Trans-Catalina Trail Backpacking Guide
Plan a backpacking trip on the Trans-Catalina Trail on Catalina Island with this guide to the best campsites, water availability, gear & more.
Located only 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Catalina Island is an inhabited island that offers amazing kelp forest diving, wildlife, and turns out…some pretty epic camping, hiking, and backpacking along the Trans-Catalina Trail.
The Trans-Catalina Trail is a 40-mile trail that traverses the entire island with amazing beachfront camping, some challenging climbs, non-stop views, solitude (in November when I hiked), and even a couple of restaurants along the way. It was a fantastic trip that I’d highly recommend for anyone who is looking for outdoor adventure in Southern California.
In this Trans-Catalina Trail Guide, we share all the logistics for planning a backpacking trip on the Trans-Catalina Island Trail.
As it goes in all of the destinations we share, please practicegood trail etiquetteand remember toLeave No Trace．This means packing out all of your garbage, being respectful to others on busy trails, and following the established rules.
- Trans-Catalina Trail Basics
- Catalina Island Weather
- Campsite Reservations
- Trans-Catalina Trail Itinerary
- Hiking Permits
- Trans-Catalina Trail Map
- Getting to Catalina Island on the Catalina Express
- Backpacking Trip Report
- Leave No Trace on the Trans-Catalina Trail
- Trans-Catalina Backpacking Gear
- Water Availability on the Trans-Catalina Trail
- Food for the Trans-Catalina Trail
Trans-Catalina Trail Basics
The Trans-Catalina trail runs East-West along Catalina Island, part of theChannel Islandsarchipelago．Getting there is an adventure in itself, with the opportunity to encounter some big marine life during the 60-90 minute boat ride via theCatalina Express．
First off, let’s get one thing straight…the Trans-Catalina Trail is no walk in the park — it is hard. Over the course of the trip, there is plenty of up, down, up, down – in total over8,600 feet in elevation gain/loss．There is also a lot of sun exposure and no shade along the trail, meaning it can get very hot in peak summer months so be sure to bringsun protection．
With that being said, this hike across Catalina Island takes you through an incredibly unique and beautiful ecosystem, and the experience was more than worth the challenge. There are also some alternative route options you can take if you want to avoid some of the elevation gain and loss or if you simply don’t have enough time for the entire route (I share some alternative itineraries below).
Another thing to note is that this is not a traditional wilderness backpacking trip. Some of the hike is right on the road where you will encounter the occasional vehicle. Also, at the Airport, you’ll find a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch and in Two Harbors, they have a full-blown general store, restaurant, and bar.
This one-way trail can be traveled in either direction, but I recommend starting in the town ofAvalonand ending your hike atParson’s Landing(returning on the ferry via Two Harbors). In this direction, the views and solitude only improve as you hike.
Trans-Catalina Trail Stats:
- Total Distance:38.5 miles
- Total Elevation Gain Loss:+/-8,615 feet
- Difficulty:Challenging
- Dogs Allowed:Yes (except for Two Harbors Campground)
- Advanced Reservations Required:Yes (see the next section)
- Number of Recommended Nights:4 nights / 5 days (minimum)
- Cell Service:Sporadic
Catalina Island Weather
Catalina Island typically sees more than260 days of sun per year．So when is the best time to backpack the Trans-Catalina Trail?
My recommendation is to hikeSeptember through early Novemberfor the most comfortable temperatures and the highest likelihood for sun. The only downside of the fall months is the landscape is very brown.
With a lack of shade on the trail, the summer months can be very hot and dry. There is no water available between campgrounds on a majority of the trail, and the trail can feel much hotter than the temperature might indicate.
Most of the rainfall on Catalina Island occurs between December and March, and when it rains in California, it can pour. These months are the riskiest for weather, but then again, you could luck out. Spring is a beautifully vibrant time to hike with green hillsides and a trail full of wildflowers.
You may have heard the saying “May Gray, June Gloom” for California. During these months, there’s a good chance Catalina will be engulfed in fog. Hiking temperatures will be comfortable, but you may not get the sunny California views you are hoping for.
Campsite Reservations
Backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail does take a good bit of planning. Campsites do book up during the busy summer months, so don’t delay in making your plans, especially if you are headed to Catalina on a weekend. Campsites can be booked up to a year in advance.
Campsites can be reserved online here．However, since you will be staying at a different campsite each night, you’ll need a separate reservation for each night.
