Where is Catalina Island located?

Santa Catalina Island, commonly known as Catalina Island or simply Catalina, lies off the shore of southern California, only 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Los Angeles. The island’s eastern end is positioned at 33 degrees, 18’10″N, 118 degrees, 18’58″W.

Catalina belongs to the Channel Islands archipelago. Its eight islands are grouped as the Northern Channel Islands and the Southern Channel Islands, and Catalina Island is one of the four Southern Channel Islands.

Among the eight islands, Catalina Island is the only one with a sizable year-round civilian community: the city of Avalon and the unincorporated town of Two Harbors. Avalon and Two Harbors are 13.4 miles apart by boat and 23 miles apart by road.

The Island stretches 22 miles in length and covers approximately 47,884 acres, or about 76-square miles. At its broadest point, Long Point, it is 8 miles wide; at its narrowest point, Two Harbors or the Isthmus, it is 1/2 mile wide. Its coastline measures 54 miles.

The tallest points are Mt. Orizaba at 2,097 feet and Mount Black Jack at 2,006 feet. The deepest channel between Catalina and the mainland reaches approximately 3,000 feet, or more than 1/2 mile. Ocean temperatures range from 64 to 73 degrees in the summer and 54 to 59 degrees in winter.

Traveling to Catalina Island

Two boat companies run scheduled Catalina Island service, leaving from four mainland communities:

• San Pedro
• Long Beach
• Dana Point
• Newport Beach

Helicopter service also operates from Long Beach, San Pedro and Orange County Airport.

From the mainland, you can reach Catalina Island in as little as 15 minutes by helicopter or about one hour aboard a high speed ferry boat.

Fun Island Facts

Catalina Island is part of Los Angeles County, and Avalon, incorporated in 1913, became the county’s 30th city.

Wildlife

Catalina Island supports a wide range of wildlife, including both native and non-native species.

History

Catalina Island has a long, fascinating past that reaches back to the Spanish Empire. Catalina Island was once owned by William Wrigley, Jr. of Wrigley Chewing.

Uniquely Catalina

Catalina has its own unusual details, local facts and island ways of speaking.