Catalina Island Conservancy

Note that wildlife on Catalina Island, as in all wildlands,
can cause serious injury and even death. Please do not approach
or harass wildlife and always maintain a safe distance.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR BISON SAFTY SHEET

NO HIKING IS PERMITTED AFTER DARK

About Hiking on Catalina Island...

If you have only a little bit of time to explore the trails of Catalina, we highly recommend the Garden to Sky Hike that starts at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Note that admission is required for the garden. The Memorial Road that leads to the Divide Road, the first leg of the hike, is a comfortable incline that leads to a spectacular views on both sides of the Island.You'll need a hiking permit before you start out. You can obtain one online here or at the Conservancy Explore store in Avalon, Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden, Nature Center at Avalon Canyon, Airport in the Sky, and Two Harbor Enterprises. For your safety, hiking permits are required by the Catalina Island Conservancy each time you take a hike into Catalina's wildlands. This is so that you can be located in the event of an emergency, so be as specific as possible with the requested information. Get your permit now.

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Explore Catalina with our NEW iPhone and Droid app
The new application offers a GPS driven map that allows the user to experience a guided walk to some of our most popular trails.* The bundled app costs $3.99, with a portion of your purchase going to support the Catalina Island Conservancy's work to keep Catalina wildlands wild.

Works with iPhone (4.0+ of the iPhone Operating System), iPad, iPod Touch, and Android. While on your phone search for "Santa Catalina Island" in your iStore or Android Market.

APP SCREENSHOTS

*GPS function on trail depends on signal availability.

We Still Have Old School Hiking Maps Too
An overall Island hiking map is available for immediate download here. The Conservancy also offers a hiking map for purchase at our Conservancy Explore store in Avalon, the Nature Center in Avalon Canyon, the Aiport in the Sky, and the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden.

If you have only a little bit of time to explore the trails of Catalina, we highly recommend the Garden to Sky Hike that starts at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. The Memorial Road that leads to the Divide Road, the first leg of the hike, is a comfortable incline that leads to a spectacular views on both sides of the Island. Be sure to get your hiking permit at the Nature Center or Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden before you begin your exploration.

VIDEO: Trans-Catalina Trail

For your safety, hiking permits are required by the Catalina Island Conservancy. They are free of charge and available the day of your hike. They can be obtained at these locations:

Conservancy House in Avalon, at
125 Clarissa Ave. Open daily from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for
lunch. (310) 510-2595

Nature Center at Avalon Canyon, open daily 10 AM to 4 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day (closed Thursdays all other months)

Airport in the Sky Open daily from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (winter) 7p.m.
(summer), call (310) 510-0143

Two Harbors Visitor Information
Center Open daily from 7:30 a.m.
to 4p.m. (winter) 6:30 p.m.
(summer), call (310) 510-4226

Camping reservations can be obtained online with Two Harbors Enterprises: (877) 778-1487

NOTE: To redeem your Conservancy Membership Camping discounts: reserve your campsite online, then call (310) 510-TENT. Please note that Two Harbors and Hermit Gulch are NOT Conservancy campsites and are not eligible for membership discounts.

Policies and Island Cautions

The Trans-Catalina Trail circumnavigates the Airport in the Sky. Photo by Kevin Ryan

For the safety of hikers, and the enjoyment of cyclists, bikes are permitted on about eight miles of the Trans-Catalina Trail – from along Renton Mine Road, East End Road and Divide Road to Dakin Peak (the microwave tower) on the East End. Click here to review an online hiking map.

Avoid carrying your camping gear by taking advantage of these transportation resources:

Catalina Backcountry
Catalina Backcountry offers one-stop shopping to groups that dont want to be bothered with connecting all the dots. For a fee, Catalina Backcountry will arrange for all transportation to the Island, on-Island transportation, hiking permits and Freewheeler Bike Passes, campsite catering, gear hauling, excursions, hotel reservations, etc. Call 310/913-9036.

Safari Bus
Provides links with the City of Avalon (via the Wildlands Express) with the village of Two Harbors, including stops at Little Harbor, Airport in the Sky, and the trailhead for Black Jack Junction. For more information and reservations call (310) 510-4205.

Wildlands Express Airport Shuttle
Provides transportation from Avalon to Haypress Picnic Ground, Black Jack Campground and the Airport in the Sky. For information and reservations call (310) 510-0143.

Afishinados Charters
Provides transportation by sea to and from Avalon, Two Harbors and Parsons Landing. For information and reservations call (323) 447-4669.

Shore Boats are available from Two Harbors to Emerald Bay all year long. However charter reservations are required. To schedule a shore boat, call Two Harbors Harbor Department at (310) 510-4253.