You can also reserve all of your campsites over the phone. Before you call, browsethe official websitewhich has a ton of information about each campsite, and then the reservation specialists can help set up your itinerary over the phone based on availability for your entire trip.To book a reservation over the phone, call (310) 510-4205.
Campsites fees are per person and vary depending on the season. As of September 2021, camping fees are:
Trans-Catalina Trail campground options are listed below and include links to where you can make reservations:
Trans-Catalina Trail Itinerary
Here is the most common Trans-Catalina Trail itinerary:
- Day 1: Avalon toBlack Jack Campground(10.7 miles)
- Day 2: Black Jack to Little Harbor Campground(consider neighboring Shark Harbor for more solitude) (8.2 miles)
- Day 3: Little Harbor toTwo Harbors Campground(5.3 miles)
- Day 4: Two Harbors to Parson’s Landing Campgroundvia the TCT (6.6 miles)
- Day 5: Parson’s Landing to Two Harborsvia the road and Lion’s Head (7.7 miles)
Down below in the trip report, I include specific campsite recommendations and go into detail about each day’s trek.
If you are on a time crunch….
If you want to experience the Trans-Catalina Trail but don’t have time to do the whole thing, here is my recommendation… Take the ferry directly to Two Harbors. From here, you can either hike to the 5 mile stretch from Two Harbors to Little Harbor and back. We all agreed this was the most scenic section of the trail, and Little Harbor is also rated “One of the Best Campgrounds in the West” by Sunset Magazine. This would be a simple 1-2 night getaway.
If you don’t want to carry your own gear but want to do some hiking and camping on Catalina island, gear haul service is available through the Two Harbors Visitor Center for $10 one way or $20 roundtrip per item or bag between Little Harbor and Two Harbors.Catalina Backcountryis another option for gear hauling as well.
Another option would be to take the ferry directly to Two Harbors and hike to Parson’s Landing. This was my favorite campground of the trip and would make a great basecamp for a couple of nights, with a day hike to Starlight Beach.
Hiking Permits
Your camping reservations serve as your permit to hike the Trans-Catalina Trail, so be sure to carry a copy with you. You don’t need an additional permit unless you will be day hiking on the island, and in that case, you’ll need torequest a free permit．
Trans-Catalina Trail Map
When you arrive at Catalina Island, I highly recommend stopping in the Catalina Island Conservancy shop where you can purchase a detailedTrans-Catalina Island Trail map．While most of the trail was well marked, there were a few areas where we got confused on the route, so having a hard copy of the map absolutely came in handy. The map also indicates the location ofwater sources, bathrooms, food, and other amenitiesalong the trail.
Getting to Catalina Island on the Catalina Express
The most common way to get out to Catalina Island is by boat on theCatalina Express．Boats headed to Avalon leave from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point. However, boats heading back to the mainland from Two Harbors where you finish your hike only go to San Pedro. So San Pedro is the most logical ferry terminal to travel in and out of for this backpacking trip.
Round trip adult fares from San Pedro run about $76 (as of September 2021) and the schedule varies depending on the season. For more information or to make reservations, head to theCatalina Express website．
If you would rather depart from Long Beach or Dana Point, you should consider taking theCatalina Island Conservancy Wildlands Express Shuttlethat runs between Avalon, Airport in the Sky, and Little Harbor. The shuttle does not run to Two Harbors.
Be aware that the seas can get rough, so if you are prone to seasickness, plan ahead. I highlyrecommend taking ginger pills for seasicknessand wearingSea Bands．
Another option is a15-minute helicopter ridefrom Long Beach to Avalon which runs up to $150 per person each way, depending on the day of the week.
Backpacking Trip Report
Day 1: Avalon to Black Jack campground (10.7 miles)
- Potable Water Availability:In Avalon and at Black Jack Campground
- Best Campsite at Black Jack: #1 (most secluded)
There are a couple of options for starting out your Trans-Catalina Trail backpacking trip. The first is to take the earliest ferry of the day so you get to the island as early as possible. The earliest ferry leaves Long Beach at 6:15 am and San Pedro at 9:00 am, and it’s roughly an hour ride to Avalon. Remember, you have an 11-mile day ahead of you so time is of the essence.
