Backpacking the Trans Catalina Trail, Catalina Island, California

The Trip

A long stay on Santa Catalina Island is a remarkable experience. The beautiful island is 22 miles from the Southern California coast and has a fascinating history. It is privately owned, but since the 1970s, more than 80 percent of the island has been under the management of the Catalina Island Conservancy. Catalina is home to more than 60 endemic plant, animal, and insect species. Come and spend time on the island and learn how the Conservancy manages the lands through “a balance of conservation, education, and recreation.”

We will backpack the official 40-mile Trans-Catalina Trail from Two Harbors to Avalon, west to east, instead of the more popular east to west direction. Starting at Two Harbors, we will avoid the 1,600-foot climb with full packs that we would have if we were to start at Avalon. The Trans-Catalina Trail backpack is more “supported” than a typical wilderness thru-hike, but that does not blemish the wonders of the island. Our average distance of 8 miles a day will give us plenty of time to take in the island’s charms.

The indigenous people on Santa Catalina Island belonged to the Tongva Tribe, and they referred to themselves as Pimugnans or Pimuvit. The Pimugnans were renowned for their mining, working, and trading of soapstone, which was plentiful on the island.

Day 1: San Pedro to Parsons Landing. We will catch the first Catalina Express boat from San Pedro to Two Harbors. The boat stops by Avalon before reaching Two Harbors, and takes 2 hours. After checking in with the Conservancy and storing half our supplies in lockers, we will begin our hike. Two Harbors to Parsons Landing is 7.5 miles on a winding and mostly flat dirt road that hugs the coastline, perfect for a warm-up hike. Our campsite at Parsons Landing will be on the beach.

Day 2: Parsons Landing to Two Harbors. We will continue our hike along the TCT by hiking up Fenceline Road to the Silver Peak Trail and then descending back to Two Harbors for a total of 6.5 miles. The route is very steep as we will reach the high point of our trip at 1,700 feet. We will be rewarded for our efforts with spectacular views of the California coast and Channel Islands as we walk along the northern spine of Catalina Island.

Day 3: Layover day at Two Harbors. Our camp with ocean views will be located about ¼ mile from the small village of Two Harbors, where there is a market, restaurant, and coin-operated showers. Optional activities for our layover day include beach time in protected Isthmus Cove, day-hiking up to the spectacular Cat Harbor Overlook, and no-host sea kayaking along the beautiful shoreline, conditions permitting.

Day 4: Two Harbors to Little Harbor. Today is a shorter day at about 5.5 miles. We will hike closer to the western coastline, but high on a ridge at 1,200 feet. On a clear day, vistas of the Pacific Ocean are stunning from the top. Little Harbor is the only campground facing the Pacific Ocean and offers a chance to see a beautiful sunset right over the ocean. At the beachfront campground in Little Harbor, an outdoor cold rinse shower is available.

Day 5: Little Harbor to Blackjack. Today’s hike takes us back up to 1,600 feet. The 9-mile hike passes by the Airport in the Sky. Some of us may want to buy lunch at the airport cafe, famous for its buffalo burgers. Blackjack is the only campground on our trip that is in the interior of the island. It is also the highest in elevation.

Day 6: Blackjack to San Pedro. The road to Avalon stays high for the first 7 miles, then it drops steeply down to the bustling resort city of Avalon in the next 4 miles. We will return to San Pedro on the 6:00 p.m. boat and say our good-byes.

Please note, the above itinerary is a general plan. It is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. Weather, trail condition, progress of the group, boat schedule, and other factors may require the leaders to make adjustments.

Getting There

We will meet at the Catalina Island Express Terminal in San Pedro, CA, at 8:30 a.m. on the first day. Participants may want to arrive the day before and stay in a motel nearby. If you have a car, come earlier to find parking. Paid long term parking is available. On our return, the 6:00 p.m. boat from Avalon will arrive at San Pedro at 7:15 p.m. (Please wait for confirmed boat schedule from leader before making travel arrangements.)

Accommodations and Food

The trip price includes all on-trip campground reservations and fees. All the campgrounds have vault toilets and all, except one, have potable water. We will have bottled water delivered to our campsite at Parsons Landing. Cell phone service is good at 2 of the 4 campgrounds, but unreliable elsewhere. Cold outdoor showers are available at 2 of the 4 campgrounds. Over the years, several of the Catalina Island campgrounds have appeared on the Best Campgrounds list in Sunset Magazine.

All meals and snacks are included, beginning with lunch on the first day and concluding with lunch on the last day. Meals at Parsons Landing campground will be the just-add-boiling-water type, to minimize need for extra water for cooking and cleaning. Meals will have a vegetarian option, and some food sensitivities may be accommodated. Please contact the leader to ask if any food allergies or dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Trip participants will be asked to assist with meal preparations and cleanup.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is an intermediate level trip. It is rated a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the easiest and 5 being the most strenuous trips we offer). There are steep elevation gain and/or loss most days, as much as 1,700 feet. It is suitable for those who enjoy long weekend backpack trips and follow a regular and diverse exercise program.

We will be on walking on trails and unpaved roads. Daily mileage averages 8 miles a day, and ranges from 5 to 11 miles. We aim to start hiking each day around 9 a.m. and stop by 4 p.m., with frequent breaks.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants will bring their own personal gear, including pack, tent, sleeping bag, and pad. Spring and fall are the best times to backpack the Trans-Catalina Trail. Rain is possible, but not frequent in April or October. The average temperatures range from highs in the mid-60s F to lows around 40 F. The Blackjack campground is at 1,600 feet and will be cooler at night. We require that you wear hiking boots on this trip. Although trail running shoes are popular with many ultralight backpackers, they will be discouraged on this trip in order to minimize risk of personal injuries that would impact the group. Rattlesnakes are present on the island and a high-cut boot model can offer more protection. Don’t forget to bring the 10 essentials.

The Sierra Club will provide group-cooking equipment and food. We will also have a large tarp for protection from the elements, a group first-aid kit, and a communication device for emergencies.

Your pack should be sufficiently large enough to carry 10 liters of food and group gear in addition to your personal gear. Expect group gear for each person to weight 8-10 pounds.

The leader will send a detailed equipment list to registered participants.

References

• Catalina Express: https://catalinaexpress.com

• Catalina Island Conservancy: https://catalinaconservancy.org/index.php?s=visit&p=hike_the_trans_catalina_trail

• Catalina Island Hiking Map: https://catalinaconservancy.org/userfiles/files/Hiking%20Map%202017%2011x17(1).pdf

• Catalina Island Wildlife: https://catalinaconservancy.org/index.php?s=wildlife&p=home

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused organization. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, and we encourage and rely on grassroots involvement. Our Outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

We will spend our entire trip in a well-managed protected area as a result of the landowners’ passion for protecting endangered species and Catalina’s fragile ecology. We will devote time during our trip to talk about the programs run by the Conservancy, and the challenges of balancing public recreation, tourism, and preservation. Participants are encouraged to bring up a conservation topic of interest to them, whether a local issue specific to their hometown or a broader issue.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.