Picolo recommends · Hotel in Two Harbors, Catalina Island
Banning House Lodge
A wooden summer house on the hill over Two Harbors, with water on both sides where Catalina pinches to its narrowest point.
Stand on the porch and you can see the Pacific twice: one bay facing the mainland, another opening to the open ocean. Banning House Lodge sits on a hill above Two Harbors, the small village at Catalina's slim waist.
The house is old, wooden and modest, with just a few rooms, and after dark the only sounds are the wind and the odd boat at anchor. Days are for trails and paddling, evenings for watching the light go.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Banning House Lodge
We choose it for hikers, kayakers and couples who want the wild side of Catalina. It is about as far from Avalon's busy seafront as the island gets, and the view across both bays is unlike anywhere else here.
Nights are very quiet and there is little to do after dinner. Ferries to Two Harbors are less frequent than to Avalon, and shops are scarce, so carry food and water when you head out on the trails.
What you get
- Views over bays on both sides of the island
- Kayaking from the harbour below
- Trails into the island's wild interior
- Historic wooden summer house
- Just a few rooms
A day at Banning House Lodge
- Morning
- Coffee on the porch with the bays still in shadow.
- Midday
- A paddle along the coves below the village.
- Afternoon
- A hike on the trails that lead up from Two Harbors.
- Evening
- Sunset over the ocean side, then a silent night.
Location
Two Harbors, Catalina Island, California, USA
Open in MapsQuestions about Banning House Lodge
How do you get to Banning House Lodge?
Take a ferry to Two Harbors, which runs less often than the boats to Avalon, then walk up the hill. Check timetables ahead, especially outside summer.
Is Banning House Lodge good for hiking?
Yes. Two Harbors is a starting point for trails across the western part of Catalina. Bring plenty of water, as there are few places to buy supplies.
Is there nightlife near Banning House Lodge?
Very little. Two Harbors is a small village, and evenings are quiet. That calm is the main reason people come.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
