Looking for the best itinerary for your upcoming Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT) hike? Well look no further. I have plenty of great ideas that will let you see all that Catalina Island has to offer!
Whether you want a longer family-friendly camping trip or you hope to tackle the entire trail in just a weekend, there’s an option for everyone. But before we dive right into the itineraries, let’s start with an basic overview of this 38.5-mile long trail.
Route Overview
The TCT is a point-to-point trail that runs generally in an east-west direction across the Santa Catalina Island. The island is shaped like an hourglass with the narrow isthmus in the center of the island.
The eastern terminus of the trail is located in the seaside town of Avalon. Avalon is where 90% of the island’s homes, restaurants, and tourism activities are located. Meanwhile, the TCT’s western terminus in the tiny town of Two Harbors, which is significantly smaller in scale.
Trail markings begin in Avalon at mile marker 0. From there, the route winds its way through the interior of the island, tackling several sharp climbs on its way toward the narrow isthmus near mile 24.2.
Once the trail reaches the town of Two Harbors, it forms a 14.3-mile loop around the northwestern end of the island. The mileage markers along the this section of the trail ascend in a clockwise fashion around the loop, and the trail officially concludes when it returns to Two Harbors.
While the mile markers can be a helpful reference, there’s no reason why the TCT must be tackled in this particular direction. Hikers can just as easily begin the trail in Two Harbors and travel back toward Avalon. They also have the option of walking the western loop from Two Harbors in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as it essentially begins and ends at the same spot.
Overnight Camping & Lodging
Catalina Island’s unique beauty inspires many hikers to try to draw out the length of their trip as long as possible. However, the number of vacation days you have saved up won’t be the only consideration driving your hiking schedule. Campsite availability along the route is often an even bigger factor when developing an itinerary.
Hikers are not permitted to camp outside the five officially designated campgrounds on Catalina Island. Scoring reservations for these coveted campsites can be incredibly difficult, especially during peak summer season when the island sees a boom in popularity.
This limited inventory means TCT hikers who want to complete the entire trail in one trip need to plan well in advance to ensure they get reservations. However, one way to maximize your chance for success is to plan an off-season hike, when availability increases and prices tend to be lower.
If you’re not already familiar with the island, here’s a quick reference of where the campsites and towns are located along the trail:
- Mile 0 – Avalon
- Mile 1.5 – Hermit Gulch Campground
- Mile 10.7 – Blackjack Campground
- Mile 18.9 – Little Harbor/Shark Harbor campgrounds
- Mile 24.2 – Two Harbors (town & campground)
- Mile 30.8 – Parson’s Landing Campground
- Mile 38.5 – Two Harbors
Type of Hikes
One final aspect to consider when narrowing down your TCT itinerary is the type of hike you want to experience. To make this as easy as possible, I’ve broken these hikes down into three major categories.
One-Way Hikes. A one-way hike begins at one terminus of the TCT and ends at the opposite terminus. Thus, hikers beginning in Avalon will hike 38.5 miles and end in Two Harbors (or vice versa).
These one-way routes have one major logistical challenge to consider though. San Pedro is the ONLY port that ferries passengers to/from Two Harbors. Thus, one-way hikers will need to either depart and return using the San Pedro ferry (or plan to take a fairly expensive shuttle/taxi back to Avalon to catch a ferry to the other ports).
Yo-Yo Hikes. A yo-yo hike begins and ends in Avalon, and entails hiking the majority of the trail twice. The benefit of these itineraries is that they allow hikers to arrive on Catalina Island using any port that serves Avalon (Dana Point, Long Beach, or San Pedro).
These yo-yo itineraries also allow hikers to spend more time on the TCT and see the trail from multiple vantage points. However, since the overall distance goes beyond the 38.5 miles of a one-way hike, anyone undertaking one of these 3-, 4-, or 5-day yo-yo itineraries will need to be in top physical condition.
Non-Camping Hikes. Despite the island’s natural beauty, not everyone wants to camp while on the TCT. Some people prefer to run the trail without carrying a bunch of camping gear. Other hikers simply prefer to sleep in a comfy bed after a long day of hiking.
