Introduction
One of my favorite parts of an adventure is the pre-trip planning phase. Doing the research, looking at pictures, planning what to pack, packing your gear, etc. While living in Colorado, I found that there was a wealth of information regarding all of the hikes and climbs in the Rockies, and it made it easier to plan for a safe, fun, and adventurous trip.
My experience planning for Kayak Camping on Catalina Island was different – not much information, few pictures of campsites, having to comb through multiple pages of google searches (OH NO!). There wasn’t one place that listed all of the information I needed as well as who to contact for reserving sites, kayaks, and the ferry. Hence this page. Below you will find an overview of all the reservations you need to make in order to get you started down the path of Kayak Camping Catalina.
Campsites
The boat-in campsites of Catalina are secluded and beautiful. The water is clear, you won’t be near other campers, and you’ll fall asleep listening to the waves each night. It’s an incredible way to experience nature away from the hustle and bustle of Southern California.
There are 17 campsites between 9 locations on the leeward (Avalon) side of the island. Each site can accommodate different group sizes, some have picnic tables, all are only accessible by kayak or boat.
You must reserve the campsites in advance, and you do that through Reserve America. The campsites will be about $20/person/night. I printed my reservation confirmation and saved it on my phone, just in case I needed to show someone, but we ended up not needing to. When we got to our site, the ranger had left an orange piece of paper with my name, information, and length of stay, so we knew that the rangers had our reservation confirmation.
I have the campsites and pertinent information below, but first, some general information about the sites.
General Campsite Info:
- There are no toilets! You must bring a WAG bag, Biffy Bag, etc. which are specially designed bags for going to the bathroom and allowing you to haul out your waste. The kayak rental place will ask to see that you have them, and the ranger will check as well (if the ranger comes by). Please do your part to keep these sites pristine and haul out your waste.
- There is no running water! You will need to haul in all of the water you need. We averaged 1 gallon of H2O per person/per day. Purchase water at the Vons Grocery in Avalon, which opens at 7:00AM, so that you don’t have to haul it on the ferry.
- Few sites have picnic tables. Some of them do, but just keep that in mind, nothing beats a flat surface when you’re camping, and if you don’t have it, be prepared.
- Currently NO FIRES! Catalina is experiencing the same drought as the rest of Southern California, and as such, there is a fire ban at these sites. You may use a camp stove (Coleman, Jetboil, MSR, etc.) to cook, but no bonfires.
- High tide does get high! Our first night a few tents/gear were soaked in water due to the tide. Look up when high/low tides will be during your trip, and get your tent as high up on the beach as possible.
- It can get cold! Especially if you’re swimming. Make sure to bring a set of clothes for when you want to be dry, a towel, and sleeping bag.
- Catalina is not sandy! The beaches are mostly made up of rocks and shells. Highly recommend that you bring a sleeping pad or you will be uncomfortable all night.
- Bees! Our campsite had an insane amount of bees every day. They will fly all around you. Don’t panic or swat or they will get angry. We made some bee traps by leaving a piece of meat (or something sugary) on a rock and then put a plastic water bottle we cut in half over the top. They’ll climb through the bottom and then can’t fly out until you end up releasing them.
- Rattlesnakes, birds, and foxes! Make sure you pack all of your food into a bag and I recommend bringing your food with you in your kayak when you leave the site to explore. Birds and foxes WILL get into your food bag if left out. Also, just be aware that rattlesnakes live on the island.
The Campsites
There are 17 campsites between 9 locations on the leeward (Avalon) side of the island. Each site can accommodate different group sizes, some have picnic tables, all are only accessible by kayak or boat. I have a list of the locations and sites below, with all of the necessary information you need to make a decision about where to camp. Remember, if starting in Avalon, you are paddling North, AGAINST the current and prevailing winds, so take the mileage into account. Each site has a link that will take you directly to Reserve America to check on availability.
