Catalina Island might be my favorite place in California.
I don't know if it's the crystal clear aqua waters or pastel desert terrain high in the clouds
We all agreed it's reminiscent of the mediterranean or the rugged coastline of Corsica.
Of the 8 islands that make up the Channel Islands, Catalina is one of the 5 that allow camping. That said, campsites book up 6+ months in advance. Pro-tip: Check nightly for last-minute cancellations. That's how we managed to snag two stellar campsites in high season!
Catalina Island is a destination for hikers, divers, and sailors. The most popular hike is the Trans Catalina Trail — it's a 5 day strenuous 38 miles on the island's interior. I wasn't as drawn to this because much of it is inland... and what's a 38-mile island hike if not with water views!?
The most famous inhabitants of Catalina Island are the bison. Rumor has it, a herd of them were dropped here in 1924 for the filming of a wild west film, and were never removed. Now, they multiply and roam freely!
Getting there: The quiet island village of Two Harbors is just a 2 hour ferry from Los Angeles. Upon arrival, we picked up the key to our campsite locker, then hiked 7 miles west to our campsite. Parsons Landing campsite is one of the dreamiest on the island, and accessible only via hike or kayak. After reading loads of reviews on this hike into Parsons Landing, we opted to take the more scenic, flat road right on the water instead of the steep, shorter, interior path. We passed a smattering of little harbors like Emerald Bay, beachside villages, and camps, and raced the sunset to descend upon Campsite #2 just after golden hour.
The second time we visited Catalina Island, we headed to Little Harbor campsite, this time 7 miles east of Two Harbors.
Little Harbor is the only campsite on the remote “backside” of the island, and campers can either hike 3 hours in or ride the 20 minute Safari Bus. We stayed at campsite #14. A much rowdier Saturday scene than Parsons Landing, but an arguably more spectacular hike in.
The hike was tough. The four of us were the most amateur hikers out there, with running sneakers, never-used camping gear, and limited water supplies... But we survived and it was the most scenic hiking I've ever done winding through narrow seaside trails through the clouds!
We woke up to sunshine, a view of sea from the tent,
and no other campers in sight.
Hard to beat. To catch the late ferry back to Los Angeles (reluctantly), we hiked back to Two Harbors
under midday sun and treated ourselves to giant ice cream sundaes!
The sunset ferry ride home passed through Avalon -- the chic, cultural center of the island.
Avalon is allegedly worth a day trip from Los Angeles.
On Sunday, Little Harbor completely cleared out and we were left to our own devices (and kayaks!). The kayak trips from this little cove ended mostly underwater, but the water was the clearest, most refreshing temperature so it's no complaint. We spent hours out here, leisurely switching between sun baths and ocean baths. This time around, we opted to take the safari bus back to Two Harbors to catch the ferry. Still deserving of giant ice cream sundaes, though. I'd go back in a heartbeat to this blissful escape from LA. A few days of sunshine, sweat, and saltwater are a purifying combination any time of year.