per person/per night fee + tax. - The Trans Catalina Trail is easy to get to! - Not many bugs Cons: - fires and smoking are permitted in the BBQ and fire ring areas only. - No Pets are allowed at Hermits Gulch Campground. - Walk was an incline on the way back from the store. - No fires makes for a less enjoyable camping experience. - Not great service at the campsite so be aware. - Tent gets warm in the day but you should be at the beach anyway! Recommendations - Book the summer months so you have more daylight! - Bring a backpack chair to walk down to the beach for the day. - Think of it like backpacking with the bonus that you don't have to bring a tent, sleeping pad, and you will not be disappointed! All in all, I'm stoked I got this glamping experience on Catalina Island and highly recommend it for your next summer adventure!

Absolutely loved this campground. We have been here twice. Once we stayed in a tent and the second…read morewe stayed in the yurt. When we stayed by the yurt, there were some baby foxes that were literally right next to our campsite. They even went in the yurt, but they were harmless and we were not there at the moment. We did see them run out though. The little shop they have there is really neat and has a little bit of everything you will need. Our kids took the bikes and it was a nice little ride for them to get back onto the main street. We took the hiking trail up to the top. It was breathtaking and just so awesome. And I say breathtaking because I'm a little out of shape and it literally took my breath away lol but it was a great achievement for my husband and my son for us to do! Can't wait to come back!

This is an amazing beach campsite. We stayed at #7, which I recommend for three reasons: 1. sandy…read moreground makes for better tent options, 2. there's more space here. #6 to the south is farther away and you only have the residents of #8 to the north passing by. 3. This site is a bit elevated from the water, which makes the dolphin and seal watching a bit easier. A lot of people recommend site #1 which is a cool site because it's in its own secluded cove, but it's very rocky there and views of the water are limited. We were there in early January and witnessed hundreds of dolphins diving and splashing in the kelp forests off shore. I have never seen anything like it. You will want to get a locker of water and wood for each day you are there. So two days, two lockers. Be sure to stop at the office in Two Harbors to get the lock codes for those lockers before you set out. Very special. I have also posted this in my review of the Trans-Catalina Trail, but be forewarned that if you want to take the trail to Parsons from Two Harbors, which goes over the mountains, it's VERY difficult and steep and not for anyone of below average fitness. That said, the views are incredible. The other option is to take the coastal road, which is farther in distance, but much flatter and easier. Enjoy!

We ended up doing a day hike instead of a single over night. After this hike we have a better…read moreunderstanding of what we need for this location. - you definitely need mats to sleep on! The beach is very rocky. - USE THE FOOD BOX at all times! We learned quickly. And good thing I had taken extra food for lunch or we would've been hungry - check the vacant camp site food boxes. We found fire wood, water, camp soap, pots, pans and utensils in our food box. We ended up leaving a brand new bundle of firewood and an unopened water container for the next campers. - definitely take an extra lighter lol you just never know We started our hike to Parsons Landing from the Banning House at 8:30am. The 2 hr hike was breathtaking. Beautiful, sunny, cool day in December. Couldn't get any better. We arrived and at Parsons Landing and explored all the sites since only one another site was occupied. Every sites has a gorgeous view, fire pit, food box and fairly easy to distinguish. We walked over to our secluded site... best site in my opinion. I look forward to camping out for a few days next time.

My family and I have been going to this camp for 35 years--in fact, my parents went in the 1960s…read more The rustic setting and gorgeous ocean view with palm trees and an iconic rock jetty always bring me a deep sense of peace and joy as I get to experience the wonder of nature. I have been so blessed by this camp that I now volunteer my time there when I am able. I have been three times this summer, and each time the staff have been incredibly gracious and hospitable. The food is delicious, prepared from scratch by hand, and it's amazing the quality they consistently produce for groups of 200 or 250, including their fresh-baked bread and famous cinnamon rolls. I highly recommend this camp for groups. Even a weekend-getaway or a midweek conference will be enhanced by the incredible setting and hospitality, and it always makes the hour-long boat ride across the channel well worth it.

