Absolutely loved this campground. We have been here twice. Once we stayed in a tent and the second…read morewe stayed in the yurt. When we stayed by the yurt, there were some baby foxes that were literally right next to our campsite. They even went in the yurt, but they were harmless and we were not there at the moment. We did see them run out though. The little shop they have there is really neat and has a little bit of everything you will need. Our kids took the bikes and it was a nice little ride for them to get back onto the main street. We took the hiking trail up to the top. It was breathtaking and just so awesome. And I say breathtaking because I'm a little out of shape and it literally took my breath away lol but it was a great achievement for my husband and my son for us to do! Can't wait to come back!

What a great weekend trip! We went on the last weekend it was open with a running group. Had a…read morelot of space, aspens yellowing and two big fire pits for warmth and cooking! Brought our dogs and had an amazing trip hiking around and camping.

This is an amazing beach campsite. We stayed at #7, which I recommend for three reasons: 1. sandy…read moreground makes for better tent options, 2. there's more space here. #6 to the south is farther away and you only have the residents of #8 to the north passing by. 3. This site is a bit elevated from the water, which makes the dolphin and seal watching a bit easier. A lot of people recommend site #1 which is a cool site because it's in its own secluded cove, but it's very rocky there and views of the water are limited. We were there in early January and witnessed hundreds of dolphins diving and splashing in the kelp forests off shore. I have never seen anything like it. You will want to get a locker of water and wood for each day you are there. So two days, two lockers. Be sure to stop at the office in Two Harbors to get the lock codes for those lockers before you set out. Very special. I have also posted this in my review of the Trans-Catalina Trail, but be forewarned that if you want to take the trail to Parsons from Two Harbors, which goes over the mountains, it's VERY difficult and steep and not for anyone of below average fitness. That said, the views are incredible. The other option is to take the coastal road, which is farther in distance, but much flatter and easier. Enjoy!

We ended up doing a day hike instead of a single over night. After this hike we have a better…read moreunderstanding of what we need for this location. - you definitely need mats to sleep on! The beach is very rocky. - USE THE FOOD BOX at all times! We learned quickly. And good thing I had taken extra food for lunch or we would've been hungry - check the vacant camp site food boxes. We found fire wood, water, camp soap, pots, pans and utensils in our food box. We ended up leaving a brand new bundle of firewood and an unopened water container for the next campers. - definitely take an extra lighter lol you just never know We started our hike to Parsons Landing from the Banning House at 8:30am. The 2 hr hike was breathtaking. Beautiful, sunny, cool day in December. Couldn't get any better. We arrived and at Parsons Landing and explored all the sites since only one another site was occupied. Every sites has a gorgeous view, fire pit, food box and fairly easy to distinguish. We walked over to our secluded site... best site in my opinion. I look forward to camping out for a few days next time.

My first visit was in 1997 and most recent in Summer of 2021, it just keeps getting better and…read morebetter! This is a private camp that both puts on programming in the summer (family camps) and also rents the camp to other groups who want to come and host their programs at this beautiful location (churches, school groups, marine groups, etc.). I have attended camps that were hosted here by IVCF and the related Alumni Camp - they are top notch! The location is amazing. Just a one-hour boat ride away from LA, yet you'll think you are a world away. In fact, my daughter used to think Catalina was a different country, it felt so different from home. It's a great mix of modern and rustic: Electricity in the Dining Hall, Classrooms, and Bathroom (yes, there is modern plumbing with hot showers), but no electricity in your cabins (a mixture of enclosed and open-air hard-walled and tent cabins). And yes - no cell phone service!!! What a joy to tell my work I was unavailable while on vacation! A bigger joy to see your teens with no phones, finally giving in and playing card games all evening with friends and family. And don't worry, there is a land line in camp if you really need to call a loved one to check in. The staff works with a spirit of wanting to serve, they love their jobs. My most recent visit during COVID, I saw them all step up to do more work to ensure all health standards were being met. We felt safe and realized that having an open-air dining room is now a great feature! I have also been impressed by their efforts to keep long-term staff employed during the pandemic, the stability of camp leadership is serving them well as we come out of the pandemic. For those with children, this place is extra special as there is no road access to camp, everyone arrives on the pier by boat. This means, no stranger danger. Even as a 4 year-old, we could let our daughter go around camp on her own and experience a unique independence that wouldn't exist at home. Now a teen, she loves bringing friends and eagerly awaits this family vacation each year. Finally - this place is fun! When weather allows, there is snorkling, swimming, fishing, tubing, hiking, basketball, ping pong, volleyball, and campfire sing-alongs ... and everything is included in your camp price (no surprise add-on's). Sometimes there are opportunities to hike into Avalon and be brought back by boat (usually during week-long camps). Different groups program different events, but I have never been bored and have always been sad to leave. Seriously, if you have an opportunity to experience Campus By the Sea yourself, GO! I wasn't sure about going that first time, but I'm sure glad I did!

