REI Trans Catalina Trail Expedition

Come join REI in partnership with Catalina Island on a fully supported Trans Catalina Trail Expedition where we will hike through the rugged island interior while camping next to pristine beaches. Covering 38.5 miles in 4 days, you will traverse the Island starting at the trailhead in Avalon and finishing at Two Harbors (after winding through the West End of the Island). Along the way, you will have the opportunity to experience some of the Island's wildlife. Sightings of Bison, the Catalina Island Fox, and Bald Eagles are common. Hikers will spend 3 nights camping at different campsites along the trail and end the trip with a BBQ lunch and drinks at Harbor Sands. All meals will be provided (catered breakfast and dinners at the campsites with trail lunches). Hikers will only carry a daypack while our gear is hauled to camp each day. On our final day, after completion in Two Harbors, transportation will be provided by boat or vehicle back to Avalon. Roundtrip transportation on the Catalina Express from Long Beach to Avalon is included. If you're interested in experiencing Catalina Island in a powerful, adventurous and unique way then this backpacking trip is for you!

Package Includes

• Includes Roundtrip transportation on the Catalina Express from Long Beach to Avalon
• Camping fees for 3 nights - Black Jack, Two Harbors, Parsons Landing
• Gear haul services between each campground
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and water for all 4 days (final day is breakfast and lunch only)
• Transportation from Two Harbors to Avalon on the final day
• Hiking guides and support vehicles
• Beach Celebration on the final afternoon
• TCT Trail Patch for completion of the trail.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

You will depart Long Beach at 6 am on the Catalina Express ferry. Enjoy a relaxing ferry ride across the channel. Arriving in Avalon around 7:15 am you will be greeted by our hiking guides and start the walkout to the trailhead. There will be a short orientation from the guides, breakfast will be provided and hikers will receive their sack lunches. All gear will be loaded into the vehicles and then you will start your 38.5-mile journey. Hikers will travel 10.7 miles on the first day to Black Jack Campground. A catered dinner will be provided and all gear will be waiting.

Day 2

Rise and shine to a catered breakfast, pack your gear, and fill up the water bottles. Hikers will hit the trail around 8 am and head to our next stop of Two Harbors, a 13.5-mile hike. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to experience some of the island's wildlife. Sightings of Bison, the Catalina Island Fox, and Bald Eagles are common along this stretch of the trail so have your cameras ready. Campers will stop along the way (8.2 miles) for lunch at Little Harbor before continuing on to the final stop of Two Harbors. Gear and dinner will be waiting for you.

Day 3

Hikers will depart Two Harbors early along the Silver Peak Trail, 6.6 miles out to Parsons Landing for the last evening of camping. With only 7.7 miles to go to complete this amazing trip, we get to celebrate with one last dinner on the beach.

Day 4

After finishing another amazing breakfast guests will hike 7.7 miles along the shoreline to Two Harbors completing the Trans-Catalina Trail. We will celebrate with a final lunch on the beach at Harbor Sands after which we will depending on availability either hop aboard a boat to enjoy a ride along 14 beautiful miles of Catalina Island coastline or take a Safari Bus through the amazing interior back to Avalon.

Member price: $1099    Non-member price: $1199

More information 

REI Trans-Catalina Course Overview

Trans-Catalina Trail Expedition

Dates

Saturday June 8, 2019

Saturday October 12, 2019

Saturday November 9, 2019