Catalina island was the most thrilling, exhilarating, lively, stimulating, and engaging, time…read moreever!!!! I went there for science camp in 6th grade and it was a blast! I would never say no to this place. I was very impressed with the food, one night it was spaghetti with garlic bread and the next night was tacos and burritos, you would never know what you would get! but always expect something good. Now talk about the cabins, the cabins were actually really nice, 4 bunk beds, that fit my cabin group perfectly. Next to the bathrooms, the showers were really nice and warm for a deserted island but make sure when you are in the bathrooms you make sure you leave nothing in there, because my friend left her brand new expensive hat in the bathroom, and next time she saw it it was in the toilet. They do have a lost and found but just make sure you don't lose anything. But try not to just leave your stuff in the bathroom but even at your cabins there's a lot of wild animals out there, when i was there i saw a lot of deer and also when i went on a 5 mile hike up on a huge hill we saw a rattle snake, foxes, and even bison. We also went snorkeling and it was so cool and amazing to the all the fish I saw a lot of garibaldi, and I even got to tough one it was kind of difficult but very, very cool. Garibaldi fish are named after the 19th-century Italian general, Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose followers were famous for wearing bright orange shirts. This is a fitting tribute to the fish's brilliant orange-red coloration and its fiery, territorial nature. tide pools were super duper fun. My class got to walk in the tide pools and see fish and a lot of crabs. but don't make the mistake of wearing adidas while walking in the tide pools. I definitely recommend crocs, water shoes, or booties. especially for when you are going in the water, this was one of my least favorite things at all, you had to walk on a bunch of rocks and it was clear so you could see all the rocks but still hurt a lot. Also one of my favorite things was kayaking. We kayaked more than 2 miles, 1.4 miles to our stopping point and obviously 1.4 miles back. For kayaking I would definitely recommend wearing shorts, a bathing suit and a lot of sunscreen like for real I got very sunburnt there so just make sure you were sunscreen.

My fiancé and I really enjoyed this cruise . It was so beautiful especially coming back to see the…read moresunset . I highly suggest coming back during sunset . I love the island so much I probably would stay there next time .

I came here with my adventure guides group, the coyotes, and we loved it…read more We had the entire camp ground for our group and everybody had a fabulous time. I enjoyed the rustic setting and the freedom that the enclosed environment provided for the kids. The staff was nice and the food was great.

If you use the showers make sure you use the newer ones. The old ones didn't even have hot water…read moreand hardly any water comes out. Also you have to download an app and login all your card info. Other than that it's nice and the general store has everything. They have great banana nut ice cream.

We LOVE Two Harbors! What a cool little hide-away! Great…read morefood at the Harbor Reef. The General Store has everything you might need. All the locals we're soooo very nice! Special shout-out to Pam who saved our trip when we lost our Dingy!!! Mahalo & Aloha to everyone at the Isthmas!!!

The rental process was easy. Kayaks were dropped off at the beach and the cars at our campground…read more We took our dogs out in the water and enjoyed kayaking at Little Harbor.

Such a great service to have easy access to Kayaks in a remote location. Kayaks were clearly…read morelabeled and lots of life vests provided for our small children. Recommend to anyone.

Jess and Aaron are incredible humans. If you are planning a trip to Catalina to stay anywhere…read moreoutside the civilization of Avalon you need to know about them and I'd recommend utilizing their services. They take packs and humans to each campground along TCT. We learned about them as we were dangerously hot near mile 9 of TCT and found they generously provided ice water. Our crew of 7 were so grateful. The next day after a long hike into little harbor we decided we would like to get our packs taken for us so that we could continue to hike the TCT but without the toll of a 25lb pack on our backs. Jess was so kind and helpful. Immediately booking the transaction taking our bags from LH to Parsons. Sadly shortly after my daughter started throwing up and we decided we needed to cut our trip short. I asked Jess for help on recommendations how to get a ride out. She quickly made adjustments to her schedule and said "we can take you". Aaron was there early to ensure we had plenty of time to get on the boat while providing tour level information about the island during the drive. We can't say thank you enough! These people are gold and backpacking Catalina, while beautiful, is no joke. I wish I knew about their service before starting TCT. I highly recommend connecting with them to help you with your trip.