My family and I have been going to this camp for 35 years--in fact, my parents went in the 1960s…read more The rustic setting and gorgeous ocean view with palm trees and an iconic rock jetty always bring me a deep sense of peace and joy as I get to experience the wonder of nature. I have been so blessed by this camp that I now volunteer my time there when I am able. I have been three times this summer, and each time the staff have been incredibly gracious and hospitable. The food is delicious, prepared from scratch by hand, and it's amazing the quality they consistently produce for groups of 200 or 250, including their fresh-baked bread and famous cinnamon rolls. I highly recommend this camp for groups. Even a weekend-getaway or a midweek conference will be enhanced by the incredible setting and hospitality, and it always makes the hour-long boat ride across the channel well worth it.

My fiancé and I really enjoyed this cruise . It was so beautiful especially coming back to see the…read moresunset . I highly suggest coming back during sunset . I love the island so much I probably would stay there next time .

I came here with my adventure guides group, the coyotes, and we loved it…read more We had the entire camp ground for our group and everybody had a fabulous time. I enjoyed the rustic setting and the freedom that the enclosed environment provided for the kids. The staff was nice and the food was great.

If you use the showers make sure you use the newer ones. The old ones didn't even have hot water…read moreand hardly any water comes out. Also you have to download an app and login all your card info. Other than that it's nice and the general store has everything. They have great banana nut ice cream.

We LOVE Two Harbors! What a cool little hide-away! Great…read morefood at the Harbor Reef. The General Store has everything you might need. All the locals we're soooo very nice! Special shout-out to Pam who saved our trip when we lost our Dingy!!! Mahalo & Aloha to everyone at the Isthmas!!!

Fantastic experience! Easy booking and delivery right on time. Having kayaks was amazing. Listen…read moreto the guidelines Chip gives about where and where not to go and you will be safe!

Super easy, super friendly. Kayaks were on the beach and paddles in our campsite so we were ready…read moreto go. Thanks a lot for accommodating our group!

Aaron and Jess were life savers! When we realized we had the wrong size tent at BlackJack, Aaron…read morenot only lent us a larger tent, but set it up with 2 cots, and a cooler of ice cold water that was waiting for us at Little Harbor. When we arrived, my wife had 9 blisters so there was no way we were going to make it to 2 harbors the next day. Aaron saved the day by giving us a ride the next morning! He made the whole experience a joy despite all of the other mishaps! They provide a great service!!