Alternatively, if you’d rather leave the night before and a hotel is in your budget, Avalon has a limited number ofhotelsto choose from. You can also camp for a night in theHermit Gulch Campground这只是一个短的步行从阿瓦隆。
Once you get to Avalon, your first stop is theCatalina Conservancy office(it’s on the way to the trailhead) to grab maps, learn a little bit about the wildlife and island, and have any last-minute questions answered. Note that they don’t open till 8:30 am.
Next, make sure to fill up your water in town at one of several spigots.
We took our time and grabbed breakfast, which means we got a late start on the trail. To shave off a little bit of mileage, we hiked up above Avalon along Stage Road and met up with the Trans-Catalina Trail near Haypress Reservoir. It was a steep ascent along a fairly well-traveled road. Once we finally connected with the trail, it was up-down-up-down-up.
This part of the trail is the longest stretch you’ll go without seeing the ocean and is very hot and dry. You’ll wanttrekking poles,sun protection, and plenty of water.
We arrived at our campsite (Black Jack #1) right at sundown after 5 straight hours of hiking.
At the time of our visit, no campfires were allowed due to severe drought conditions. However, at other times of the year, you can pay for a locker full of firewood before you leave Avalon. If campfires are allowed while you’re there and you decide to have one, be sure you understandsafe campfire practices．
Day 2: Black Jack to Two Harbors (8.2 miles)
- Potable Water Availability:At Black Jack, the Airport, and Little Harbor
- Best Campsite at Little Harbor:LH12, SH 8, SH 9, SH 10
- For Firewood at Two Harbors: Call 310-510-4205 the day before your arrival and place an order. It’s $10 per small bundle (which burns for approximately 1.5 hours).
Rise and shine! One of the best parts of today’s hike is that you get a quick break after a short 2.25 miles when you arrive at theCatalina Island Airport．TheDC-3 Grill(in the airport) opens at 8:30 am and is open year-round for breakfast burritos, fresh baked cookies, and more.
From the airport, it is a little more than 5 miles to Little Harbor. Along the way, you’ll notice a VERY green patch of land, which is actually home to theSanta Catalina Island Vineyard．Don’t get too excited…they don’t offer tastings, but it is still a pretty unique sight to see. You’ll also notice some very nice buildings which comprise theEl Rancho Escondido——前者旗下阿拉伯马的牧场工作the Wrigley family (as in the founder of Wrigley’s gum). The family that owns the vineyard and winery is working to restore the ranch.
Side Note:If you are hurting or the trail is proving to be harder than you thought it would be – you do have the option to take aCatalina Island Conservancy Wildlands Express Shuttlefrom the airport to Little Harbor for $34 per person.
Once you start walking downhill, you’ll know you are getting close to Little Harbor which consists of two gorgeous tiny coves –Shark HarborandLittle Harbor– your home for night two. We had campsite LH10, which was right on the beach. The best site, in my opinion, was LH12, which was beachfront and had more privacy. For maximum solitude, snag one of the spots at next door Shark Harbor – SH 8, SH 9, or SH 10. I’m not sure what the water situation was over there, so you may want to bring a large reservoir so you can carry it back to your campsite.
Apparently, the snorkeling and fishing in this area are among the best on the island. At a minimum, you should strip off your boots and soak your feet in the sand and water. This is also the last place you’ll have a sunset view on the TCT since it’s the last campsite that faces west.
Day 3: Little Harbor to Two Harbors Campground (5.3 miles)
- Potable Water Availability:At Little Harbor Campground/ at Two Harbors Campground, you can purchase a 2.5 gallon jug from the ranger (we were told the tap water here is mineral-rich and doesn’t taste good)
- Best Campsite at Two Harbors:11, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- For Firewood at Two Harbors: Purchase when you check-in at the Two Harbors Visitors Center
离开小港口,后两Harbo的徒步旅行rs is no joke — it is a difficult vertical climb, but you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of the entire trip. As you are approaching Two Harbors you’ll be able to stand on top of the ridge and literally see both sides of the ocean encompassing the western end of the island. We also encountered a large herd of bison up on this ridge.
When you hit Two Harbors head to the cute littlegrocery storefor a reward treat. Whether that’s hand-scooped ice cream or a granola bar, you’ll have plenty of time to take a break here and even grab lunch if you want. You’ll see the small pier that you’ll return to two days later when you are ready to board the Catalina Express back to the mainland.
Checking in for the Two Harbors campground can be completed at the little building attached to the pier.
