Catalina Island - Trans Catalina Trail Hike 12-22-2013 to 12-26-2013
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- This video describes the entire Trans Catalina Trail (TCT). We took the Catalina Express ferry from Long Beach, Ca. to the town of Avalon. Our hike started in Avalon and we camped at Black Jack campground the first night, Two Harbors campground the second night and Parson's Landing the third and fourth nights. The hike is over fifty miles the way we did it. There are other hiking options available, although you wouldn't be doing the complete TCT
It is approximately 15-16 miles from Avalon to Blackjack, 12 miles from Black Jack to Two Harbors, and 7 miles from Two Harbors to Parson's. It's another 4 plus miles from Parson's to Starlight Beach and the official end of the TCT, but, you have to hike back to Parson's, then to Two Harbors to get back to civilization. After the first two days of hiking we decided to only go to Parson's for our third night, and take an additional day to go to Starlight and back, which is about 9 miles round trip. We walked the flat six mile road back from Parson's Landing to Two Harbors (versus the hilly official trail) to catch a bus back to Avalon where we started. Somewhere I read there is 9600 feet of elevation gain/loss but I couldn't say for sure. The trail does climb a lot, and there are really no switchbacks, so it can get fairly steep at times.
You could do an easier route by taking a shortcut out of Avalon, like Hermit Gulch, shaving about 5 miles off the trip to Black Jack. You could also camp at Little Harbor the second night, which is very nice, instead of going all the way to Two Harbors from Black Jack. You could then go to Two Harbors the next day. From Two Harbors there are two routes to Parson's Landing. The official trail climbs quite a bit and goes inland, and the alternate route is a flat road that goes along the coastline. The flat option is obviously much easier.
There is a good hiking map available from the Catalina Island Conservancy, 125 Clarissa Ave. 90704 in Avalon. Their phone number is (310) 510-2595 and website You can get your free hiking permit here - www.catalinacon... , You can reserve campsites and also buy firewood online here - www.visitcatali.... You can pick up a locker key, for firewood at Black Jack, at the Hotel Atwater in Avalon before you leave town, and keys for Parson's Landing lockers, for water and firewood, at the visitor center in Two Harbors. Both Avalon and Two Harbors are small and very easy to walk anywhere in town. Avalon has a grocery store (Von's) and full hardware store (Chet's) for supplies of food and fuel. Two Harbors has a general store with food and alcoholic beverages, a restaurant and bar, and visitor center which are all near each other and not far from the pier. There are also public restrooms and showers.Here is a link to some of my photos from our trip. plus.google.co...
There is a herd of about 150 - 200 bison on the island, ancestors of about a dozen that were left there in the 1920's, after being brought over for the filming of a movie. Apparently, the movie people couldn't afford to round them up and ship them back, so they were just left there. They roam pretty much everywhere on the island. We saw many on the way to Black Jack, then about 50 ran along the edge of the Black Jack campground at dusk. We did get charged briefly by one that we inadvertently cornered along a stream bed. We walked up on him while hiking the trail and surprised each other. He was about six feet away and didn't have anywhere to go but towards us because he was backed up against thick brush. He started scraping one of his front feet and as we started to move away he charged out quickly. They are big animals and should be given due respect. We had another one that hung around Parson's landing when we were camped there. He didn't cause any trouble, and we saw him several times, but he did walk right by our tent, about ten feet away, one morning just before sunrise. We saw a Catalina Island fox on the last leg of the trail near Starlight Beach.
There is not much shade in most areas, and it was quite warm when we were there, (mid seventies) especially for the end of December. It did cool off rapidly after sundown but never really got cold at night, maybe 50 degrees or a little lower.
So happy that I can enjoy watching a trip like this in my breaks from working. In my cool appartment room, wearing a big sweater and sitting in my ergonomic chair. This is the greatest break. Thank you!
It's good therapy, Timmerman. I'm glad that you can enjoy your break.
Greatest details on the TCT I've seen anywhere. Thanks!
Thanks, Andy!
Amazing scenery. Such an unusual island. So barren yet beautiful
Wow, I grew up in southern CA and have visited Catalina a couple times, but had no idea this trail existed. Thanks for sharing this, it's definitely a trail I plan to do!
