Avalon Harbor is the easiest place to paddle board on Catalina Island: you can rent a board at the Boat Landing, a short walk from the ferry, and the bay is sheltered from the open ocean on most days. For the most scenic paddle, launch at Descanso Beach and follow the shore past the Catalina Casino, or take the ferry to Two Harbors for a quieter, more remote cove.
Catalina works for paddling because the town side faces the mainland, away from the prevailing swell, so the coves are often calm and the water is famously clear. The island’s tourism bureau calls its water some of the warmest in Southern California. The catch is getting there: the ferries have strict rules on boards, so most visitors rent on the island rather than bring their own.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Avalon Harbor, renting from Wet Spot Rentals at the Boat Landing, on a calm morning.
- Most scenic: Descanso Beach, paddling along the shore past the Casino (keep outside the roped-off dive park).
- Clear water and fish: Lover’s Cove, a short paddle east of the Boat Landing.
- Quiet and remote: Two Harbors, on Isthmus Cove, with rentals from the Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center.
- Bringing your own board: only on Catalina Express, and only boards up to 9 feet, booked in advance. See “Getting a board to the island” below.
Getting a board to the island
This is the first thing to sort out, because it decides whether you bring a board at all.
- Catalina Express (from San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point) allows surfboards and SUPs up to 9 feet long, on a space-available basis. You must reserve the board in advance, and it costs $3.50 each way at the time of writing. Kayaks aren’t allowed. Most paddle boards are longer than 9 feet, so a typical 10’6” all-round board won’t qualify.
- The Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach only takes hand-carried luggage, and its booking pages say no paddle boards or kayaks.
- Inflatable boards: neither ferry’s published rules say how a deflated board in a backpack is treated. Call the ferry before you travel rather than assume it counts as normal luggage.
For most people, renting on the island is simpler. Rental boards come with a paddle and life jacket.
The best places to paddle board on Catalina Island
Avalon Harbor
Directions
Best for: beginners, a first look at the island from the water. Sheltered bay, with boat traffic.
Avalon Harbor is the curved bay in front of town, between the Casino on the north side and the Cabrillo Mole (the ferry pier) on the south. It’s packed with moored boats in summer, and paddling between them gives you a close view of the town, the Green Pleasure Pier and the hills behind.
Where to launch: Rent at the Boat Landing next to the ferry docks, or carry a board onto the sand at Middle Beach or South Beach along Crescent Avenue. Keep away from the Cabrillo Mole, where the ferries come and go, and from the main channel boats use to reach the moorings.
Rentals and lessons: Wet Spot Rentals (120 Pebbly Beach Road, at the Boat Landing) rents paddle boards daily from March through October. The rental includes a short instruction, a life jacket and a paddle; at the time of writing it’s around $25 for the first hour.
Good to know: The Avalon Harbor Department runs the moorings and patrols the harbor. Boat traffic is constant on summer weekends, so stay visible, keep clear of boats maneuvering onto moorings, and paddle in the morning when it’s quieter.
Descanso Beach and the Casino
Directions
Best for: scenery, and paddlers who can handle a little chop. Sheltered cove, open to some swell.
Descanso Bay sits just around the point from Avalon Harbor, past the round, red-roofed Catalina Casino. Paddling here gives you the classic view of the Casino from the water, plus the cliffs and kelp along the shore toward the north.
Where to launch: Descanso Beach, a short walk past the Casino along Saint Catherine Way. Launch at the rental area at the entrance to the Descanso Beach Club.
Rentals and lessons: Descanso Beach Ocean Sports (5 Saint Catherine Way) rents paddle boards and kayaks by the hour or day, plus wetsuits, life jackets and dry bags. It also runs guided kayak trips, including a half-day paddle to Willow Cove and a trip to Frog Rock. It opens at 9 am, weather permitting.
What to avoid: The Casino Point Underwater Park, the dive park right beside the Casino, is roped off to boats. Paddle around the outside of the buoy line, and watch for divers’ bubbles and surface floats.
Good to know: Casino Point is also a State Marine Conservation Area, so you can’t take anything from the water.
Lover’s Cove
Directions
Best for: clear water and fish under your board. Small rocky cove.
