10 Best Beaches on Catalina Island

Descanso Beach is a private beach on the island that features cabanas for rent and enables you to have food and drinks delivered right to you. It's one of the only beaches on the island where you can enjoy a cocktail on the beach. The beach is operated by the Descanso Beach Club and offers amenities like chaise lounges as well as fine food and cocktails. If you're looking for a more exclusive beach experience on Catalina, Descanso Beach can be a good choice.

South Beach is adjacent to the iconic Pleasure Pier and places you within easy walking distance of many of the island's attractions, including fine dining, small independent shops, and more. The beach itself gently slopes towards the ocean, and lifeguards are present in the summer months to ensure that you and your family are safe when swimming in the warm waters. This public beach is known as a family-friendly destination for sun and surf. Just steps away, you can book a glass-bottom boat for a tour of the region.

Middle Beach is just a few steps to the left of Pleasure Pier and offers scenic views, soft sand, warm waters, and easy access to restaurants, shopping, and other activities. Whether you want to grab a quick snack at a food stand or have a sit-down meal at a local seafood restaurant, there are plenty of options available. You'll also find lots of quirky small shops selling souvenirs and beach gear just a few feet from the shore. Lifeguards are present during the summer months, so you can feel confident while swimming.

Step Beach is a narrow beach and an understated gem of the region with deeper waters for those who enjoy watersports and swimming. Like many beaches in the region, lifeguards are on duty here in the summer months to keep everyone safe. It's more secluded than some other beaches, which means it's also less crowded. If you're looking for a quieter escape from daily life, you'll find soft sands and warm waters with fewer people around as you relax at Step Beach.

The Two Harbours area offers several beaches to enjoy: an upper beach with a sand volleyball court and an eastern beach where you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkelling gear. The eastern beach is a good choice for those who enjoy watersports, while the upper beach offers the opportunity to relax, play pickup ball games, and enjoy fun in the sand. Whichever beach you choose, the Two Harbours area offers a true oasis with easy access to beachfront dining, picnic areas, and secluded coves for a romantic few hours away from the world.

Crescent Beach is considered to be the primary beach along Avalon Bay and is situated right next to the Green Pleasure Pier. It encompasses the South, Middle, and Step beaches, so it offers just about everything you could need in your seashore holiday, including access to a small, picturesque, and classic beachfront town full of boutique small shops, equipment rental services, and tour companies willing to teach you all about the island. Within walking distance or a few minutes' drive, you can find seafood restaurants, glass-bottom boats, a fishing pier, and a golf course.

Lovers Cove is accessible by just a short walk from Avalon or via the Catalina Express Ferry and is a small, rocky shore that's ideal for romantic sunset walks. It's also popular for snorkelling, and there are many shops nearby where you can rent gear to hit the waters. Other popular outdoor activities in the area include diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, biking, and more. The local ferry provides easy access to the mainland, where you can enjoy all of the amenities the big city has to offer.

Hamilton Cove is a public beach located just north of Avalon in a private gated community that offers access to the nearby ferry dock just 1.5 miles away. The beach is about as plush as it gets, with soft and immaculately kept sand and boulders where you can climb and catch photo opportunities. The tide is prone to change quickly here, so be careful if you choose to scale the rocks. You can rent a golf cart to get back and forth between the beach and town for easy access to local entertainment opportunities.