Posted April 2025 (Last Update July 2025)

Generally when anyone says they are going to Two Harbors on Catalina they mean Isthmus, 4th of July, or Cherry Coves. Two Harbors is the unincorporated community and Isthmus Cove consists of the two main mooring fields on the NE side of the isthmus. Cherry and 4th of July coves are two smaller coves just a little to the north. There are also a couple of areas you can drop anchor in Isthmus Cove.

Island Company Mooring Info and Prices

Island Company Rules and Regulations

Google Maps Isthmus Cove

The links above to the Island Company website will give you all the info you need. I’ve provided a little additional info below to consider when you are heading out.

Cove Options

The first thing I decide when I’m visiting is if I want easy shore access to Two Harbors. If I don’t then 4th of July and Cherry coves are generally less windy and I prefer to stay in either cove. 4th of July has 42 moorings and Cherry has 99 moorings. It is a pretty long and slow dinghy ride to the dingy dock from both places.

Google Maps: Cherry Cove & 4th of July Cove

When you get to the Isthmus call the Harbor Patrol on Ch 9. Have your doc number ready. On the Isthums side call Isthums Harbor Master and if you are on the other side call Cat Harbor Master so they know where you are at. If it is windy or you are new to picking up the mooring ask them to have a patrol boat assist you getting to your ball. Don’t be shy about asking for help. I’ve picked up moorings a 1,000 times and if there is a cross wind I’ll wait for a patrol boat to be on standby with me.

Watch out for Harbor reef if you are coming in past Bird Rock. There is a tower marker but boats still hit it occasionally. The snorkeling is pretty good there and its a short dinghy ride out from the mooring field. 33°26.85 N 118° 29.38 W

Google Map Harbor Reef Hazard

Picking a Mooring

Isthmus Cove has 242 moorings with about 1/3 of them on the west side of the fairway to the pier. Most people prefer getting a mooring as far west and as close to the beach as possible. Two considerations are the wind that comes ripping through the isthmus most afternoons, and the swell that wraps into the cove. Both of these issues are minimized if you get close to the west side cliff. Of course I’m referencing the average 30-50’ sail or power boat that visits. If there aren’t a lot of boats there sometimes the harbor patrol will let you put a larger boat on B or C row. I’ve had a 47’ sailboat on C row next to the cliff and it was great!

These are all two point moorings with a pickup stick on the mooring ball end. It is unlikely the stern hawser will be the exact right length to go on your stern clean. Plan on securing the stern with the sand line or loop a dock line through the loop on the hawser if possible. The key is to know where you are at on the tide swing and tension the mooring lines so you are snug, but not tight, at high tide. If you go to loose at high tide you will end up to cozy with your neighbors.

East Side Moorings

If you are assigned an east side mooring you may want to consider mooring with the bow out towards the sea rather than the shore. Generally some swell wraps into the cove and slaps the transom making for an annoying night of sleep.The farther east you go the more boats you will see moored facing north.

I have found K,L,M rows in the general region of balls 8-15 being particularly problematic for mixing sailboats and power boats. At low tide when the wind is light and the tidal current is running the sailboats and powerboats may move opposite directions and boats can bump. Put fenders out and adjust the tension on your mooring lines as needed. This may also be a problem on in other regions of the mooring field, but its the only place I’ve had it happen to me.

Getting Through the Fairway

On the summer weekends the fairways can be clogged with dinghies, floats, and SUPs trailing behind boats. I feel most of the skippers that show up here are pretty competent, but occasionally I see someone dodge something in the fairway and end up on the downwind side and struggle to get back to the upwind side without hitting something. As you get closer to the beach the space between the boats can get very narrow and you shouldn’t count on being able to fit between boats. Take a look down the fairway before you turn into it to make sure it is clear.

Be flexible as you approach and tie up on the same side as your neighbors. If they are all tied starboard, do the same. On crowded days I put a couple fenders on each side of the boat at the most likely contact points for the rare, but inevitable, times it turns into a shitshow.

Payment & Reservations

You can pay the harbor patrol boat for your mooring when they come around or you can pay the office on the pier. At the bottom of this webpage you can see the current rates: visitcatalinaisland.com/stay/mooring This page also has the check-in and check-out times and other rules. The top of the page has info about making an online reservation. I’ve never used the reservation system so I can’t speak to how well it works. For an extra $25 I guess it would be nice to have a spot reserved. I like the flexibility of changing my mind about where I’m staying or getting a ball close to someone I recognize so I don’t make reservations.

Shore Boat, Dinghy Dock, Main Dock

You can hail the shoreboat on VHF 9.

For the latest shoreboat hours and fees scroll to the bottom of this page and look for “Additional Mooring Information” Mooring Info

The dinghy dock is large and on the west side of the pier. Use at lease a 10’ painter/bow line to secure your dinghy and keep the outboard down in the water. Practice your bowline before you get there. Don’t tie some janky knot and have your dingy drifting past bird rock when you get back!

You can tie up to the main dock and get fuel, water, and pumpout your holding tanks. Generally you will tie up on the east side (opposite the dinghy dock) but check with the ferry schedule so you don’t end up in the way.

Anchoring

There is a massive area you can anchor at the Isthmus, but almost all of it is 100-130’ deep between the moorings and Harbor Reef. You can drop as long as you are 100 yards from the moorings and not in the channel to the pier. If the only moorings available are on the east end I’m often inclined to drop anchor if I’m on a boat that has the ground tackle. If you drop on the far east end between Fishermans Cove and Little Fishermans cove you will be in 60-80’ of water and the bottom holds well. You cannot anchor in Fishermans Cove. Little Fishermans is pretty sweet, but also tight with a lot of shallow rocks on the west side of it. I’ve seen three boats anchored in there with bow and stern anchors.

Google Maps: Little Fishermans Cove

Google Maps: Fishermans Cove

Onshore Amenities

Onshore you will find a small store, two restaurants, restrooms, showers, and a laundry room. You can also rent bikes, scuba gear, snorkel gear, kayaks, and paddleboards. There is a frisbee golf course, but its a bit dusty and stark.

Hiking

Onshore there are some good hikes. If you want something relatively flat you can take the road towards Howlands Landing and Emerald Bay or take the road across the Isthum and follow it along the south side of Cat Harbor to the viewpoint.

For a better workout I’ve hike up the trail that starts by the ridge between 4th of July Cove and the Isthmus. It is pretty steep but the view are great. Another fun option is taking the road past the Banning House and following the trail to the top of the Cat Harbor Overlook.

Best Time to Visit

Summer is the most crowded but the water is the warmest. July-Sept is all around awesome. Oct-Nov are super fun because the weather is still good, but nobody is there (except on the weekends). Dec-March is fine. It can still be a good adventure, but the days are short and its generally chilly. April-June the island has a good chance of being very green from spring rains and I love going for hikes then.

The Island Company offers a big discount in the winter. You can pay for two days and stay for 7.

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