| Location Name | Distance from Avalon | Campsite | Max Group size/site | Amenities? |
| Willow Cove | 2.75 miles from Avalon | Willow Cove | 8 | Picnic Table |
|
Long Point Beach
|
4.87 miles from Avalon
|
Site 1 | 5 | N/A |
| Site 2 | 5 | N/A | ||
|
Italian Gardens
|
5.25 miles from Avalon
|
Site A1 | 5 | Picnic Table |
| Site A2 | 5 | Picnic Table | ||
| Site B1 | 5 | N/A | ||
| Site C1 | 2 | N/A | ||
|
Goat Harbor
|
6.2 miles from Avalon
|
Site A1 | 4 | Picnic Table |
| Site A2 | 4 | Picnic Table | ||
| Site B1 | 4 | Picnic Table | ||
|
Cabrio
|
7 miles from Avalon
|
Site A1 | 7 | Picnic Table |
| Site A2 | 7 | Picnic Table | ||
| Site B1 | 7 | Picnic Table | ||
| Site B2 | 7 | Picnic Table | ||
|
Gibraltar
|
7.1 miles from Avalon
|
Site 1 | 6 | Picnic Table |
| Site 2 | 6 | Picnic Table | ||
|
Lava Wall
|
8.1 miles from Avalon
|
Site 1 | 5 | Picnic Table |
| Site 2 | 5 | Picnic Table | ||
| Paradise Cove | 8.4 miles from Avalon | Paradise Cove | 6 | N/A |
|
Rippers
|
8.6 miles from Avalon
|
Site A | 10 | N/A |
| Site B | 4 | Picnic Table; Pine Trees for shade | ||
| Site C | 8 | Picnic Table |
Ferry
There are a few different options as to how to get over to Catalina Island from the mainland. You could fly over via plane or helicopter. You can take your own boat over. Or, like many of us, you can take a ferry over the the island.
There are 2 main ferry companies that I know of – Catalina Flyer and Catalina Express. They are priced roughly the same ($35-$40 per oneway ticket). I have taken both to the island, and the boats and service are comparable. Catalina Flyer launches out of Newport Beach only, and Catalina Express launches out of Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. So it really comes down to where is closest for you. You must show up early to get your tickets before you board, even if you made the reservation in advance. The companies recommend arriving 1 hour before your departure time, and they want you in line with tickets in hand 15 minutes before departure. The ferry is busy, so the earlier you get there the better seats you will have. However, it is only a ~1 – 1.5 hour ride to Catalina.
You are allowed to bring 2 bags and 1 carry on, so pack appropriately! Our group packed together the night before to share the load. I talk more about packing on the “How to Pack” page.
You will ferry into Avalon, the main city and tourist destination on Catalina Island. Plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops for you to visit if you build time into your trip. The ferry docks basically right in Avalon, everything is walking distance from the dock. When we got there, we first walked to where we were renting the kayaks (Descanso Beach Club), and dropped off our gear. I stayed behind and waited for the club to open (at 9:00AM) and the rest of the group walked back to Von’s to buy water for the trip. Much easier than bringing from the mainland on the ferry!
Kayak Rental
We rented our kayaks with Descanso Beach Club and had a fantastic experience. The people were nice and informative, had additional gear we could rent if needed, held our bags for us over the weekend (we didn’t need nor want to pack our backpacks on the kayaks), helped us strategically pack our kayaks, and the location was perfect! Right on the water for easy packing and launch.
The Descanso Beach Club will provide you with the kayak (made for camping with storage space), a PFD (Personal Flotation Device, aka life jacket) and a paddle. They will set up the kayaks for you, run through some necessary information, have you sign a liability waiver (required), and then let you pack up and paddle out! Once we returned, we were greeted by employees of the Club who helped pull us onto shore. You pay once all of your gear is unpacked. Lastly, we returned early Sunday afternoon and our return ferry was not until 6PM, so the Club held our fully packed backpacks for us so that we could walk around Avalon and get lunch/drink.
You can also rent from Wet Spot Rentals for similar daily prices. I have not interacted with this company as of yet and cannot speak to their service, but I’m sure it is excellent.
Make sure to call ahead and reserve your kayaks in advance of your trip. This ensures that they will have some available for you. I have listed the costs to rent below.
High Season- May 27 through October 31 and Holidays
| SINGLE | DOUBLE | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Night/2 Days | $72 | $130 |
| 2 Nights/3 Days | $108 | $202 |
| 3 Nights/4 Days | $144 | $274 |
| 4 Nights/5 Days | $178 | $338 |
| 5 Nights/6 Days | $196 | $378 |
| 6 Days/7 Nights | $216 | $420 |
Low Season- November 1 through May 26
| SINGLE | DOUBLE | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Night/2 Days | $50 | $90 |
| 2 Nights/3 Days | $76 | $140 |
| 3 Nights/4 Days | $102 | $190 |
| 4 Nights/5 Days | $128 | $228 |
| 5 Nights/6 Days | $148 | $266 |
| 6 Days/7 Nights | $168 | $304 |
Kayak Camping Catalina Island 