IMPORTANT: This is also where you will want to confirm your Parson’s Landing campsite and get your Parson’s storage key for water/firewood. As a reminder, there is no running water at Parson’s so you need to make sure you reserve the appropriate number of keys for your group so you have enough water for the rest of the journey. Each locker comes with 1 bundle of wood and 2.5 gallons of water. One key is included with each reservation, and you can purchase more as needed for $20 each.
We had Site #11 at Two Harbors, which had a fantastic view and felt fairly private. It was a small site however with only enough flat space for 1 small tent.
Coin-operated showers are available in Two Harborsif you feel you do need a bit of a clean-up!
Day 4: Two Harbors to Parson’s Landing campground via the TCT (6.6 miles)
- Potable Water Availability:For Parson’s Landing, you’ll need to purchase a locker key at Two Harbors before you start the hike which comes with 2.5 gallons of water and 1 small bundle of firewood
- Best Campsite at Parson’s Landing:1, 2, 8
Leaving Two Harbors, you have two different options. The first is to hike through Cat Harbor and continue up and over the steep Silver Peak Trail, which is the official TCT route. On this route, you’ll gain 1800 feet of elevation in 3 miles and then drop right back down to sea level where you’ll reach Parson’s Landing.
The other option is to take the cruisy route – 8 miles along a dirt road that hugs the coastline the entire way. This is the route we chose in both directions. It felt a little like cheating, but it meant we had more time to relax and enjoy our amazing campsite at Parson’s Landing. Plus, we heard the descent from the high route was a killer on the knees.
We hiked the road on a Thursday and only encountered a couple of cars. Along the way, you’ll pass a few children’s camps, but otherwise, it was pretty quiet in November with non-stop views.
There are only eight primitive beachfront campsites at Parson’s so you are going to feel that you are at a private beach. We got lucky with site 1 which had the most protection from the wind and was very private. It was also the shadiest, which is good or bad, depending on the time of year and how much sun you want.
Optional Hike to Starlight Beach
From Parson’s, it is 5 more miles to Starlight beach – 10 miles roundtrip. If you’re into bragging rights and you have the energy, you can continue on to the very far end of Catalina. We didn’t do this, but Kim (who wrote the original version of this trail guide) did. We talked to a couple of other folks on the trail who made it to Starlight and said it was nice, but they weren’t sure it was worth the extra 10 miles. If you do decide to go, make sure you store all of your food and water in your fox box at Parsons before you go and take a headlamp. I’d also only recommend this in the summer months when the days are longer.
Day 5: Parson’s Landing to Two Harbors via the road and Lion’s Head (7.7 miles)
You’ve officially completed the Trans-Catalina Trail! Congratulations. Now you just have to hike the 7.7 miles back to Two Harbors to catch your ferry.Make sure you time your trip right as the ferry doesn’t run 7 days a week from Two Harbors．I’d recommend getting a late afternoon ferry, so you can have a nice chill morning at Parson’s.
It’s essential you arrive at Two Harbors with at least an hour buffer before your ferry boarding．This will give you some time to enjoy a cold beverage at theHarbor Reef Restaurant．Grab a seat outside on the patio bar and let all the tension in your muscles melt away. If you are feeling you need some time in the actual water you can also camp another evening at Two Harbors and rent snorkel equipment or kayaks for the day.
Leave No Trace on the Trans-Catalina Trail
There are a few important considerations in addition to your typicalLeave No Trace recommendationswhen backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail:
- There is wildlife all over Catalina Island, including the island fox, bison, and some fairly agressive ravens.Never leave your food unattended．Most of the campsites have fox boxes (the same as bear bins) where you can safely store your food and water.
- The bison are dangerous! Don’t approach them for photos or any other reason. They can run 35 mph and are fully capable of taking you down. They are on the trail and in the campgrounds, so stay alert and keep an eye out for any aggressive behavior.
- There are bathrooms. Please use them! And if nature calls when you are not near a bathroom, be sure tofollow Leave No Trace guidelinees for going to the bathroomand pack out your toilet paper.
Trans-Catalina Backpacking Gear
Start with this3-day backpacking checklist．下面我也会推荐一些特定of gear that will be helpful on your TCT hike. With the fox boxes at the campsites, you don’t need a bear canister.
- Trekking poleswill help protect your knees on the steep climbs and descents
- Wide-brimmed hatfor sun protection
- Reef-friendly sunscreen
- Lightweight long-sleeved shirtfor more sun protection
- 3-liter water reservoir
- Swimsuit (if you want to swim)
Note that in November, evenings were very cold. I was happy to have a beanie,long pants, and a warm jacket for the evenings.
