Best Camping Beaches in Two Harbors

Located along the Santa Catalina Island shoreline, Rippers Cove is a cove with a small unnamed beach with light brown sand and some pebbly portions. This beach is situated at the bottom of a gorge named the Valley of Ollas. There is a reef near the western part of Rippers Cove. This cove was earlier known as Empire Landing. However, since this name has now been taken up by a nearby oceanfront residential area, this cove has been renamed Rippers Cove to avoid confusion. Rippers Cove does not have lifeguards. However, a ranger from the Catalina Island Conservancy patrols the beach here daily. 

Located to the west of the community of Two Harbors, Parsons Landing is a large remote beach with light brown sand with gravel. This beach is situated below oceanfront mountains on the northern side of Santa Catalina Island. There is a tent campground on this beach named Parsons Landing Campground. Parsons Landing does not have lifeguards or any other day-use public amenities except restrooms, so plan your trip carefully. Dogs on leash are allowed on this beach.

Located in the community of Two Harbors, Two Harbors Beach - also known as Isthmus Beach and Banning Harbor - is a north-facing beach and a natural harbor that has light brown sand. This popular and narrow beach is situated in a cove named Isthmus Cove. Two Harbors Beach also has a wooden pier. It is important to note that this beach is only one of the two natural harbors after which the community of Two Harbors is named. The other natural harbor (named Catalina Harbor) is situated towards the south of Two Harbors Beach. Two Harbors Beach does not have lifeguards. However, the area near this beach has a general store and a water-sporting equipment rental shop named Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach.

Located along the Santa Catalina Island coastline, Paradise Cove - also known as Cave Beach - is a small rock-and-sand beach. This beach is surrounded on both sides by oceanfront bluffs, which makes this beach less susceptible to coastal winds. Paradise Cove does not have lifeguards. However, a ranger from the Catalina Island Conservancy patrols this beach daily.

Located in Santa Catalina Island, Gibraltar Beach is a remote long, and narrow rock-and-sand beach with some pebbly parts. This beach has a wonderful backdrop of a series of oceanfront mountains.