Starlight Beach

Overview

Located near the westernmost point of Santa Catalina Island, Starlight Beach is a remote rock-and-sand beach with large rock formations. This north-facing beach is situated in a cove below steep oceanfront bluffs. Starlight Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs on leash are allowed on this beach. Getting to Starlight Beach can be difficult - the blufftop area above Starlight Beach is located near the western end of West End Road and is a 35-minute drive from the nearby community of Two Harbors.  However, driving to this beach can be extremely difficult and potentially unsafe due to the rough and steep road conditions. Another way to access this beach is by hiking. If you are planning to hike to the beach, you need to first hike more than six-and-a-half miles from Two Harbors along the Trans-Catalina Trail to reach an oceanfront campground named Parsons Landing (which is also the western terminus of the Trans-Catalina Trail). From Parsons Landing, you need to hike an additional five miles via another rough hiking trail to get to the blufftop area above Starlight Beach. There is a steep and rocky access path that goes down to Starlight Beach from the blufftop area above. If you are looking for a ferry to reach Two Harbors from mainland California, Catalina Express operates a daily ferry from the community of San Pedro (which is a part of the city of Los Angeles) to Two Harbors.

 Starlight Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, and beachcombing. Aquatic recreational activities are extremely unsafe in the water near this beach as it is exposed to dangerous waves and currents. In addition, the rocky shoreline around this beach can inflict dangerous injuries. This beach is ideal for those looking for a quiet beach experience as it sees very few visitors due to its remote location. You can occasionally see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals and sea lions. The blufftop area above the beach offers Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are planning to fish in the water near Starlight Beach, please ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations.

Attractions

There are many attractions near Starlight Beach within an hour-and-40 minutes’ drive. Catalina Island Museum offers interesting historical and artistic exhibits. The Wrigley Marine Science Center (which is a part of the University of South California’s Wrigley Institute) is a research center and teaching facility which is generally only accessible to research scholars, faculty and students from University of South California, and other academic groups. However, from May 31 to August 30, the research center offers interesting tours of its premises for the general public on Saturday mornings. Visitors can view many interesting research exhibits, a touch tank, and a hyperbaric chamber. In addition, they can also attend an informative science lecture. If you are interested in being a part of this tour, you can visit the "Saturdays at the Lab" webpage of Wrigley Marine Science Center’s website or call (310) 510-0811 for more information. If you are looking for another attraction near Starlight Beach, Catalina Island Casino is a major local landmark that was opened in 1929. While this casino does not offer gambling, 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.

Restaurants

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Starlight Beach within an hour-and-40 minutes’ drive. Avalon Grille offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, this restaurant also 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 Reef Restaurant offers outstanding seafood and serves amazing freshly-caught swordfish during summers. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing American dishes including steaks and seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Starlight Beach, The Sandtrap offers excellent Mexican and American breakfast dishes.

Hotels

If you are looking for a hotel near Starlight Beach, there are many great options within an hour-and-40 minutes’ drive. The 4-Star Mt Ada Bed & Breakfast was the former retreat of renowned industrialist and chewing-gum magnate 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 Starlight 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.