Check out our “nb雷竞技 ” for more suggestions.
Water Availability on the Trans-Catalina Trail
You are going to want to pack as light as possible becauseyou will need to carry a lot of water．While there is no potable water on the trail in between the campgrounds, water is available at Black Jack, Little Harbor, and Two Harbors. For the last night at Parsons, your campsite reservation comes with 2.5 gallons of water.
I recommend that when you hit the trail each morning, you have at least 3-4 liters of water for the day.
Food for the Trans-Catalina Trail
If you need any last-minute forgotten items there is Vons Express right down the road from the ferry terminal (they are open daily from 7am-10pm). However, it’s not like a big grocery store on the mainland and it’s expensive, so you’ll want to bring most of what you plan on eating with you. Check out this post onLightweight Vegan Backpacking Food Ideasfor my favorite easy trail meals.
Would you like to backpack the Trans-Catalina Trail? Share your comments, questions, and experiences below.
Having spent many of my summers lounging around on Catalina, the CTC has been on my bucket list for awhile. What a great write-up!
Also happy to see you discovered Buffalo Milk – no trip to Two Harbors is complete without one (or two)!
Thanks Megan! Kim did a great job with this and taking note of the details.
Do you recommend hiking poles? I\’ve heard mixed feedback. Thanks!
I like them when I’m backpacking. They help stabalize and distribute the weight and also help your knees on descents. For day hiking, I find them to be a nuisance unless the trail is really steep.
Hi! This website/blog is so helpful!! I’m looking to hike the trans-catalina trail this summer with a friend. She and I are both in great shape. However, this is her first time backpacking, and I was wondering if there was any way to cut down the mileage for days 1 and 3 (the 15 mile days) and split it into two separate days? We don’t mind making the trip longer but I’d want to know if there were rules against pitching our tent off-trail somewhere. Thanks so much!
You should call the rangers office to check, but I’m pretty sure they require that you camp in established campgrounds. This is also a good idea because I believe its the only place where there is water available. Have fun out there and come back and tell me about it!
Thanks so much for all of the information. I hiked the trail last week for four days from Avalon to Starlight/Parsons. We lucked out with cloud cover most of the time, otherwise it would have been very hot. On the west side of the island, I ended up hiking the Silver Peak Trail all the way to starlight beach, then took the TCT trail back to Parson’s landing. The Silver Peak Trail cuts the miles down by one or two, you avoid the steep descent to Parsons, and you avoid doing 3.5 miles of the TCT twice. I missed about 2 miles of the actual TCT that descends to Parsons, but would highly recommend this approach as the scenery from the ridge was amazing.
How did you handle the food and smellables when it was time to sleep? The last thing any backpacker would want is to have all their food stolen by cheeky small mammals and such.
I believe there are lockers at each of the campsites. You can also store your food in a bear/critter resistant container.
i just booked our campsites for October! I’m so excited, and now wondering if I should add in another night so we can enjoy the Harbor Reef or camp at Little Harbor!
Follow up!
Is it worth it do spend time in Avalon at all? I’m wondering how to fit that into the plan.
I think it’s worth at least a couple of hours. There’s a campground not too far from town that you can stay if you don’t want to pay for a hotel
Hello and thanks for the great post!
For the first 15 mile day one hike from Avalon, if you hike from town from the mile 7 marker instead of mile 0, does that mean the hike to the black jack would only be 8 miles. Only asking because we probably won’t be able to say our hike till about 11 am realistically. We’re heading down from San Francisco and will have about 4 nights/4.5 days and want to get as much of the trail in as we can.
Thanks so much and hope the PCT rocked!
Thx so much for the info! I will be doing the entire trail and staying a night at Little Harbor as reccomended. I have 2 questions. 1. Do I pick up my firewood key for little horbor in Avalon? 2. The HARDEST part of booking this entire trip is finding isoprophel fuel for my stove?? I cant find anyone in Avalon that sells it. Im flying into LAX so I cant carry it on the plane. thx!!
Could you get it from the REI not too far from the airport?
Great post! Thanks for the info and beautiful pictures I am considering doing this hike over Christmas/New Years, but cannot seem to find any precedent for it. In your opinion, would the campsites and trail provide a good time during December? Thanks!
It might be cold at night and it could rain. But December can also be a very nice time in California.
