Lava Wall Beach

Located in the northern part of the Santa Catalina Island shoreline, Lava Wall Beach is a remote sand-and-pebble beach. This beach is around a quarter-of-a-mile long. The beach’s name comes from a brightly red colored rock formation present behind it which apparently looks like an igneous rock. This large rock formation often provides ample shade to the beach, making it relatively cooler even during hot and sunny summer days. While Lava Wall Beach does not have lifeguards, rangers from the Catalina Island Conservancy patrol around the beach daily. 

Lava Wall Beach does not have any other amenities except picnic tables, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on this beach. 

Lava Wall Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, camping, wildlife watching, kayaking, canoeing, boating, scuba diving, and snorkelling. While the water near Lava Wall Beach is exposed to waves coming from the north-west, the water near this beach is generally calm during summers. The water near this beach is popular with scuba divers and snorkelers who often enter the water here to explore its vibrant marine biodiversity. You can view many kinds of fish in the underwater kelp beds near this beach including bass, sheepshead, yellowtail, garibaldi, and harmless leopard sharks. In addition, you can also see many kinds of marine mammals here including seals and sea lions. You can also launch your kayak from Lava Wall Beach and explore the rocky shoreline along the northern part of Santa Catalina.

A popular activity in Lava Wall 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 area around it is 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 Lava Wall 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 Lava Wall Beach can be difficult - the only way to get to the beach is via a boat or a kayak. Lava Wall Beach is four-and-a-half nautical miles away from the community of Two Harbors and around eight 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 to this remote beach for a fee. We recommend wearing layered clothing while visiting Lava Wall Beach as the weather here can change unpredictably.

There are many attractions near Lava Wall Beach. Catalina Island Museum offers interesting historical and artistic exhibits. The museum also hosts exciting events throughout the year including tours of the nearby historic Tuna Club of Avalon, book signings, gallery talks, and an annual silent film benefit. If you like golfing, the Catalina Island Mini Golf Gardens has an 18-hole golf facility which offers a fun and challenging golf session. If you are looking for another attraction near Lava Wall Beach, Avalon’s Crescent Avenue offers exciting shopping stores.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Lava Wall Beach. Avalon Grille serves amazing gourmet dishes prepared from fresh and local ingredients. This restaurant also serves an exquisite drink called Wrigley’s martini, which was created by Philip K. Wrigley. This drink was popular in Chicago during the 1950s (it was originally exclusively served only at The Wrigley Bar in Chicago). 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 Lava Wall Beach, The Sandtrap offers excellent Mexican and American breakfast dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Lava Wall Beach, there are many great options nearby. 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 non alcoholic 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 Banning House Lodge offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a terrace with views of the Pacific Ocean, a common room with a fireplace, a sunroom, and complimentary shuttle service. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Lava Wall Beach, the 2-Star Hotel Mac Rae offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast, a DVD library, and complimentary beach towels. In addition, the hotel also has an open courtyard with lounge chairs and tables.