Jess and Aaron are incredible humans. If you are planning a trip to Catalina to stay anywhere…read moreoutside the civilization of Avalon you need to know about them and I'd recommend utilizing their services. They take packs and humans to each campground along TCT. We learned about them as we were dangerously hot near mile 9 of TCT and found they generously provided ice water. Our crew of 7 were so grateful. The next day after a long hike into little harbor we decided we would like to get our packs taken for us so that we could continue to hike the TCT but without the toll of a 25lb pack on our backs. Jess was so kind and helpful. Immediately booking the transaction taking our bags from LH to Parsons. Sadly shortly after my daughter started throwing up and we decided we needed to cut our trip short. I asked Jess for help on recommendations how to get a ride out. She quickly made adjustments to her schedule and said "we can take you". Aaron was there early to ensure we had plenty of time to get on the boat while providing tour level information about the island during the drive. We can't say thank you enough! These people are gold and backpacking Catalina, while beautiful, is no joke. I wish I knew about their service before starting TCT. I highly recommend connecting with them to help you with your trip.

My family of 4 (2 boys, ages 6 and 8) loved it and can't wait to go back! We went over Memorial Day…read moreweekend 2026. Morning overcast burnt off by around 12 each day. Nights were cool but the comforters provided were sufficiently warm at night. Comfortable beds and pillows. Pay for the bedding/towel package in advance so they can make the beds for you. We'd like to go back in the summer months when it's warmer. We packed our own snacks, food to grill on the community grills, and more than enough stuff to make all meals on site. Everything u need to cook comfortably is provided, except maybe 1 or two things that I'll list below. We got the 4 person full size hut. We were towards the back of the camp but conveniently located next to bathrooms/sinks. Our hut faced the ocean so we were fortunate to have great views. The grounds are private and large enough for kids to explore but small enough that parents can let older kids roam free. The beach is perfect for little ones, and the communal spaces included a lot of outdoor activities and games. No wifi in the huts/yurts/etc. You have to go to the large communal building (where food is served for those who purchase the add-on meal package (95.00 per person per day; you can't select individual meals, it's all or nothing)). Meal planning is critical if you plan on cooking for yourself. We took too much but were happy that we chose to make our own food. There's a dishwashing station with hot water, sponges, dish soap. The huts have large bins to take your dishes over to the washing station. It was easy enough to do that after every meal. Advice- purchase ferry tickets AND water taxi when you book. You likely will not go back and forth to Avalon during your stay. Water taxi time slots are limited and not cheap. We each had our own backpacks, one large suitcase, a tote (for toiletries), a cooler and a dry goods bag. It was all manageable because we had it rigged up on wheels. u can also take a collapsible wagon on the ferry. The camp offers wagons on site to take belongings from the water taxi to your hut. That wagon came in handy, we used it often. We got in early on Saturday morning and left early Monday from the camp to hang in Avalon for a couple of hours. Avalon was cute but very touristy. Food there is just okay and expensive. Things to consider packing--If you take your own food to the camp site- I suggest you pack paper towels (none provided) and a cutting board. They provide a french press, so taking ground coffee is the way to go. They provide each site a burner and propane tank to boil water, cook, etc. We took a 60 qt cooler and a bag with dry goods. They provide a very large cooler to transfer your stuff into as well as ice packs that you can swap out as needed. We should have packed a table cloth for the picnic table outside our hut. We used a camping blanket and it worked out fine. The camp provides small rechargeable lanterns that were useful. Water refill stations in the communal building. Bring water bottles to refill. We took a beach blanket and a camping chair to use at the beach, both came in handy. We should have packed a smaller packable cooler for the beach. We also should have packed a wet clothes bag for wet/sandy stuff, and a dirty clothes bag. Bathrooms are individual stalls in an out house type setting that feels open and cold at night. Showers are the same. The shower stalls are open from the top so although the water gets warm, the stalls are cold because they are open. I showered midday while the sun was out and in my swimsuit. There's no changing area in the showers, so unless u want to get dressed in a wet stall, you should either take a robe and dress minimally or walk back/forth in a swimsuit and get dressed in your hut. Shower shoes are a must. The setting is ideal for large groups/familes. We want to go back with friends! There's a kayak/paddle board rental company on-site. We kayaked midday but the wind made it impossible to enjoy ourselves. If it's windy, don't bother. Mornings and evenings are the best time to kayak. Margot was our on-site host and was incredibly sweet and helpful. Our boys loved her. She hooked up s'mores and evening fire pits (u can't make your own fires there). They didn't have any organized crafting activities because it's slow season, but Margot mentioned that she could bring out the materials if kids were interested. The vibe is very chill and go with the flow. Staff was super friendly and always down to help.