Khevin, from our trip there a few weeks ago I didn’t see any lockers at Little Harbor. They have a water spigot there and you can have your firewood delivered by a ranger and you can put that order in at Hermit Gulch in Avalon. Sometimes there is a resident ranger staying there and we actually got our firewood from him.
The place where you check in for your locker is at Two Harbors for Parsons Landing. Happy and safe travels!
Thanks for the updated info Lucas!
Headed down in November and used this post for 95% of our info! Thanks so much!
One thing I would add for budgeting purposes is that EACH site has a $9.50 service fee and at least for Thanksgiving week there’s a three day minimum at two harbors and the cabins and tent cabins all have “per person” fees making them almost $100 a night.
Thanks for the added info!
We just got back! Thanks again for the guidelines for this trip!
当我们到达两个港口他们退还是前女友tra 2 nights they had required previously in the above comment. Originally when I called to reserve I mentioned I was hiking and they said it would still be a three night minimum but the awesome gentleman at the office refunded us for the two nights we weren’t planning to use. AWESOME!
Also if you’re a beer person like me and take the San Pedro ferry hit up this beer garden on your way out of town.( just a few miles from the dock)
http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-brouwerij-west-brings-established-craft-brew-credentials-to-san-pedro-20140522-story.html
My wife and I just got back as well! It was a FANTASTIC trip and we even got stuck in a thunderstorm on our 3rd day at Little Harbor! We got some absolutely gorgeous rain-washed views the next couple days!
We’ll be doing a full write-up soon, but one word of WARNING, NO STORES IN AVALON SELL BUTANE fuel canisters, only propane. We were recommended to try the hardware store, but that closed at 6 pm. However, we completely lucked out in that the ranger at Hermit Gulch was 1. Incredibly nice and helpful, and 2. had butane canisters for sale. Thanks so much, Josh!
The general store in Two Harbors sells butane, so you’re good to go if you’re starting from there. Suggestion: get your butane from the mainland. As long as it’s safely stored, it’ll be fine on the ferry. They don’t check your bags at all (shhh) Happy travels!
L&M
你如何使你的食物远离野生动物吗?我\\\’m planning on hiking this for my first solo trip.
Hello Caroline! I didn’t have a problem with wildlife at all since the island is fairly remote. I generally pack all of my food in one large ziploc bag. If you are concerned you could use a simple bear box or an Ursack bear bag.
This is great info! Will be hiking this trail later this month and am getting all my research in! Quick question: Where were you able to buy the Catalina Trail patch?
This has been very helpful. Thank you! My daughters, good friend and myself will be hiking this in June 2017. First backpacking trip with my girls.
Heather, that is really awesome to hear! You are going to love the trip! Have a Buffalo Milk for me at the end. Congrats on your upcoming hike. -Kim
We just got home last night. Hard hike but we finished. The info was awesome thanks!
Hey! I am backpacking Catalina Island in a little less than a week, and I am so excited! Thanks for your post it was super helpful in planning… I have one logistical questions… did you park your car at the San Pedro Ferry Terminal parking lot for the duration of your trip? I am wondering how safe the parking lot it, and if I should plan to leave my car there, or figure out another way.
Thanks so much!
Hello Aimee, I did indeed park my car at the San Pedro Ferry Terminal and it was perfectly fine. I think there are so many people there everyday for day trips to Catalina that it was completely safe.
I love this! Thank you. Im planning on the trail for thanksgiving break, is that a good time of year to go? Also, where did you get the trail patch?! Definitely need that when I complete the trail!
Hello! Thanksgiving break is an awesome time to go! So exciting to hear you are spending your break outdoors exploring. I got the patch in Two Harbors at the little general store–I love it as well!
谢谢这个很棒的导游,这是我的《圣经》in planning my upcoming trip in late-October.
Did you have any problems with bugs? No sure if we should waste the weight of repellent or not.
Hi Carina, so great to hear the guide has been helpful! We’d love to hear post trip how your experience went. We did not have any problems with bugs at all. You could bring a really small container as a back-up just to be safe as island conditions can change based on numerous factors.
Thank you for sharing your experience, this has been very helpful. I am doing the hike with my aunt in March 2018 – so excited! I’m curious to know what I can do to train for this considering the climate and elevation change from CO to CA. I’m hoping the dry Colorado air and higher elevation will help me train better for the trip, but I’m no expert. What are your thoughts?
