A Complete Guide to Backpacking the Trans Catalina Trail
The Trans Catalina Trail is no walk on the beach! The approximately 40-mile trail traverses the entire island of Santa Catalina - a beautiful inhabited island located just off the coast of Southern California. The descent on day three into Parson’s Landing – an extremely remote campsite on the western end of the island – was the most rugged, steep descent I’ve ever experienced backpacking.
You start the journey with a 90-minute ferry ride to the island. What an unusual way to start a backpacking trip, right? The trail begins in the beautiful eastern town of Avalon on the eastern side of the island and ends in Two Harbors (however, you may choose to push on to Starlight Beach - the most western point on the island). The rugged trail is strenuous and steep, but so rewarding. You’ll not only get stunning mountain and ocean views, but may see wildlife as well. The island also offers great diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and other water activities so if the weather permits, your trip will be full of adventures.
It’s important to note that this is not your traditional backpacking trip. Dispersed camping is not allowed so you’ll stay at primitive campgrounds, you’ll hike on roads at times, and you’ll come across restaurants along the way. Given that the trail is so close to civilization, it’s a great first-timer or solo backpacking trip.
Let’s dive right into this island backpacking adventure…
DETAILS
Where: Catalina Island
Distance: 20.5-42.5 miles
Days: 2-5 days
Elevation: about 7,930 ft. gain (highest elevation – 1,748 ft.)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Time of year: All year
Permit: Yes (campsite reservations required)
WHEN TO GO
Catalina Island is located in Southern California and as you can guess, sees sun majority of the year. The summer months are very hot and dry. The winter months are cooler and sometimes rainy. Fall and spring are the perfect in-between.
The trail is accessible year-round, but with most of it very exposed you’ll want to avoid the hottest summer months. Summer also comes with large crowds so it’s much harder to get campground reservations.
RESERVATIONS AND PERMIT
Catalina Island only allows camping only at their primitive campgrounds. These campgrounds include: Hermit Gulch campground, Black Jack campground, Little Harbor, Two Harbors, and Parsons Landing. Since there are limited options, they tend to fill up quickly. You can reserve your spots online up to one year in advance. Since you’ll stay at a different campground each night, you must make individual reservations for each night of your trip. If a campsite is unavailable for one of the nights, there are so many alternative routes you can take. Check out my Trans Catalina Itinerary for alternative itinerary options.
In addition to campground reservations, you must get a free permit through the Catalina Island Conservancy. You can obtain the permit either online or in person in Avalon.
COSTS AND TRANSPORTATION
This isn’t the cheapest trail to backpack but it’s so worth it! Campground rates vary based on the time of year but generally range from $8 to $28 per night per person. We spent about $77 total per person for a 3-night trip in campground fees. In order to make your trip cheaper, plan it on weekdays or during the off-season. Some campgrounds are more expensive than others, like Two Harbors — which has more amenities and is more easily accessible.
The best and most affordable option to get to Catalina Island is by ferry. The Catalina Express costs $35 each way and leaves from a few port options (San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point). If you plan to hike the entire Trans Catalina Trail, you can ferry into Avalon and out of Two Harbors. Make sure to take an early enough ferry on day one so that you have enough time to hike. Our ferry left out of San Pedro at 7:30am. On the tail end, be sure to schedule the ferry late enough in the day so you won’t miss it. Our ferry left out of Two Harbors at 4:45pm. Parking at the ferry ports cost $19 per day so plan accordingly if you choose to drive to the port.
You can also fly to Catalina Island out of San Pedro, Long Beach, John Wayne, or Burbank airports but it’ll cost closer to $250 per person. There are shuttles that run between Catalina Airport and Avalon for $17 per person (each way). Make sure to book ahead of time to reserve your spot!
GEAR
Check out my weekend backpacking gear list for a detailed list on what to bring. Here are some extra details:
Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, etc) – the trail is very exposed
Electrolytes! So key to staying hydrated in the heat
Bathing suit (if you plan to go swimming, snorkeling or paddle boarding)
No water filters are needed
Trekking poles are a must – Catalina Island doesn’t believe in switchbacks so you’ll be hiking up and down a lot of steep inclines
WATER
There are water stations at Black Jack, Little Harbor, and Two Harbors campgrounds. If you plan to spend a night at Parsons campground, you must pay for and reserve a locker before your trip in order to have water. The campground is so remote that gallon jugs of water are delivered to the campground each day.
TRAIL
The Trans Catalina Trail definitely is challenging but it’s easy to follow, close to civilization, and beautiful. The trail can technically be done in either direction but most people opt to start in Avalon and hike towards Parson’s Landing. If you hike this way, your views get better and better each day. What’s not to like about that! There’s a lot of elevation gain/loss and sun exposure, so make sure you’re prepared for both. I couldn’t have done the trail without my trekking poles!
The trail is so close to civilization that this isn’t your typical backpacking trip. You’ll hike on roads at times and pass through towns/airports with restaurants, stores, and bars. Some people even choose to bring less backpacking food and buy most of their food on the island. If you choose to do this, make sure you look up hours of operation for the restaurants and stores so you don’t get stuck finishing the day’s hike to the campground with no food options!
Catalina Island only allows primitive camping so you must book each night’s campsite before heading off on your trip. There’s a few campground options to choose from so if you don’t get your ideal campsite, there are many alternative routes. I chose to backpack the trail in four days and three nights. Check out my blog post, Four Days on the Trans Catalina Trail, for details on my itinerary and alternative itineraries!
The Trans Catalina Trail is an incredibly unique backpacking experience that you don’t want to miss! Leave me a comment with any questions and as always, please remember to Leave No Trace!