Catalina Island is an island overlooking blue, dolphin-filled water 22-miles off the southern Californian mainland. The trip is about a 90-minute ferry that you need to pre-book tickets for in advance to reserve a spot. The desert island is a fun
Trail Stats
- 39-45 miles depending
- 8,329 feet total elevation gain for trip, 8,475 feet total descent
- Trailhead elevation: sea level
- Highest Point on the trail: 1,748 feet
- takes 3-7 days to complete depending on fitness level and experience
- this trail has free water spickets all along the route
- campsite reservations are required and in advance
- no pets
How to get there
Ferry
The cost of the ferry to get to Catalina is $37 USD/person one way. There are two ferry companies that leave from 4 Californian cities to get to the island (Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point, and Newport Beach). The Catalina Express is a high speed catamaran going to Avalon and Two Harbors on the island daily. You can book your ferry ticket with them here.
San Pedro and Long Beach Ferry Fares
- Adults (12-54) one way $36.75/ roundtrip $73.50
- seniors (55+) one way $33.25/ roundtrip $66.50
- Child (2-11) one way $29.00/roundtrip $58.00
- infant (under 2 years) one way $2.50/ roundtrip $5.00
- bringing surfboards or bikes one way $3.50/roundtrip $7.00
- You can upgrade to captains or commodore lounge $60 one way/$120 roundtrip
Free Catalina trip Option!!!!
Who doesn’t love a free trip! The ultimate perk of Catalina is that there is a free application online at their website to submit a request for a free trip on the ferry on the day of your birthday. This includes a roundtrip ticket option which makes for such a fun adventure that is completely free! If you want to do a free Catalina trip book it on your birthday!
Cost/Budget
The cost of doing the Trans-Catalina trail is higher than other trips. You need to factor in the ferry cost in order to get to the island as well as the parking fee in the lots at the ferry terminal. The other thing you need to pay and reserve in advance is the campsites along the trail. This is on top of the normal food, water, and equipment refills in your gear (i.e. gas canisters to cook). You also need a hiking permit but this is included in your campground reservations fees!
Reserve Camp Sites (where to stay)
The camp ground sites can be applied for by using Reserve America website. The permits can be reserved up to one year in advance.
Hermit Gulch Campground
This campground is Avalon’s only campground! The campground is 1.5 miles from the ferry port in Avalon. You can walk or take Avalon Transportation Services at (310) 510-0025 which functions as the island taxi. There are also lockers you can rent to store baggage here.
Rates
*The last column in the table is the cost of a tent cabin
| Adult (12+) | Child (2-11) | ||
| Summer Rates (3/8 to 10/28) | $27 / night | $18/night | $70 / night |
| Winter Rates (10/29 thru 12/31 & 1/1 thru 3/7) | $25/ night | $16 / night | $60/ night |
| Holiday Rates (3 night minimum) | $28/ night | $19/ night | $80/ night |
BlackJack
Blackjack
Rates
| Adult | Child | |
| Summer (Mar 8 to Oct 28) | $23 per night | $14 per night |
| Winter (Jan 1 to Mar 7 and Oct 29 to Dec 31) | $18 per night | $8 per night |
| Holiday (3 night minimum) | $24 per night | $15 per night |
*Weekends have a 2 night minimum, holidays have a 3 night minimum. This is really the reason to go during weekdays not on weekends to save money!
Little Harbor
This camp site is 16 miles from Avalon and 7 miles from Two Harbors. It’s a sandy beachfront campground that has gorgeous views and is known as one of the best campgrounds in the west by Sunset Magazine.
Rates
| Adult | Child | |
| Summer Rates (3/8 to 10/28) | $23 per night | $14 per night |
| Winter Rates (1/1 thru 3/7 & 10/29 thru 12/31) | $18 per night | $9 per night |
| Holiday Rates (3 night minimum) | $24 per night | $15 per night |
*Weekends have a 2 night minimum, holidays have a 3 night minimum.
Two Harbors
Two Harbors is a camp site on the bluff overlooking the water right over the main town street. This is the other major port city on the opposite side of the island as Avalon. This is where you take the ferry back to the mainland to end your trip. It is from Two Harbors that hikers either decide to end their trek or to continue on to Parson’s Landing (a beach front remote camping) or even go all the way to the northernmost tip star beach landing.
