Visiting Avalon and the first thought that comes to mind is finding the perfect hotel or Airbnb. But, a unique experience that is worth exploring is reserving a campsite at Hermit Gulch campground. This is Avalon’s only camping facility located within city limits. The campground is situated in Avalon Canyon near the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden. Located near the campground, you can find the trailhead for the 38.5 mile Trans-Catalina Trail.
We walked from Crescent and Sumner and it was approximately a mile and took us about 30 minutes. The walk overall is moderate with a slight incline. If you are interested in visiting the Botanical Garden (which we highly recommend), this is the same path you will take. The Botanical Garden is close if you are interested in going on a tour.
There is also a shuttle that you can get that will take you directly in front of the campsite. As of this writing the fare is $2 per person.
From the Camping on Catalina website there are a few rules that you may want to consider before reserving your site.
- Wood Fires are Prohibited
- Pets are not allowed
- Smoking is permitted in the BBQ areas only
- Loud voices, noise, amplified sound or music is not allowed
- Quiet hours are 10PM to 8AM
- Children must be supervised at all times
The campground features several different camping spots to choose from and some include picnic tables. We did see soft-sided tents, which look like a great option, but they are not listed on the website. It would be worth a call to see if these are available to the public. A minimum of two nights stay looks to be the reservation policy.
We hope you consider this as an option when exploring Catalina Island. It’s a great way to get surrounded by the beauty of the island and disconnect for a bit with the hustle & bustle on the island.
We did a video (the title is focused on our mooring issue) when we explored the campsite on our way to tour the Botanical Gardens. Give this a view, and Thanks for stopping by.
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