Be forewarned though, hotel reservations on Catalina Island can be just as challenging to score as the campsite spots. The island only has two small villages – Avalon and Two Harbors. As the larger of the two towns, Avalon has several choices of hotels, bed & breakfasts, and AirBnBs. Meanwhile, the the Banning House Lodge (a 15-room bed & breakfast) is the sole accommodation available in Two Harbors.
One-Way Itineraries
3-Day Classic Hike. This itinerary breaks the trail down into three roughly equally full days of hiking. Hikers can easily take the morning ferry to Avalon, hike the TCT over a long weekend, then head back home in just three day’s time. Each day’s distance is a manageable 10-14 miles of hiking.
4-Day Nature Hike. This itinerary breaks the trail into smaller chunks, allowing ample time to relax on the beach. Tackling the TCT over four days gives hikers the opportunity to appreciate Catalina’s natural beauty without feeling too rushed. Each day’s distance is between 8-12 miles of hiking.
5-Day Family Friendly Hike. This one-way itinerary stretches the trail out over five days, which is perfect for a family vacation. The low mileage days (5-9 miles/day) accommodate hikers of all ages and abilities, which leaves more time to play on the beach and relax in each other’s company. This itinerary also begins in Two Harbors and ends in Avalon, so when you finish your journey you’ll can celebrate in one of Avalon’s restaurants, breweries, or ice cream shops!
Yo-Yo Itineraries
5-Day Starlight Extended Hike. This first yo-yo itinerary is the longest route on the list, and includes a bonus side trip out to Starlight Beach on the western tip of the island. Years ago, the TCT originally ran out to Starlight Beach, but the route has since been diverted to omit it. For Catalina lovers who want to get the most complete island experience AND begin/end in Avalon, this 68-mile yo-yo route is an ideal adventure. Plus, the average daily mileage is a manageable 13.6 miles/day.
4-Day Full Island Hike. This yo-yo itinerary allows hikers to begin and end at Avalon, and also maximize the island experience by staying at different campsites each night. The first two days include more moderate distances between 10-14 miles. The third day has a considerable jump in mileage (19.5 miles), but it includes a seven-mile super easy flat stretch between Parson’s Landing and Two Harbors. And, if the final day’s hike seems a bit too difficult, you can always curtail your mileage by catching a shuttle back to Avalon from Hermit Gulch Campground or the Airport in the Sky.
3-Day Little Harbor Hike. This yo-yo itinerary begins and ends at Avalon, and hikers can stay two nights at the most coveted campground – Little Harbor. Reserving a single campsite for two consecutive nights is not only logistically easier, but hikers can leave the majority of their gear at the campsite during the second day. This ambitious 62.7-mile itinerary is really geared for athletes in peak form, since each day requires between 19 and 25 miles of hiking.
Non-Camping Itineraries
3-day Airport Shuttle Hike. This one-way itinerary is ideal for the hiker who wants to explore the entire 38.5-miles of trail, and still return to the comforts of a hotel room and a warm meal in the evenings. Each day’s distance is roughly 12-14 miles. This is one of the few itineraries where the TCT isn’t hiked in sequential order. Instead, hikers use the Wildlands Express shuttle to get to the Airport in the Sky and then hike back to their hotel (in the order shown below).
2-day Reverse TCT hike. This quick itinerary isn’t for the faint of heart. It begins in Two Harbors and completes the loop around the western end of the island on the first day. The second day, hikers must complete nearly a marathon distance from Two Harbors to Avalon. Yet, for those in peak condition, this itinerary provides an ideal weekend of long-distance trail running or fastpacking with an overnight stay at the historical Banning House. (Note: this is the itinerary I used on my own 2020 TCT trip)
1-day ultramarathon. Given some of the extremely steep grades along the route, attempting the TCT as a single day adventure isn’t really recommended. Nonetheless, for those trail runners who want see as much of Catalina Island as possible in one day, there’s a terrific alternative that covers many of the same sights. Runners can sign up for the Avalon Benefit Run, which is held annually in mid-January. This race begins/ends in Avalon and includes 50K and 50-mile routes around the island. For more race and route information, click HERE.
Interested in more information about the Trans-Catalina Trail?
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