Hello! I think you are going to do great coming from Colorado. I’d find some short hikes with high elevation gain for training. Also, do you enjoy yoga at all? It is really helpful for strengthening your joints. Don’t forget to train a bit on some hikes with your backpack on and fully loaded, start with flat hikes then add elevation.
My sister did this hike a few months ago, it looks beautiful! I haven’t been to Catalina since 6th grade camp and tend to forget about it as a hiking destination but it’s such a great option for getting away in Southern California. I’d love to get back out there one of these days!
I just completed this hike yesterday. Very challenging, but fun! The big thing to note is that about 3 weeks ago (roughly end of Sept) the official trail changed routes. I only accidentally found this out when I got there. But the route changes were enough that it altered my campground choices for the last couple of nights. Get an updated map from the Conservancy!
Thanks, Marc! This is so helpful to learn. We will get on that right away! So glad to hear you enjoyed the trek.
Hey Marc! I just took a look at the updated map. It looks like they adjusted the start to be just from town and not farther East up the canyon. It also looks like they adjusted the end into Parson’s Landing to be a loop. We actually did the loop when I hiked it. We hiked in on the South side mountain trail (best views) and out on the zig-zag road. Can you elaborate on how this altered your campground choices? Thanks for the heads-up on the new map!
If you are reaching out to foreigners to get them to visit your island you really should use metric. Even here in Canada only old people understand Emperial anymore. Think of it like writing everything in some foreign language. It’s not going to get through to your visitors at all. Of course maybe you are trying to get Liberia and Myanmar Nationals to come visit. Temperatures, Weights, Distances…
Hi -We are thinking of doing this hike over Memorial Day ..hopefully it won’t be too hot! About how long did it take you to do the 15 miles? Trying to get a rough estimate of how long each day will take us on the actual trail. Thanks and Aloha!
Aloha Misha, you should be okay around Memorial Day! Hopefully, there be some good cloud coverage (for shade) & also a breeze. I’d estimate 6-7 hours for 15 miles. Generally, my hiking pace is a 20-minute mile when I have a pack on but with the elevation and the heat allow plenty of time to stretch & take breaks. Remember you’re on an island so if you get to your destination early you can jump in the water & play!
How do I get a camp permit , since I’ve heard you need one to camp on the island
Hi Eddy, you need to make campsite reservations to obtain the permit. Here is more information for booking a campsite:https://www.catalinaconservancy.org/index.php?s=visit&p=campsites
Hi Kim ! Thanks for your very informative post my two friends I will be backpacking this Late June and wanted to know two things: is the weather going to be extremely hot? And how should prepare for the wild boar we may encounter? Haha thanks in advance
Hey Leona, luckily California gets a bit of June gloom so temperatures most likely will be close to low 70’s. Don’t forget your sunscreen but I wouldn’t be super nervous about insane heat in June. In terms of the wild boar, I assume you mean buffalo. Just be aware of their presence and make noise as you are hiking and keep your distance from them as you would with any other wildlife.
Where did you get that Catalina Trail patch…? I love it! I’m going next month and your post was full of helpful information I appreciate it. My daypack is covered in patches from my trips and I have to get a Catalina one!
Hey James! So great to hear you are heading to Catalina. I got it at the General Store in Two Harbors.
Where did you purchase your Catalina Trail patch?! My friends and I just completed the TCT and the patches at the Two Harbors gift shop were not nearly that cute—I would love to buy the one in your photo!
Hi Cleo! I got mine at the Two Harbors grocery store—maybe they changed the patches? I love it! How did you enjoy the trail? I’m thinking about re-hiking it maybe this summer, it really is a great trail, isn’t it?
I’m doing the Revers Route this August solo. Sites are all booked and if you want to join hit me up. I’m a little worried about arriving at Two Harbors a little late to start the trek and leaving around 10:30 AM. I’m planing on taking Silver Peak Trail all the way to Starlight Beach then to Parson’s Landing. My Pack weight is currently 35 pounds (with 5 Liters of water). Has anyone done the CTC with a 35 + pound Pack, and how was it?
For a 3 night/ 4 day or 4 night/5 day trip along the TCT, what backpack capacity would you recommend: 50L or 65L?
Honestly, I would recommend a 50L because it is going to keep you from overpacking. In my opinion, 65L is really big and is more for backpacking multiple nights in bear country–for the Trans-Cat I would try to keep things light since you’re going to be needing to carry a good deal of water as well. Go with a 50L.
