Bison Expedition

Climb aboard an open-air Hummer in search of American bison on this exciting expedition into Catalina’s rugged interior. Catalina’s American bison, sometimes referred to as buffalo, are descendants of a small herd left on the island by a movie crew in the 1920s. Today the Catalina Island Conservancy maintains Catalina's American bison herd at about 150 to protect both the bison and the island’s landscape.

The popular Bison Expedition is a unique experience you’ll only find on Catalina Island. This 2-hour 4-wheeling adventure offers you an excellent opportunity to see American bison in the wild as you journey through favorite grazing grounds of these majestic animals, which were named the national mammal of the United States in 2016.

While you keep your eyes peeled for Catalina's American bison grazing on the hillsides, your guide will share interesting facts about Catalina's history, flora and fauna as you journey through historic Middle Ranch and up rugged Cape Canyon to a scenic overlook on Black Jack Mountain. Then it’s down the original 19th-century stagecoach route, which offers sweeping views of the majestic Catalina coast and beautiful blue Pacific all the way back to Avalon.