Little Harbor Beach

Located near the southern side of Santa Catalina Island, Little Harbor is a beautiful and large beach with light brown sand and some rocky parts. This beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs. The beach has an interesting rock formation near its southern end named the "Whale Tail" due to its unique shape resembling a whale’s tail when seen from above. Little Harbor does not have lifeguards. However, the area near the beach has barbecue spots, restrooms, and picnic tables. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach. There are multiple ways to access Little Harbor - from the community of Two Harbors, you need to hike more than five miles along the Trans-Catalina Trail or bike more than seven miles south along an unpaved road to access Little Harbor. If you are planning to travel to Little Harbor via bike, Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center offers mountain bikes and biking accessories for rent. If you are traveling from the city of Avalon, you can take the Catalina Island Conservancy Wildlands Express Shuttle. This shuttle service will drop you off at a nearby oceanfront campground named Little Harbor Campground from where you can easily walk to the beach. In addition, you can also book a taxi to Little Harbor Campground via a taxi service in Avalon named Catalina Taxi & Tours. You can contact Catalina Taxi & Tours at (310) 510-0025 for further information regarding transportation charges.

Little Harbor offers many amenities including biking, hiking, beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, boating, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The water near this beach is calm, making it ideal for beginner swimmers and kayakers. In addition, the calm water near this beach also makes it a popular anchoring spot for boats. Divers and snorkelers also frequently go into the water near this beach to explore its vibrant marine biodiversity. The wide variety of fish present in the water near this beach also makes it an ideal fishing spot. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Little Harbor, please ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations. The beach offers fantastic Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean. As an interesting fact, portions of an episode titled "There I am - There I Always Am" from the 1960s television show Route 66 were shot around Little Harbor. This television show featured actors Martin Milner and George Maharis.

You can explore the vibrant Santa Catalina Island shoreline through the hiking and biking trails present around Little Harbor. You can also view American bison near this beach. However, if you encounter an American bison, we recommend being careful as these dangerous animals have an unpredictable nature and can attack at the slightest provocation.

An oceanfront tent campground named Little Harbor Campground is also present near Little Harbor. This campground was rated "One of the Best Campgrounds in the West" by Sunset Magazine. In addition, the campground offers many amenities including picnic tables, barbecues, fire rings, outdoor showers, drinking water facilities, and restrooms. A kayak rental facility by Wet Spot Rentals is also available here. If you are planning to reserve a kayak, we recommend doing so in advance and contacting Wet Spot Rentals at (310) 510-2229 for more information. If you are planning to camp here, you can visit Little Harbor Campground’s webpage on Catalina Island Company’s website for useful information regarding campsite reservation charges and rules.

There are many attractions near Little Harbor within an hour’s drive. Catalina Island Casino is a major local landmark that was opened in 1929. While this casino does not offer to gamble, visitors can explore the casino premises through guided tours. These tours offer a unique insight into the casino’s marvelous Art Deco architecture and colorful history. This casino also has one of the world’s largest circular ballrooms and it also hosts many exciting events including Santa Catalina Island’s annual New Year’s Eve Celebration, Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, and the Catalina Conservancy Ball. The Catalina Island Mini Golf Gardens has an 18-hole golf facility that offers a fun and challenging golf session. If you are looking for another attraction near Little Harbor, 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.

There are many attractions near Little Harbor within an hour’s drive. Catalina Island Casino is a major local landmark that was opened in 1929. While this casino does not offer to gamble, visitors can explore the casino premises through guided tours. These tours offer a unique insight into the casino’s marvelous Art Deco architecture and colorful history. This casino also has one of the world’s largest circular ballrooms and it also hosts many exciting events including Santa Catalina Island’s annual New Year’s Eve Celebration, Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, and the Catalina Conservancy Ball. The Catalina Island Mini Golf Gardens has an 18-hole golf facility that offers a fun and challenging golf session. If you are looking for another attraction near Little Harbor, 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.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Little Harbor within a 20-minute drive. Harbor Sands offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing salads, seafood, burgers, tacos, and chicken skewers. Harbor Reef Restaurant offers outstanding seafood and serves amazing freshly-caught swordfish during summers. DC-3 Gifts & Grill offers amazing breakfast and lunch dishes including eggs, burritos, bagels, sandwiches, and burgers. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Little Harbor, West End Galley offers amazing breakfast and lunch dishes including sandwiches, pizzas, wraps, burritos, salads, and burgers.

If you are looking for a hotel near Little Harbor, there are many great nearby options within an hour-and-10 minute drive. 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 Hotel Atwater that was built in the 1920s and is located close to some of the major landmarks in the city of Avalon. This hotel also offers many amenities including a complimentary guest storage facility and rinse-off showers for divers and swimmers. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Little Harbor, the 2-Star Glenmore Plaza Hotel offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and complimentary shuttle service from the boat dock in Avalon. In addition, the hotel organizes recreational activities for guests including boat tours and helicopter rides for a fee.