We are planning to hike the trans Catalina trail for Christmas! Thank you so much for your blog! It’s super helpful:)
According to the map and other sources. The TCT from Avalon to Starlight Beach and back to Two Harbors is about 49 miles and not the 45 miles you wrote in the description. Even your 4 day breakdown shows it to be 49miles. You should revise it.
Hi there! Thanks so much for reaching out. The trail mileage changes frequently, the year I hiked the trail it was about 45 miles. I did hear recently that they are restoring a small section and that caused it to lengthen a bit. Thank you for the information.
Loved the picture of the Buffalo milk! Brought back some good memories, I just did a “mini” trans Catalina trip myself:https://www.seekadventure.net/d/73-mini-trans-catalina-trip
Awesome! Do indeed love some good Buffalo Milk!
I couldn’t get reservations for the last campsite, so I ended doing a mini trans Catalina hike:https://www.seekadventure.net/d/73-mini-trans-catalina-trip
Hi!! I was wondering if you have hiked Havasupai and if you could compare the difficulty of the two trails. I’d appreciate any info!
Hi Molly, I haven’t unfortunately hiked Havasupai but Kristen has and I can chat with her to see compare the level of difficulty! Stay tuned
I want to Thank YOU for providing all of this information.
If you ever need a good soak, I recommend Epsom Salt.
Please read the package details.
Hi Andrea! Thanks for your comment—we included our love for a good foot soak in our post on taking care of your feet for hikers & preventing blisters. I love nothing more than a nice warm foot soak post hiking.
Great write up! I did the trail last spring and loved it but definitely thought it was challenging. I would agree that I would’ve liked to have stayed in Little Harbor Campground, it looked great! I’m also jealous you got to try the Buffalo Milk drink, my ferry came too early and they weren’t open yet. Gives me a reason to go back, right?!http://adventuretramp.com/2019/11/20/trans-catalina-island/
Thank you so much for sharing this report. If I would have done a report, this is the way I would have done it with the water sources and best campsite. I love it!
I don’t have to plan, you’ve done the work for me! Thank you!
Glad to hear that, Sonia. That’s our goal, to simplify plans for our community so you can spend more time adventuring. Happy trails!
Thanks for this great post. Helped me plan my trip!
Here’s some additional info for those in search of camping fuel in Avalon. I was flying into LAX so I couldn’t bring my own. Only one plac seems to carry it Chet’s hardware. It’s on the expensive side, but they had dozens of MRS canisters. So no worries there! I cansay I was VERY happy to find some after lucking out at Vons (they only carry the big coleman propane stuff).
Thanks for your tip, Mary!
嗨,克里斯汀,我刚刚完成一个精彩的5天f backpacking the TCT. Your guide was immensely helpful for planning the trip. I decided on a leisurely 5 nights beginning with Hermit Gulch and ending with Two Harbors. One of the best pieces of advice you gave was to buy the TCT map from the Catalina Conservancy Office. There were a few spots on the trail when it really came in handy. Also, for those who travel from out of state, the office sells propane canisters which was a bit of an issue for me because I came in from Seattle via airplane and couldn’t carry it on board. Thanks again for writing such a useful guide.
Thanks for sharing, Cynthia! So glad to hear you enjoyed yourself there.
我是一个巨大的世界旅行和户外背包客。This is by far the best travel/trip-prep article I have ever read! The article was super concise and all the key information you need for this trip was touched on with links to provide more information. Thank you so much for putting this together and sharing. I am looking forward to my Catalina adventures!
Thanks so much for that feedback, Katie! We really appreciate it. Have fun when you do make it out to Catalina!
hi! how much was this trip in total with all the campgrounds and ferries, a rough estimation is fine
The ferry is about $75 round trip and the campgrounds are around $29/night depending on the season.
This guide is amazing! Would you recommend special sand stakes for tents, or are normal stakes fine?
We had normal stakes and they worked fine. You might need to place rocks on top of the stakes if the ground is extra soft.
Would you recommend bringing your dog on this trail?
狗是允许的(alth Trans-Catalina痕迹ough not at Hermit Gulch or Two Harbors Campgrounds). A few things to keep in mind are: there is very little to no water availability between campgrounds, so you would need to bring extra water for your dog; shade is hard to come by; dogs are expected to be kept on leashes; buffalo and other wildlife can be easily spooked by dogs.