Gibraltar Beach

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. 

Gibraltar Beach does not have lifeguards. However, a ranger from the Catalina Island Conservancy patrols this beach daily. Gibraltar Beach does not have any other amenities except picnic tables, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on Gibraltar Beach. 

Gibraltar Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, camping, wildlife watching, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The water near Gibraltar Beach is often exposed to waves coming in from the northwest. However, the water here can be occasionally calm during summers. You can launch your kayak from Gibraltar Beach and explore interesting rock formations and sea caves present to the west of this beach. Scuba divers and snorkelers often go into the water to explore the vibrant underwater biodiversity present here. Divers also often explore the Little Gibraltar Reef present to the east of this beach. This reef and the surrounding kelp beds are home to many kinds of fish and marine invertebrates including moray eels, octopus, baitfish, opaleye, sheepshead, garibaldis, perches, gobies, lobsters, nudibranchs, and flatworms. In addition, you can also occasionally see marine mammals in the water near Gibraltar Beach including seals and sea lions. During low tide, you can also explore interesting rock formations present around Gibraltar Beach.

A popular activity in Gibraltar Beach is overnight tent camping - the beach offers an amazing and memorable oceanfront camping experience. However, if you are planning to camp here, please note that this beach does not have any amenities except picnic tables and you need to dispose of all the waste generated during your camping in order to preserve the beach’s pristine natural state. It is also important to note that campfires are not allowed here and you need to cook your food on a camp stove or a self-contained barbecue. We also recommend being careful while camping here as the beach and the areas around it are known to have rattlesnakes. In addition, it is also recommended that you carry a VHF radio during your visit so that you can easily send out distress calls in case of emergencies. If you are planning to camp here, you can visit Catalina Island Company’s website for more information regarding booking a campsite in Gibraltar Beach. In addition, you can also call Two Harbors Visitor Services at (310) 510-4205 for useful information regarding camping including weather conditions and site verification.

Getting to Gibraltar Beach can be difficult - the only way to get to the beach is via a boat or a kayak. Gibraltar Beach is five-and-a-half nautical miles away from the community of Two Harbors and around seven nautical miles away from the city of Avalon. You can rent kayaks from Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center present in the community of Two Harbors. In addition, there are many private concessions in the city of Avalon which offer kayaks on rent including Descanso Beach Ocean Sports, Wet Spot Rentals, and Joe’s Rent-A-Boat. Boat operators are also available in Avalon who might drop you off at this remote beach for a fee. We recommend wearing layered clothing while visiting Gibraltar Beach as the weather here can change unpredictably.

There are many attractions near Gibraltar Beach. The Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden has an interesting monument dedicated to the memory of the eminent industrialist and chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. In addition, the site’s botanic garden is also home to a wide variety of interesting flora. The garden also has a special emphasis on rare plant species endemic to California’s islands. The memorial and botanic garden also offer access to one of Santa Catalina’s most popular hiking trails known as the Garden to Sky Trail, which offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Santa Catalina Island shoreline. The Catalina Chimes Tower has Spanish-style architecture and was constructed in 1925 by William Wrigley Jr. The tower has around 200 chimes that play a melodious tune every 15 minutes between 8 am to 8 pm. If you are looking for another attraction near Gibraltar Beach, the Catalina Island Mini Golf Gardens has an 18-hole golf facility that offers a fun and challenging golf session. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Gibraltar Beach. Bluewater Grill Avalon is an upscale restaurant with an oceanfront dining area. In addition, this restaurant also serves fantastic seafood.  Harbor Sands offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing salads, seafood, burgers, tacos, and chicken skewers. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Gibraltar Beach, the modestly priced Coney Island West has a patio dining area and offers amazing burgers, fries, hot dogs, corn dogs, barbecue dishes, and sandwiches. In addition, this restaurant was also awarded TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice award in 2020

If you are looking for a hotel near Gibraltar Beach, there are many great nearby options in the nearby city of Avalon. The 4-Star Mt Ada Bed & Breakfast was the former retreat of renowned industrialist William Wrigley Jr. and offers many amenities including a bar, a fireplace, a terrace, complimentary access to the butler’s pantry throughout the day (which includes alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, fruits, mixed nuts, and ice-creams), access to a golf cart for exploring the city of Avalon, and complimentary shuttle service from the airport, heliport, boat terminal, or other hotels. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Catalina Island Inn which offers many amenities including a spa and complimentary breakfast. In addition, this hotel is also situated conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in the city of Avalon. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Gibraltar Beach, the 2-Star The Edgewater offers many amenities including a guest-use kitchen and beach chair and towel rental facility. In addition, this hotel also offers complimentary breakfast and afternoon drinks in the summer.