Rates*
| Tent Sites (Adult) | Tent Sites (Child 2-11) | Tent Cabins | Convenience Camping | |
| Summer (March – Oct) | $27 | $18 | $70 | $75 |
| Winter (Nov- February) | $25 | $16 | $60 | $75 |
| Holiday Rates | $28 | $19 | $80 | $75 |
*Prices shown are per night. Tent Cabin and Convenience Camping rates are in addition to the per person camping fee. A 12% LA County occupancy tax and 8.5% eco fee also apply. Weekend stays require a 2-night minimum. Holiday stays require a 3 night minimum.
Parson’s Landing
This is a remote beach camping site 7 miles from Two Harbor. This was my absolute favorite campground on the island that is so private and relaxing on a beautiful beach on the coast.
Rates
| Adult | Child | |
| Summer Rates (3/8 to 10/28) | $23 per night | $14 per night |
| Winter Rates (1/1 thru 3/7 and 10/29 thru 12/31) | $18 per night | $9 per night |
| Holiday Rates (3 night minimum) | $24 per night | $15 per night |
*Locker Keys are $20 and include 1 bundle of wood & 2.5 gallons of water. A minimum of 1 locker key must be purchased in addition to your camping reservation. These items are kept in a locker at Parson’s Landing. Pick up your key at Visitor Services in Two Harbors. Additional keys may be purchased. *Weekends have a 2 night minimum, holidays have a 3 night minimum.
Equipment Rental
Another option for travelers coming from out of state/country or not having all the gear they need is to rent the equipment from a Catalina company.
Equipment & Supplies
| 4-Person Tent* | $25/day |
| Sleeping Bag | $35 (Purchase only) |
| Sleeping Pad | $5/day |
| 2-Burner Stove* | $18/day (includes 16oz propane) |
| Bundle of Firewood | $10 (burns approx. 1.5 hrs) |
| Fire Starter | $3 |
| Propane (16oz) | $8 |
| Charcoal (7lb bag) | $16 |
*Your $100 deposit for tents and 2-burner stoves will be refunded once equipment is returned in its pre-rental condition to Visitor Services. Firewood, fire starters, charcoal and propane can be added to your reservation by calling Two Harbors Visitor Services at 310.510.4205. All other supplies and equipment are available at Visitor Services on a walk-up only basis. Upon check-in at Two Harbors Campground, you will be asked what supplies and equipment rentals you would like delivered to your site. Food, gear and other supplies can be purchased at the Two Harbors General Store .
Trans-Catalina Trail Packing List
Catalina is mostly hot, open and exposed. There is no coverage or shade with tree growth. The trail is open and exposed. The evenings are cool, but the days you need sun coverage with hats and sunglasses. Definitely pack lots of
- Hiking boots
- backpacking backpack
- Trekking Poles
- backpacking tent
- backpacking sleeping bag
- backpacking small pillow
- camera
- tripod
- eno hammock
- backpacking stove
- gas cans to cook with
- camelback
- plastic water bottle
- backpacking freeze dried meals
- different clothes layers options
- hat
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
Trans-Catalina Trail Hiking Itinerary
Day 1- Hike 10 miles from Avalon to Black Jack campground
Day 2- Hike 14.5 miles from Black Jack campground to Two Harbors campground
Day 3- Hike 8.5 miles from Two Harbors campground to Parson’s landing campground
Day 4- Hike 8.5 miles Parson’s Landing campground back to Two Harbors to head home on the ferry!
*** two options to edit this to make it more manageable for you is to simply add more days and stay 2 days in a place to have more rest and recovery. Also there is an option to go out to the north point of the island past Parson’s landing and you can add another day to experience that on the end of the trip.
other resources/tips:
- SocalHiker– This guys website is phenomenal and has been my go to reason for the last several years living in southern california seeking adventure. He has a great detailed day by day outline of his whole trip that is helpful!
- There is lots of wildflife on the island including bald eagles, bison and fox. Be on the lookout and careful of approaching the wild animals.