We were a small group hiking the TCT, we at were just finishing one of the longer climbs on Day 1…read moreheading to Blackjack and right when we were at our hottest we found an oasis in the form of a cooler full of ice cold water left for any hiker who needed it. While we were cooling down a gentleman (who I never caught the name of) came by to restock it. Apparently Catalina Backcountry provides his water for free for any hikers who need it out of the kindness of their hearts. To top it all off there was a 78 year solo hiker who was having some trouble and Catalina Backcountry helped him out and brought him back to town since he didnt feel like he could make it. If they take care of random strangers like this for free I can only imagine how amazing they would be for their paying customers. If I never need services, they have won me over and will be my first call.

My family of 4 (2 boys, ages 6 and 8) loved it and can't wait to go back! We went over Memorial Day…read moreweekend 2026. Morning overcast burnt off by around 12 each day. Nights were cool but the comforters provided were sufficiently warm at night. Comfortable beds and pillows. Pay for the bedding/towel package in advance so they can make the beds for you. We'd like to go back in the summer months when it's warmer. We packed our own snacks, food to grill on the community grills, and more than enough stuff to make all meals on site. Everything u need to cook comfortably is provided, except maybe 1 or two things that I'll list below. We got the 4 person full size hut. We were towards the back of the camp but conveniently located next to bathrooms/sinks. Our hut faced the ocean so we were fortunate to have great views. The grounds are private and large enough for kids to explore but small enough that parents can let older kids roam free. The beach is perfect for little ones, and the communal spaces included a lot of outdoor activities and games. No wifi in the huts/yurts/etc. You have to go to the large communal building (where food is served for those who purchase the add-on meal package (95.00 per person per day; you can't select individual meals, it's all or nothing)). Meal planning is critical if you plan on cooking for yourself. We took too much but were happy that we chose to make our own food. There's a dishwashing station with hot water, sponges, dish soap. The huts have large bins to take your dishes over to the washing station. It was easy enough to do that after every meal. Advice- purchase ferry tickets AND water taxi when you book. You likely will not go back and forth to Avalon during your stay. Water taxi time slots are limited and not cheap. We each had our own backpacks, one large suitcase, a tote (for toiletries), a cooler and a dry goods bag. It was all manageable because we had it rigged up on wheels. u can also take a collapsible wagon on the ferry. The camp offers wagons on site to take belongings from the water taxi to your hut. That wagon came in handy, we used it often. We got in early on Saturday morning and left early Monday from the camp to hang in Avalon for a couple of hours. Avalon was cute but very touristy. Food there is just okay and expensive. Things to consider packing--If you take your own food to the camp site- I suggest you pack paper towels (none provided) and a cutting board. They provide a french press, so taking ground coffee is the way to go. They provide each site a burner and propane tank to boil water, cook, etc. We took a 60 qt cooler and a bag with dry goods. They provide a very large cooler to transfer your stuff into as well as ice packs that you can swap out as needed. We should have packed a table cloth for the picnic table outside our hut. We used a camping blanket and it worked out fine. The camp provides small rechargeable lanterns that were useful. Water refill stations in the communal building. Bring water bottles to refill. We took a beach blanket and a camping chair to use at the beach, both came in handy. We should have packed a smaller packable cooler for the beach. We also should have packed a wet clothes bag for wet/sandy stuff, and a dirty clothes bag. Bathrooms are individual stalls in an out house type setting that feels open and cold at night. Showers are the same. The shower stalls are open from the top so although the water gets warm, the stalls are cold because they are open. I showered midday while the sun was out and in my swimsuit. There's no changing area in the showers, so unless u want to get dressed in a wet stall, you should either take a robe and dress minimally or walk back/forth in a swimsuit and get dressed in your hut. Shower shoes are a must. The setting is ideal for large groups/familes. We want to go back with friends! There's a kayak/paddle board rental company on-site. We kayaked midday but the wind made it impossible to enjoy ourselves. If it's windy, don't bother. Mornings and evenings are the best time to kayak. Margot was our on-site host and was incredibly sweet and helpful. Our boys loved her. She hooked up s'mores and evening fire pits (u can't make your own fires there). They didn't have any organized crafting activities because it's slow season, but Margot mentioned that she could bring out the materials if kids were interested. The vibe is very chill and go with the flow. Staff was super friendly and always down to help.