I think there may have been some route changes made to the official TCT since we made this hike. The camping near the ocean was really fun.
Thanks for the update!
Thanks for sharing. We are going to hike from the TCT trailhead to the garden to sky trail and back to Avalon passing the Botanic Gardens. I hope my 8 year old can make it! Thanks again it doesn't look like we need our hiking sticks for our day hike =)
Excellent video! That looks challenging, but beautiful!
Thanks for the comment, Ryan.
Pretty cool vid of you hiking on Catalina Island .
The views of the water are beautiful ... I'm sure the best part was camping at the ocean . Thanks for showing us around the Trans Catalina Trail ... but two things about it seems a little chaotic or confusing for people... like thinking the trail ends but really you have 10 miles left to go .
Yes there are some beautiful views on the island. Thanks for the comment!
Cheers for the sub Tom I spent some time here back in 2004 when I flew over from the Uk to see David Bowie in the Wiltshire- remember got the ferry over. What a beautiful island. LA was amazing. ATB Happy Hiking 👍 Mark from 🏴
You're welcome and I would love to have you as a subscriber to my channel as well for some hiking and music. ATB, Tom
Just subbed - will check out some of your other vids - thanks for sharing 🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
Mark’sGoneWalking ! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.
eh brah, thanks for sharing your adventure and the awesome details. my wife and i are headed there this may to hike the tct...btw, great video camera. mahalo again, aloha.
Thanks, Lakai. It's probably not as nice as Hawaii if that's where you are.
Tom Wigren
we did come from big island and moved here about 4yrs ago(orange county). so now, we're out to enjoy what the mainland has to offer. mahalo again brah..."\m/"
How was it that Julie didn't smack that camera out of your hand, especially after she got charged by the bison and you thought it was funny?She is a patient woman. Always safest to keep your distance from bison. You're lucky you didn't get gored. Did you know they don't need distance to charge? Now you do. ;) Other than that, good informational video. Happy hiking :)
You're right, Marianne. Julie is patient, bison don't need much distance to charge and I'm lucky Julie doesn't smack me and my camera. We really had no choice about the bison encounter since we accidentally cornered it in a small ditch while we were hiking along the trail. We kind of startled each other, and instinctively stopped only a few feet from it when all of the sudden it charged out. I don't remember seeing Julie move so fast before, and when she did stumbled and fell, and lost her water bottle which we needed to retrieve. I guess I was chuckling at the whole situation while we were waiting for the bison to move on so we could get her bottle. In general I don't think the bison are aggressive there, and sometimes you have to walk right through the herd, just try not to corner them. Happy hiking!
insanely awesome video log of your trip!! Helps with my planning immensely. Easily the best video I've seen. Enjoyed your sense of humor! It's so dry there though compared to photos I've seen! Do the lockers (with water / firewood) at the campgrounds also function as a place to store valuables, etc... (from critters)?
Yes earthcomedy, very dry this year because of the drought conditions. I don't think the lockers were intended for that purpose, but I suppose it's possible you could do it.
Great video, how did you get back to AVALON when you hit the end?
Thanks and good question, Monte, one I forgot to answer in my video description. There is a van shuttle that runs between Two Harbors and Avalon, with a stop at the airport, that you can make arrangements for at the visitor center in Two Harbors when you pass through. I don't know the exact price but don't remember it being a big deal.
Awesome, thanks good info. My plan was go to Two Harbors, walk to lands end and back. Then hit the trail for Avalon. I thought the grade would be easier to get the hard stuff out of the way first, then cruise into Avalon for rum and stories. BTW; the video was great info and a excellent recon for the trip. Oustanding thanks for the work and the intel!
Little island to the west was San Nicolas Island.
Thanks for the info and for watching, Rod!
nice place shalom
Those are Ravens my good sir not Crows
Paul Solis Thanks for the correction, Paul. They sure are smart!
Both ravens and crows are smart . There are documentaries about them .
@@TomandJulieMineExploring so that's pretty creepy that you can puncture hole in your water supply and drain it . That could be devastating for some people .
@@gardensofthegods Yes, they are very smart and good survivors. Don't let them get to your water.