The Trans-Catalina Trail, otherwise known as simply the “TCT”, is an epic California backpacking adventure that treks from one end of Santa Catalina Island to the other.
During this gorgeous but challenging hike, you’ll catch amazing views of the island’s many emerald bays, its rugged interior, abundant wildlife, and its lush coastal edges.
Hiking The Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT): Part 1 – Two Harbors To Parsons Landing (Catalina Island, CA)
No words necessary!
The Trans-Catalina Trail: A Brief Overview
The Trans-Catalina Trail is officially listed as a 38.5 mile trail and is usually backpacked in either 3, 4, or 5 days depending on the hiker’s level of fitness. There are also optional trail spurs (like the popular Starlight Beach trail) that are worthwhile but can add significant time and mileage to your itinerary.
All-in-all, our journey on the TCT ended up being just over 50 miles, but that was with the Starlight Beach trail add-on and a couple other side-trips.
The TCT is generally completed in one of two ways:
- Starting at Avalon and ending in Two Harbors
- Starting in Two Harbors and ending in Avalon
Map Of Catalina Island Campgrounds & Trails:
The Trans-Catalina Trail is colored red in the map below.
(Image courtesy of catalinachamber.com)
TCT Elevation Profile:
The TCT is a not an easy hike. As you can see in the elevation profile below, the TCT has many “ups and downs” and changes elevation as much as 1600+ feet in a day.
There is no sugar-coating this, some parts of the trail are ridiculously steep (like the “Fenceline Road” portion) and you will feel it.
Our version of this hike was basically this profile in reverse (Two Harbors to The Trailhead in Avalon) (Image courtesy of catalinaconservancy.org)
Island Wildlife And Other Hazards:
The TCT is also almost entirely exposed to the direct sun, quite rocky, dry and dusty in some parts, with dangerous wildlife such as bison and rattlesnakes.
The bison are no joke, they have killed hikers here. I actually had my own run-in with one just east of Black Jack Campground (which I’ll get to later). Bison can be unpredictable, bad-tempered, dominant, aggressive, and just plain mean.
FHOP Tip: If you run in to a bison, it’s recommended you walk slowly but steady around them while keeping a distance of at least 150 feet between you and them (especially the bulls). Bison are common east of the Two Harbors isthmus.Â
Permits And Reservations For Backpacking The Trans-Catalina Trail:
Hiking permits are required to hike the Trans-Catalina Trail. Permits are free and can be secured from the Catalina Conservancy through this link.
Campground reservations are also required. These reservations can be made through the Santa Catalina Island Company by calling 877-778-1487. I found them very helpful in planning an itinerary based on campground availability.
FHOP Tip: You can also arrange to have water and firewood delivered directly to your campground through the Santa Catalina Island Company when you make your campground reservations. This will cost extra, but I highly recommended it as water sometimes impossible to find in the island’s interior.Â
Getting To Catalina Island:
There are two main commercial boat options for getting to Catalina: The Catalina Express and Catalina Flyer services.
We sailed out of San Pedro where we passed the Battleship USS Iowa.
Catalina Express
Battleship USS Iowa Museum (Port of Los Angeles San Pedro)
FHOP Tip: The waters in the Catalina Channel can be smooth as silk or wildly turbulent. If you are subject to sea-sickness, I’d recommend booking your transfer on a large boat.Â
A Catalina Express hydrafoil
Our Planned TCT Itinerary:
We decided on completing the Trans-Catalina Trail from Two Harbors to Avalon with the following itinerary:
- Day 1: Two Harbors to Parsons Landing Campground [7.6 Miles]
- Day 2: Parsons Landing Campground to Two Harbors Campground [7.2 Miles] (with the Starlight Beach spur trail [9.2 Miles])
- Day 3: Two Harbors Campground to Little Harbor Campground [5.9 Miles]
- Day 4: Little Harbor Campground to Black Jack Campground [9.7 Miles]
- Day 5: Black Jack Campground to Avalon [11.7 Miles]
Total 5 Day Mileage = 51.3 Miles [Actual]
Day 1: Two Harbors To Parsons Landing Campground [7.6 Miles]
The blue arrow marks the trail from Two Harbors to Parsons Landing Campground (original image courtesy of catalinachamber.com)
Arrival At Two Harbors:
View of Two Harbors Beach (and the TCT) from the pier
Two Harbors pier
Check-In At The Visitor Center
The Visitor’s Center (at the start of the pier) was a required stop.
Here, we picked up our permits and campground reservations, acknowledged the trail rules, and confirm your campground supply deliveries.
The check-in line at the Visitor Center (right) at the beginning of the pier
Map at the Visitor Center
The town of Two Harbors
Final Stop For Last Minute Supplies:
We made one final stop at the Two Harbors General Store before we hit the trail. Luckily, the General Store was well stocked with hiking and camping supplies (as well as everything else). We loaded up and headed for the exit.
At long last, we were ready to hit the trail.
Hiking supplies? They got ’em
Section 1: Two Harbors To Goat Whiskers Trail [2.8 Miles]
After a short hike up the hill from the beach, we reached the TCT (which is actually a dirt road on this section).
We followed this almost entirely flat section of trail all the way through to Emerald Bay.
Catching the trailhead from the beach
The trail runs past the two tanks at the top of the hill
Panoramic view of Two Harbors
The TCT in all its glory
Empty, but beautiful
This lizard was just lounging on an old telephone pole
This is one of the few green and shady sections of the TCT
Arrival at the Goat Whiskers Trail (and bathroom)
Section 2: Goat Whiskers Trail To Emerald Bay [4.0 Miles]
The next section of trail continued to meander with curve after [frustrating] curve as we made our way toward Emerald Bay, making this section feel much longer than it is.
However, the views on this section of trail were some of the most beautiful the island has to offer.
We caught this little guy spying on us during lunch time
Sullivan’s Beach
Another lizard basking in the sun
Indian Rock
Finally, Emerald Bay
Wait, the Boy Scouts are building a pirate ship?
Section 3: Emerald Bay To Parsons Landing Campground [0.8 Miles]
From Emerald Bay, there was one final section of trail before reaching Parsons Landing.
This section started off up a steep hill, but veered off to the right before finally leaving the dirt road behind.
The trail cut to the right of this sign (as apparently many bison did as well)
Parsons Landing straight ahead
Arrival At The Parsons Landing Campground:
When we arrived, we were surprised to find the campground mostly empty.
It was semi-well developed with clean porta-potties, trash and recycle bins, a shaded pavilion to sit. There was no water sources available other than the water we pre-ordered (which was pre-delivered to our campsite bin).
From the left: The campgrounds, restrooms, shade pavilion, and animal-proof bins
Keep Catalina beautiful
The Parsons Landing Campground
Animal-proof bins for storage and water
We pitched our tents near the make-shift rock walls on the beach (which are mandatory for deflecting the night time winds off the ocean)
End Of Day 1: A Sunset By The Sea
We completed our camp setup just in time to catch the awesome sunset view.
By the time darkness fell, we were eating dinner around a campfire underneath the infinite stars.
It was the perfect ending to our first day on the TCT.
Sunset at Parsons Landing
The last remaining light
Cheers!