Nice little camp ground if you want to be away from Catalina city. We came unfortunately there was…read morea large group of kids- which would have been fine but their adults were not supervising them, they were up past 10 screaming, filled our rental canoes with sand and just left the place a mess but that is not the camp's responsibility. I had my four kiddos so I understand kids and how they can be but these kids were well spoiled seeming. The land itself is nice it's a camp ground on an isolated part of Catalina. The little camp ground sells a few items - sort of random items. Ice cream, lollipops, basic sodas, etc then they have a few items for microwaving like fancy brand cup of nooodles they also sell Annie's Mac n cheese and nicer Italian pasta to boil and cook at your camp site. Each campsite has a kitchen kit with pots n pans and a little camp stove free to use which was nice They also have a buffet which no one told us about! $95 per person at the time of leaving this review for all the meals, I only had breakfast by a. Ident thought it was included lol The meals smelled amazing and looked great! They have a salad bar and fresh options for their meals next time we will do this option The tent was freezing we piled the blankets and huddled together. Could have been the time of year (Late april) beautiful spacious tent with a full bed and a sleeping cot The beach has rentals like kayaks and paddle boards with little caves and coves to explore. We didn't snorkel because it was so cold but there were a few scuba divers out. Because it's so remote if the weather isn't good I wouldn't come. We enjoyed our stay

Val was an exceptional guide. From the moment we arrived it felt like we were in great hands. She…read more is personable, competent, and created the best experience for our group.

A must do in Catalina! Took a day trip to visit the island for the first time, and so glad we…read moredecided to book a zip line tour. Great way to get into nature without hiking, and had so much fun zip lining! Kaitlin and Kyler were fantastic guides and kept us engaged and safe throughout the entire trip. Big kudos to them for getting everyone across the finish line, and being the nicest people. There were five lines in total, each with unique features to keep it exciting. Our group was about 8 people, and we each finished a line before moving to the next. There were a few people in the group who were very nervous or had a fear of heights, much made it through the whole tour, so I wouldn't be discouraged if you've never gone zip lining before. Overall had so much fun and learned some facts about the island. Would highly recommend this tour, it's worth the money!

To improve, 1.when you say the class schedule is going to be emailed on Friday then send it…read more Instead, told on Friday will get it when we arrive. We asked when we arrive to drop off still no list of what they are doing and when. 2. Just pretend that Jacque might care when kids are bullying your child. He went to her the first day and said he needed a new cabin because the kids were mean and the counselor in the cabin and she refused. Pretty much said handle it. After that he did not want to go to any of the classes he signed up for because there was always one of the kids from the bullies in that class. Then it was hard because there was no direction on the classes for a kid with dyslexia. I could go on and on but I'll just say unless your child or teen is going with a friend find a different camp.

Both my sons went to Catalina Sea Camp one week session. My 9 year old has adhd I was told by Jaqui…read morethat they are not counselors or therapists so they cannot accommodate him. My 11 year old was accused of cussing at a camper and jaqui made him sit out for the last day of camp. I spoke to my son and he told me he didnt cuss and I believe him when I asked him how camp was he told me he wasn't having fun and that Jaqui was mean to him based off of her connection with the other camper. I thought my kids were going to have a great experience instead it was the total opposite when I asked to speak to my son jaqui hung up the phone. I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor. Spoke with a gentleman named Paul I will say that Paul was respectful and very understanding and willing to fix the situation I think they should fire Jaqui to be honest. Ruining a child's summer experience based off hear say is totally not fair. Just want to give parents a heads up before they send their kid.