ON CATALINA, ALL TRAILS LEAD TO FUN
New Trails Give Hikers More Options

When it comes to outdoor recreation, Catalina Island fills the bill. And as for hiking, Catalina cant be beat. No other Channel Island features the diversity that Catalina has to offer. More than 165 miles of trails and roads beckon both the tennis shoe hiker and the experienced trekker. An assortment of loop trails give day hikers a great glimpse at a variety of Island locales, returning them to where they started. Of course, the grand daddy of them all is the Trans-Catalina Trail, a 38.5 mile trail that transverses the entire Island.

The eastern most trail head on the Trans-Catalina Trail is Trailhead Visitor Center that begins in Avalon. Once up on the Divide Road, hikers have a bald eagles eye view of both sides of the Island. Continuing on past the Haypress Recreation Area, hikers are treated to sweeping views of Middle Canyon and Cape Canyon before reaching the beautiful Black Jack Campground. From Blackjack Campground, the trail leads hikers through Cottonwood Canyon to the Airport in the Sky where refreshments and supplies can be enjoyed at the DC3 Gifts & Grill before the downhill trek down Big Springs Ridge Trail to the Little Harbor Campgrounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the windward side of the Island.

The Trans-Catalina Trail continues north to the colorful boating community of Two Harbors at the Islands Isthmus. There hikers can take advantage of the campgrounds at Two Harbors, or even splurge on a hot meal at the restaurant, or pick up more supplies at the general store.

The trail continues west through the heart of the West End to Parson's Landing where hikers can enjoy the magnificent solitude that this part of the Island evokes. Trails end is at Two Harbors.

Have a meal catered to your campsite:

DC-3 Gifts and Grill
Provides catered food delivered directly to campsites at Hermit Gulch, Black Jack, Little Harbor and Two Harbors. Call (310) 510-2196. Individual hikers can call ahead and order frozen Buffalo Chili, Buffalo Stew, or hamburger patties that can be picked up at the DC-3 Gifts and Grill. The Grill is always open for breakfast and lunch. Click here for a menu.

EXPLORE CATALINA TRAILS
Airport Loop Trail
2.3 miles
Trailhead: Junction of the Airport Road and El Rancho Escondido Road adjacent to the Airport in the Sky.

What youll see: This is a nice easy loop trail for people who visit the airport. As its name implies, it loops around the perimeter of the airport, past the ponds on the north side of the airport and the Soapstone Quarry. There are great views of Mt. Orizaba above, and Cottonwood Canyon below.

How to get there: Take the Conservancys Wildlands Express shuttle bus, reservations are required, from the Plaza in Avalon.

Little Harbor to Isthmus Stretch of the Trans Catalina Trail
4.5 miles

Trailhead: Isthmus or Little Harbor

What youll see: Two of the Islands most exotic locals, Little Harbor and its twin, Shark Harbor home of some of the best surfing on the Island, and the Isthmus and the quiet community of Two Harbors complete with a restaurant, general store, indoor restrooms and hot showers.

How to get there: From the Airport in the Sky take the Safari Bus, reservations required, to either Little Harbor or Two Harbors.

Goat Whiskers Trail West End
1.2 miles

Trailhead: Lions Head on West End Road

What youll see: Sweeping views of the San Pedro Channel and the mainland in the distance. Another nice view is down into Cherry Cove.

How to get there: From Two Harbors, hike the West End Road to Lions Head and follow the signs.

Parsons Beach Trail West End
.5 miles

Trailhead: West End Road above Parsons Beach

What youll see: Views of Parsons Beach below and the Channel in the distance.

How to get there: From Two Harbors, hike the West End Road to Parsons Beach.

Trans-Catalina Trail
38.5 miles

Trailhead: Trailhead Visitors Center in Avalon

What you'll see: Once up on the Divide Road, hikers have a bald eagle's eye view both sides of the Island. Continuing on past the Haypress Recreation Area, hikers are treated two sweeping views of Middle Canyon and Cape Canyon before reaching the beautiful Black Jack Campground. From Blackjack Campground, the trail leads hikers through Cottonwood Canyon to the Airport in the Sky where refreshments and supplies can be enjoyed before the downhill trek down Big Springs Ridge Trail to the Little Harbor Campgrounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the windward side of the Island. The Trans-Catalina Trail continues north through the colorful boating community of Two Harbors at the Island's Isthmus. There hikers can take advantage of the campgrounds at Two Harbors, or even splurge on a hot meal at the restaurant, or pick up more supplies at the general store. The trail continues west through the heart of the West End to Parson's Landing where hikers can enjoy the magnificent solitude that this part of the Island evokes, before heading back to Two Harbors along the West End Road.

Be sure to read Policies and Island Cautions before embarking on your adventure.