Trans-Catalina Trail
Catalina Island Thru Hike Recap Catalina Island is an easy escape from LA that offers stunning ocean views, well-maintained trails, and a surprisingly accessible backpacking experience. It’s a great trek for hikers of all levels—even first-timers. Compared to backpacking in the Sierras, Catalina felt refreshingly light: no water filtering, no hauling out trash for days, and no digging catholes. Most days, we were able to grab food at stores or restaurants.
We hiked for 5 days, starting from the Long Beach ferry to Avalon, camping at: 🏕️ Blackjack 🏕️ Little Harbor 🏕️ Two Harbors 🏕️ Parsons Landing And finishing with a ferry out of Two Harbors to San Pedro.
Along the way, we made some new friends—one of whom had a close encounter with an aggressive bison. We spotted a few wild foxes and more bison ourselves. The ferry ride even came with an ocean bonus: a pod of dolphins cruising alongside us.
🥾 Trip Stats & Logistics
Day 1: Avalon to Blackjack Campground
Ferry from Long Beach to Avalon
Trail: 11.5 miles | 3,200 ft gain
Bathrooms at mile 3 & 6 | Water available at mile 6
Camp: Blackjack Campground (cold outdoor shower)
Day 2: Blackjack Campground to Little Harbor
Morning summit: Mt. Orizaba & Blackjack Peak (4.5 miles, 1,000 ft gain)
Trail: 13 miles | 2,200 ft gain
Camp: Little Harbor (oceanfront views & cold shower)
Day 3: Little Harbor to Two Harbors
Trail: 6 miles | 1,600 ft gain
Camp: Temporary site at city park due to construction
Amenities: Coin-operated warm showers
Picked up our locker code from the visitor center
Day 4: Two Harbors to Parsons Landing
Trail: 8.5 miles | 2,500 ft gain
Steepest grade of the trip
Summit: Mount Torquemada (class 2)
Camp: Remote beachside site with fire and sunset—shared with trail friends
Day 5: Parsons Landing to Two Harbors
Trail: ~8 miles | 400 ft gain
Flat and easy, finished in under 3 hours
Bathroom at mile 3
Ferry out at 11:45am to San Pedro
Rideshare back to Long Beach (car parked at Hilton garage)
