Catalina Island Offers a Perfect Blend of Outdoor Fun and Laid-Back Living

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Santa Catalina Island, one of California’s eight Channel Islands, is a wonderful getaway destination for all kinds of people—from thru-hikers who want to tackle the Trans-Catalina Trail to adventurous families with young kids and couples who want to shop, dine, and relax on the beach. Though Catalina is not part of Channel Islands National Park, there are tons of opportunities for outdoor fun on this small island, including interesting and exciting wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Southwest of Los Angeles, Catalina Island is accessible by ferries that depart frequently from San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point. My family (including two young kids) recently visited the island and enjoyed an adventurous short vacation with many hours spent outdoors. Swipe our itinerary or build your own using the following information and tips.

Note: This article focuses on Catalina Island activities and does not cover accommodations. We stayed at a short-term vacation rental via Airbnb, but there are many hotel options as well.

Sightseeing and Wildlife Viewing on Land

Our favorite sightseeing excursion during our time on Catalina Island was the two-hour Eco Tour through the Catalina Island Conservancy. The Eco Tour takes a small group of people to the island’s interior in an open-air, off-road truck, where there are miles and miles of splendid wilderness to explore.

Led by a naturalist, this tour goes where other tour companies can’t go. Our tour led by Tom brought us on an unpaved road right to a herd of bison (the other tour vehicles passed right on by, since they had to stick to the main road). We then traveled to the Airport in the Sky and back.

And yes, you heard that right—Catalina is home to a small herd of American bison originally brought to the island for a movie. While much smaller than their counterparts in Yellowstone, these bison are a beautiful sight, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot some on your Eco Tour.

Other wildlife you might encounter on these tours of the interior include the endemic Catalina Island Fox, bald eagles, squirrels, and deer. (Bison and deer are not native to the island.)

For other sightseeing and wildlife-viewing opportunities on land, check out Catalina’s horseback riding, zip line, the Catalina Casino tour, the Catalina Museum for Art & History, and the Catalina Falconry Experience. You can also take a scenic tour of Avalon.

Water-Based Activities

Our top two water-based activities on Catalina were taking a semi-submarine boat ride to Lover’s Cove and kayaking to Frog Rock with the Catalina Island Company. Even though the water was very cold in mid-April, we also enjoyed swimming in the ocean.

Though there are several options for seeing Lover’s Cove by boat, we chose the Yellow Semi-Submarine Tour, mostly because we thought the kids would love the yellow sub. (They did.) During this 45-minute tour, you make three stops in the kelp forest to watch the fish swim by your underwater window. There is an added fee to feed the fish by shooting “fish food torpedoes” near your window (this requires cash).

If you’re not planning to snorkel, this tour is a great alternative to see the kelp-forest ecosystem up close.

We also kayaked to Frog Rock with the Catalina Island Company. This two-hour experience starts at Descanso Beach, where you get outfitted with one or two-person kayaks, paddles, dry bags, and life vests.

Our guide Donald then took us on a leisurely paddle out to Frog Rock, where we stopped for a snack and a swim. Along the way, we saw sea lions, a bald eagle perched in a tree on a cliff, garibaldi fish, and more. This was a fantastic way to get out on the water and see Catalina from a different angle.

Other water-based activities to consider include parasailing, renting stand-up paddle boards at Descanso Beach Ocean Sports, snorkeling, and fishing.

Hiking, Biking, and Camping

Of course, you can’t talk about outdoor fun on Catalina Island without talking about hiking, biking, and camping opportunities. The Trans-Catalina Trail is a 38.5-mile thru-hike that traverses the interior of Catalina. It usually takes hikers 3-5 days to get from Avalon on the island’s east side to Two Harbors on the island’s west side (or vice versa).

If you don’t want to tackle the whole Trans-Catalina Trail, there are many wonderful trails to see the island on foot. One trailhead you can access from Avalon is the Garden to Sky Trail, which you can also extend into a loop. The Garden to Sky Trail starts inside the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Gardens (admission fee required), and it’s a consistently steep but doable 1.2 miles up to the summit. Once you’re at the top, you can see both sides of the island.

You can also complete the Garden to Sky Loop (3.8 miles) by hiking the Garden to Sky Trail, continuing along Divide Road, and then descending the Hermit Gulch Trail. (You can also do this loop in reverse to avoid paying an entrance fee at the Botanic Gardens).

Check out more information about Catalina hiking trails here.

You can bike many trails in Catalina’s interior by becoming a member of the Catalina Island Conservancy and getting a free pass.

There are a handful of campgrounds on Catalina Island, including Hermit Gulch Campground, Black Jack Campground, Little Harbor Campground, and Parsons Landing Campground. Campgrounds require reservations and gear-haul services are available. Learn more about your options here.

More Travel Tips for Catalina Island

For travel out of San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point, check out Catalina Express. For ferry service out of Newport Beach, check out Catalina Flyer.
Avalon is a walking town, and there are few cars. Most people get from place to place by walking, driving golf carts, or hiring small, electric ride-share shuttles on a ride-by-ride basis. If you don’t want to walk, you can rent a golf cart to drive yourself around for a maximum of two hours, or you can use Circuit, an Uber-like service that’s available on the island, to hitch a ride from point A to point B.
Utilize the luggage-storage lockers and service by the port in Avalon to store your bags on the first and last days of your trip. That way, you don’t have to haul your bags around before your accommodation’s check-in time on your first day and after your accommodation’s check-out time on your last day. Cash only.
Catalina hosts several events throughout the year, including a Fourth of July parade, the Catalina Wine Mixer, an annual golf tournament, and many more. See the Catalina Island Company’s website for an updated calendar of upcoming events.
If golf is your favorite outdoor activity, fear not, there is a golf course (and a mini-golf course) on Catalina Island.

See more tips for families with kids traveling to Catalina Island for some outdoor fun here:

What’s your favorite outdoor activity on Catalina Island?

Source: https://outdoors.com/catalina-island-offers-a-perfect-blend-of-outdoor-fun-and-laid-back-living/