Lover’s Cove is a small rocky cove just east of the Cabrillo Mole, on the road toward Pebbly Beach. It’s a State Marine Conservation Area with reefs and kelp, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife lists garibaldi (the bright orange state marine fish), kelp bass and sheephead among the fish here. On a still day you can see them from your board.
Where to launch: It’s easiest to rent at the Boat Landing in Avalon and paddle a few minutes east, around the end of the Mole. The cove’s own beach is small and rocky, and it’s used by snorkelers.
Good to know: Glass-bottom boats and snorkelers use the cove all day. Give them room, don’t paddle over snorkelers, and stay well clear of the boats. The conservation area bans taking any marine life, except hook-and-line fishing from the Mole.
Two Harbors (Isthmus Cove)
Directions
Best for: a quieter, more remote paddle. Sheltered cove.
Two Harbors is the small village at the island’s narrow waist, about 1 hour 15 minutes by ferry from San Pedro. Isthmus Cove faces the mainland, and Catalina Harbor (Cat Harbor) is a short walk across the isthmus on the other side. It’s far quieter than Avalon, with a beach, a pier and coves to explore along the shore.
Where to launch: The beach in front of the village on Isthmus Cove, next to the pier. Watch for skiffs and shore boats running to and from the moorings.
Rentals and lessons: The Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center rents paddle boards first come, first served: around $27 an hour, $65 for a half day and $86 for a full day at the time of writing. You can also rent overnight, which is handy if you’re camping.
Good to know: Ferries to Two Harbors run from San Pedro on Catalina Express, with fewer sailings outside summer. Check the schedule before you plan a day trip.
When to go
You can paddle Catalina year-round, but summer and early fall are the most comfortable.
- Water temperature: the island’s visitor bureau lists the water at about 70–75°F in summer, 65–70°F in fall, and 59–65°F in winter. That’s warmer than most of the mainland coast, but still cold enough in winter that you’ll want a wetsuit. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
- Summer (June–September): warmest water and the most rental hours. Also the busiest harbor, so go early.
- Fall and spring: fewer boats and quieter water, with shorter rental seasons. Wet Spot runs March through October.
- Time of day: mornings are usually calmest. Wind and chop tend to build in the afternoon, which makes the paddle back to the beach harder.
Planning a paddle along the coast? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long a route will take at your pace.
Rules and safety on Catalina Island
California treats a paddle board like any other human-powered vessel when you’re outside a swim or surf area. According to the state’s Division of Boating and Waterways:
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. Children under 13 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle.
- After dark: you need a white light, such as a bright flashlight, ready to show in time to prevent a collision.
Local rules and habits:
- Stay out of the Casino Point dive park, which is roped off to boats.
- Don’t take anything from Lover’s Cove or Casino Point. Both are State Marine Conservation Areas.
- Keep clear of the ferries at the Cabrillo Mole and of boats picking up moorings. Ferries and harbor patrol boats can’t stop quickly.
- Wear a leash in the open coves, and stay closer to shore than you think you need to. The open channel between Catalina and the mainland is for boats, not paddle boards.
FAQ
Can I bring my paddle board on the Catalina ferry?
Only on Catalina Express, and only if it’s 9 feet or shorter. You must reserve it in advance; it was $3.50 each way at the time of writing. The Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach doesn’t allow paddle boards. Call ahead about inflatables.
Where can beginners paddle board on Catalina?
Avalon Harbor, renting from Wet Spot Rentals at the Boat Landing. The harbor is sheltered, and you’re never far from the beach. Go in the morning, before the boat traffic and wind pick up.
Where can I rent a paddle board on Catalina Island?
In Avalon, Wet Spot Rentals at the Boat Landing and Descanso Beach Ocean Sports at Descanso Beach. In Two Harbors, the Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center.
Can you paddle board around the Catalina Casino?
Yes, from Avalon Harbor or Descanso Beach, but stay outside the roped-off Casino Point dive park on the ocean side of the building.
How cold is the water around Catalina?
The visitor bureau lists about 70–75°F in summer and 59–65°F in winter. A rash guard is enough on a warm summer day; bring a wetsuit from late fall to spring.
More paddling near Catalina
Not sure which board to rent or buy? Our Board Fitter suggests a size for your weight and the water you’ll paddle. If you’re new to salt water, read how to paddle board in the ocean first. Back on the mainland, see our guides to where to paddle board in Long Beach and where to paddle board in Newport Beach.
