Trans-Catalina Trail
February 2020
Fastpacking Catalina Island
– Two Harbors to Avalon –
Miles
Vertical elev. (Ft)
Days
About the Trans-Catalina Trail
The Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT) is a 38.5 mile rugged foothpath traversing Santa Catalina Island. This rocky island is located less then 30 miles off the coast of Southern California and is a popular tourist destination. The trail has sharp elevation changes, and is almost completely exposed to the sharp winds and blazing sun.
The TCT is an end-to-end trail that’s shaped like a lollypop. The eastern terminus begins in the island’s main town of Avalon. From there, it travels westward to the island’s ithamus, then makes a loop around the northwest end of the island, before ending in the town of Two Harbors.
In addition to extremely steep terrain and panoramic ocean views, Catalina exposes hikers to some unique wildlife. Native species include the Channel Island fox, Catalina orangetip butterfly, and Santa Catalina rattlesnake. Plus, non-indigenous American bison were introduced in the 1924 and they now freely roam the island!
Trail Journal
Day 1 on the Trans-Catalina Trail
February 9, 2020 Travel Itinerary: Drive: San Diego, CA to San Pedro Harbor (110 miles)Ferry: Catalina Express from San Pedro to Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island (~95 minutes)Hike: 14.3 mile loop of Trans-Catalina Trail from Two Harbors (mile 38.5 back to mile...
Day 2 on the Trans-Catalina Trail
February 10, 2020 Travel Itinerary: Hike: 24.2 miles from Two Harbors to Avalon (mile 24.2 to mile 0) Ferry: Catalina Express from Avalon to San Pedro Harbor (~60 minutes) Drive: San Pedro Harbor to Mission Bay (110 miles) Overnight Rain I was glad I opted to spend...
The Absolute Best Trans-Catalina Trail Hiking Itineraries
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...
More Trans-Catalina Posts
How the Heck?!? Getting to the Start and End of the Trans-Catalina Trail
How do I get to and from the trailhead? That's often one of the very first questions hikers have to resolve when planning a thru-hike. Sometimes you...
22 Things Every Hiker should know before tackling the Trans-Catalina Trail
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Top 10 Reasons to Hike the Trans-Catalina Trail in Winter
Let's be real. I don't particularly enjoy the challenges of hiking in snow, mud, or freezing cold temperatures. I have a hard enough time avoiding...
Planning Resources
- Trans-Catalina Trail Overview (Catalina Island Conservancy)
- Trans-Catalina Trail Details (AllTrails)
- Trail Map for TCT with mileage markers
- TCT Hiking Permit – It’s on-line and free, but required for day-use and overnight trips.
- Ferry Information (Catalina Express)
- Campground Reservations for the 5 public campgrounds on the island (Reserve America)