This flat but exposed dirt
road parallels the coastline for non-stop ocean views. Don't forget to pack
a picnic and pick up your free mandatory hiking permit at Visitor Services
(at the end of the dock).
Location: Two Harbors Region: Catalina Distance: 5.2 mi. out and back Difficulty: Easy, except in severe heat When to go: Year-round Hours: Sun up to sunset Phone: 310-510-0303 Elevation Gain: 580 ft. Are dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash Restrooms: Only in Two Harbors Parking: Not applicable. Trailhead is a short walk from the dock or
the campground. The Catalina Express (800-481-3470) boat from San Pedro to
Two Harbors costs $42 per adult, round-trip.
Trail Information
Full Review: People who choose Two Harbors over Avalon usually do so
in order to escape the crowds. ("Town" here consists of one bar, one
restaurant, a dive shop, and a small store.) Even so, the Isthmus can get
pretty busy, especially in the summer. Sometimes you have to walk a couple
of miles to appreciate the island scenery in solitude. That's what this hike
is for.
Start by walking down West End Rd., above the northern tip of Isthmus Cove,
where hundreds of boats are moored. When you round the bend, you'll find
yourself above Fourth of July Cove, a smaller mooring site at the privately
owned Fourth of July Yacht Club. A word of warning: They don't take kindly
to trespassers, so keep to the road.
The next corner takes you to Cherry Cove, so named because of the endemic
Catalina Cherry trees that grow deep into the canyon. This, too, is private
property, and the site of a Boy Scout camp.
When you reach the point at the far end of the cove, leave the main road and
follow the path toward the rock called Lion Head (watch it as you approach
and you'll see how it got its name). A short distance from the turnoff,
you'll find a shaded bench with a memorial plaque to sailor Edmund Dubois.
Make this your turnaround point or scramble farther down the path, amid the
prickly pear, for views of an empty coastline and blue-green water to the
west.
The road continues for many more miles, all the way to the westernmost tip
of the island. But, unless you're hiking in to the Parsons Landing
campground, there's little reason to continue past this point. Go back the
way you came.
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