Hermit Gulch Campground

Clean bathrooms, friendly rangers, nice layout, cute wildlife, close to TCT. Only issue, which is probably just on all of Catalina, is that late hours of the night people are driving up the road in their golf carts which are super loud. So don’t get a site near the road if your an early or light sleeper.

This is a traditional, clean, accessible and beautiful. Just an easy option while staying on the island and enjoying all the city of Avalon has to offer. Close to Botanical Gardens, hiking and plenty of money spending opportunities including activities, food and entertainment. Speaking of spending money... you gotta get to the island first and then be prepared to drop some coin. =)

A really nice campground. Only 30 mins walk or 5 minute bus ride from downtown Avalon. I highly recommend using the bus for the first and last trip when arriving as trying to walk there with all your gear can be quite challenging. If you need food or other provisions you can go to the Vons, or the ranger station(Open 6am-6pm), can provide ice, charcoal or propane. Showers only take quarters so make sure to bring quarters (1 quarter = 1 minute). I reccomend reserving a campsite near the back of the campground as there is more tree cover for shade and it gets you farther away from the main road that receives alot of loud golf cart traffic and can be extremely noisy(usually from 8am-4pm). There is an added bonus that I felt that made this campground unique to others that I've been to, which is there is sooooo much wildlife the frequently visits the campground. In one day we saw deer, quail, woodpeckers and the famous Catalina fox. This campsite is positively a must camp if you are on Catalina Island.

This campground is cool because you can literally take a bus to it. It is right outside of Avalon and walking distance to everything. This is where the TCT begins.

Hermit Gulch is in a little mountainous valley among Catalina's chapparrel covered slopes.

Pros: the loacion is great, about a mile from Avalon and all of the snorkeling spots, and even closer to Wrigley Botanical Garden (which is a must-see while you're there). The campsite has showers, toilets, and shade (in spots). The sites are ok sized for tents. Wildlife comes through the campsite regularly.

Cons: the pricing is per person rather than per site. Wildlife comes through the campsite regularly (7am about 100 crows fly down the valley squaking and cawing).

Overall I would stay here again though.

I stayed here Labor Day weekend for tent camping! So, since I don't plan to camp here again for awhile, I should let you in on the secret(?) that the best campsite is Site 29!!! Reserve this one if you can!! It's the furthest away from the road and taxi dropoff, so it can be frustrating if you have to lug all your stuff, but it's well worth it. This site is much larger than the other sites. I think it's because it's at the end and it's not big enough to make into 2 separate sites. There's also a lot of shade relative to the other sites, which generally don't have much. This of course changes depending on the time of day. Site 29 also seems to be more separated from the other sites, whereas the other sites seem to be stacked on one another. 

The ranger was very helpful. The bathrooms were pretty clean and well-stocked the whole time, which is impressive since it was such a busy weekend. 

The shuttle is $2 exact change.

I appreciate that there are covered trash cans scattered amongst the sites so we don't all have to lug our trash to a big smelly dumpster. 

The ranger said that AT&T and Verizon have service at the campground. My friends have Sprint and they did not have service. 

Ok that's all I can think of for now. Have fun camping here! :)