Open Year-round
Yes
Reservations possible?
Yes
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Just 1.5 miles from the edge of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, Hermit Gulch Campground is a great place to rough it while still enjoying a number of amenities relative to other camp areas. It’s a bit far from town on foot, so it’s recommended that campers wait and pay several dollars for the trolley for transportation, take an in-town taxi (310.510.0025), or rent a golf cart, though this will set you back over $40 per hour.

The main campsites sit on one side along a shallow dry wash and face the nine platform tent cabins on the other. Though the campsites are fairly close together, small trees that have been recently planted afford campers a bit of privacy. Naturally, in the dry tinderbox of California, no wood fires are allowed, though there are charcoal grills in each campsite and a number of nearby locations that stock necessary supplies. Note that there is a two-night minimum stay at the campground. For those that prefer a more leisurely approach, the streets of Avalon are lined with restaurants and places to grab a quick bite.

Built out with amenities and extras, this campsite features coin-operated showers, a sink, propane lanterns for each site, and tents built with wooden frames on wooden platforms for groups of various sizes. Potable water is inconsistently available due to the limited water supply on the island.

Its proximity to a number of Santa Catalina’s most popular hiking trails is a big draw for Hermit Gulch Campground. Adjacent to the Wrigley Botanical Gardens, the campground offers excellent access to its hiking trails and the towering monument that was erected in memory of William Wrigley Jr. (think Wrigley’s chewing gum). Instrumental in the development of the island, Wrigley’s stewardship of Santa Catalina Island is still evident today.

The 11.75-mile Hermit Gulch Trail begins at the campsite and offers amazing views over Avalon and the ocean. The Trans Catalina Trail spins off of this one, as does a short trail down into the Botanical Gardens. Along the trails and in the campground, those with a keen eye have a chance to spot bison, Catalina Island foxes, bald eagles and more.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Fall

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Access to Catalina Island trails and Avalon. Open year round.

Cons

Inconsistent availability of water. Coin-operated showers. Two-night minimum stay. Price is per person.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Managed by

Hermit Gulch Campground

Reservation phone number

1 (310) 510-8368

Features

Flushing toilets
Showers
Potable water
Picnic tables

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

California Channel Islands, California

Comments

This is a money making campground.
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