Avalon to Two Harbors: Catalina MTB Adventure, Part 2

After mt. biking to Two Harbors from Avalon, enjoying sunset wine and cheese at the Banning House Lodge followed by a mahe fish dinner at the Harbor Sands Restaurant, we slept like hibernating bears.

And nothing better than relaxing into the morning like this, eh?

Two Harbors is so named for its topographic features (you guessed it) 2 harbors – the Isthmus Cove on the leeward side and Catalina Harbor on windward side, separated by a half mile of land or isthmus. What’s an Isthmus, you might ask? It’s a narrow sliver of land that connects two larger areas across an expanse of water which they are otherwise separated.

Bike logistics

You might also be wondering about mt. bike logistics on Catalina Island. There are a couple spots to rent bikes in Avalon or you can bring your own on the ferry, but you must purchase a Freewheeler Bike Pass from the Island Conservancy to ride the interior “wildlands” where the buffalo and Catalina fox roam and eagles fly overhead. The bike pass is only $35 for the year and goes towards the Conservancy’s efforts to protect this natural gem and its wildlife so it’s well worth it for an unforgettable experience and a worthy cause.

Parson’s Landing

So the plan for Day 2 was to take it easy, recover from yesterday’s cross-island mt. bike slog with heavy packs, and explore the West End. So we set out on the lovely, coastal mt. bike ride out to Parson’s Landing (~14 mile round trip on mostly flat fire road). Great vistas along the way and the reward of Parson’s Landing’s pristine, rugged beauty all made for a wonderful day.

 

We met a great couple from our home town who were also staying at the Banning House Lodge. They had the grand idea of biking out to the tip of Catalina Harbor for sunset. What a superb way to close out a perfect day exploring Catalina.

Check out the views!

Oh, and we had a couple of Catalina Island Fox sightings today too, one at happy hour and one at dinner. See my Catalina Island Fox post. Stay tuned for our return bike ride to Avalon and to find out who we ran into in the middle of the island.