Nice little camp ground if you want to be away from Catalina city. We came unfortunately there was…read morea large group of kids- which would have been fine but their adults were not supervising them, they were up past 10 screaming, filled our rental canoes with sand and just left the place a mess but that is not the camp's responsibility. I had my four kiddos so I understand kids and how they can be but these kids were well spoiled seeming. The land itself is nice it's a camp ground on an isolated part of Catalina. The little camp ground sells a few items - sort of random items. Ice cream, lollipops, basic sodas, etc then they have a few items for microwaving like fancy brand cup of nooodles they also sell Annie's Mac n cheese and nicer Italian pasta to boil and cook at your camp site. Each campsite has a kitchen kit with pots n pans and a little camp stove free to use which was nice They also have a buffet which no one told us about! $95 per person at the time of leaving this review for all the meals, I only had breakfast by a. Ident thought it was included lol The meals smelled amazing and looked great! They have a salad bar and fresh options for their meals next time we will do this option The tent was freezing we piled the blankets and huddled together. Could have been the time of year (Late april) beautiful spacious tent with a full bed and a sleeping cot The beach has rentals like kayaks and paddle boards with little caves and coves to explore. We didn't snorkel because it was so cold but there were a few scuba divers out. Because it's so remote if the weather isn't good I wouldn't come. We enjoyed our stay

Val was an exceptional guide. From the moment we arrived it felt like we were in great hands. She…read more is personable, competent, and created the best experience for our group.

A must do in Catalina! Took a day trip to visit the island for the first time, and so glad we…read moredecided to book a zip line tour. Great way to get into nature without hiking, and had so much fun zip lining! Kaitlin and Kyler were fantastic guides and kept us engaged and safe throughout the entire trip. Big kudos to them for getting everyone across the finish line, and being the nicest people. There were five lines in total, each with unique features to keep it exciting. Our group was about 8 people, and we each finished a line before moving to the next. There were a few people in the group who were very nervous or had a fear of heights, much made it through the whole tour, so I wouldn't be discouraged if you've never gone zip lining before. Overall had so much fun and learned some facts about the island. Would highly recommend this tour, it's worth the money!

To improve, 1.when you say the class schedule is going to be emailed on Friday then send it…read more Instead, told on Friday will get it when we arrive. We asked when we arrive to drop off still no list of what they are doing and when. 2. Just pretend that Jacque might care when kids are bullying your child. He went to her the first day and said he needed a new cabin because the kids were mean and the counselor in the cabin and she refused. Pretty much said handle it. After that he did not want to go to any of the classes he signed up for because there was always one of the kids from the bullies in that class. Then it was hard because there was no direction on the classes for a kid with dyslexia. I could go on and on but I'll just say unless your child or teen is going with a friend find a different camp.

Both my sons went to Catalina Sea Camp one week session. My 9 year old has adhd I was told by Jaqui…read morethat they are not counselors or therapists so they cannot accommodate him. My 11 year old was accused of cussing at a camper and jaqui made him sit out for the last day of camp. I spoke to my son and he told me he didnt cuss and I believe him when I asked him how camp was he told me he wasn't having fun and that Jaqui was mean to him based off of her connection with the other camper. I thought my kids were going to have a great experience instead it was the total opposite when I asked to speak to my son jaqui hung up the phone. I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor. Spoke with a gentleman named Paul I will say that Paul was respectful and very understanding and willing to fix the situation I think they should fire Jaqui to be honest. Ruining a child's summer experience based off hear say is totally not fair. Just want to give parents a heads up before they send their kid.