Hike Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT), California

Add to My List Check Off

The Trans-Catalina Trail on Santa Catalina Island in California starts from the city of Avalon on the eastern tip to Parson’s Landing (or Starlight Beach) on the western end of the island. The trail is officially 38.5 miles but is really about 40-50 miles since hikers have to get back to Two Harbors from Parson's Landing or Starlight Beach. Avalon to Black Jack Campground: Start the hike at the Catalina Conservancy’s Trailhead visitor center in Avalon where hiking permits and trail maps are available. Head out of Avalon to Hermit Gulch Campgrounds. Take the Hermit Gulch Trail up to the Divide Road. Turn right and follow the TCT through Haypress Picnic Area, past Middle Ranch Road, past Cape Canyon to the Black Jack Campground. Distance: 10.7 Approx. Elevation Gain: ~2,800 feet Food Availability: Avalon Potable Water Availability: Hermit Gulch Campground, Haypress Picnic Area and Black Jack Adjustments: If you want to make the hike longer you can do the old TCT trail by going up Renton Mine Rd from Pebbly Beach - which adds about 6.5 miles (if you get a ride to Peddly Beach). If you want to cut off some of the ups and downs you can stay on the road between Haypress and Cape Canyon Reservor (look for the picnic bench up on the hill to the left of the road) - but this road puts you on the road with a decent amount of traffic. Black Jack to Two Harbors Campground: The next day from Black Jack Campground, cross the Cottonwood Canyon. As you approach the Airport in the Sky, you'll pass a 2,000-year-old soapstone quarry with bowls excavated by Catalina’s first residents, the Tongva, still visible. When you reach the Airport in the Sky, relax and enjoy a Buffalo Burger and refreshments from the DC-3 Gifts and Grill. From the airport continue along the Airport Loop section of the TCT until reaching Empire Landing Road, then turn left. In about two miles, turn onto the new Big Springs Ridge Trail portion of the TCT. Follow the trail to Little Harbor to set-up camp for the night. Enjoy the beach at Little Harbor. Distance: 8.8 Approx. Elevation Gain: ~850 feet (mostly downhill to Little Harbor) Food Availability: Airport Potable Water Availability: Black Jack, Airport and Little Harbor Adjustments: Take Sheep Chute Rd which was the old TCT route. This cuts off about 1/2 mile. Little Harbor to Two Harbors Campground: The next day head to the northwest corner of the Little Harbor Campground and take the trail west to the top of the ridge. Then head north and follow the trail markers to the Tower Peak Radio Site on the Banning House Road. Purchase lunch and/or dinner in Two Harbors to reduce weight in your pack. Distance: 5.9 Approx. Elevation Gain: ~1,500 feet Food Availability: Two Harbors Potable Water Availability: Little Harbor and Two Harbors Adjustments: You can have your backpacks picked up and delivered to Two Harbors for $10/bag (2020 rates). Just make sure you can caerry enough water for the hike. Two Harbors to Parson’s Landing: From the Two Harbors campsite, head south, across the Isthmus to the Silver Peak Trail portion of the TCT. This is a very challenging portion of the TCT, but rewarding. The trail drops you into Parson's Landing Campground. Distance: 7.2 miles Approx. Elevation Gain: ~2,200 feet Food Availability: Two Harbors Potable Water Availability: Two Harbors and you can setup water and firewood delivery to Parson's. Make sure to pick up key the day of the hike at the Two Harbors Vistitor Center. If leaving very early you can pick up key right before they close on the day before. Adjustments: If the hike up Silver Peak Trail and down the very steep track along Fenceline Rd is to much, then take the flat West End Rd to Parson's Landing. WARNING: The trial along Fenceline Rd down to Parson's Landing is very steep in sections and hikers really should have poles to reduce risks of falls. Parson’s Landing back to Two Harbors: The next day do the final leg of the trail back to Two Harbors via the flat West End Road. Distance: 7.7 miles Approx. Elevation Gain: ~450 feet Food Availability: Two Harbors Potable Water Availability: Only from the water that was delivered to Parson's. There are several options to complete the TCT (Starlight Beach is not considered part of the TCT anymore): Option A (3 days/2 nights - 39.7 miles): Day 1: Avalon to Black Jack Campground – 10.7 miles Day 2: Black Jack to Two Harbors Campground – 14.1 miles Note: It's a little over 1/2 mile to the campground from trail. Day 3: Two Harbors to Parson’s and back to Two Harbors (skipping Starlight Beach) - 14.9 miles Option B (4 days/3 nights - 38.5 miles): Day 1: Avalon to Black Jack Campground – 10.7 miles Day 2: Black Jack to Little Harbors Campground – 8.2 miles Day 3: Little Harbor to Parson’s Landing via Silver Peak Trail & Fenceline Road (skipping Starlight Beach) – 11.9 miles Day 5: Parson’s Landing back to Two Harbors (via relatively flat coastal trail back to Two Harbors) – 7.7 miles Option C (5 days/4 nights - 48.5 miles): Day 1: Avalon to Black Jack Campground – 10.7 miles Day 2: Black Jack to Little Harbors Campground – 8.2 miles Day 3: Little Harbor to Two Harbors Campground – 5.9 miles Day 4: Two Harbors to Parson’s Landing via Silver Peal Trail & Fenceline Road (7.2 miles), Drop off some of the load, then to Starlight Beach via Old West End Road and back to Parson's (8.8 miles) – 16 total miles Day 5: Parson’s Landing back to Two Harbors (via relatively flat coastal trail back to Two Harbors) – 7.7 miles Option D (5 days/4 nights - 45.3 miles): Day 1: Avalon to Black Jack Campground – 10.7 miles Day 2: Black Jack to Little Harbors Campground – 8.2 miles Day 3: Little Harbor to Two Harbors Campground – 5.9 miles Day 4: Two Harbors to Starlight Beach via Silver Peak Trail (8.4 miles), Starlight Beach to Parson’s via Old West End Road (4.4 miles) – 12.8 total miles Day 5: Parson’s Landing back to Two Harbors (via relatively flat coastal trail back to Two Harbors) – 7.7 miles Option E (6 days/5 nights - 48.5 miles): Day 1: Avalon to Black Jack Campground – 10.7 miles Day 2: Black Jack to Little Harbors Campground – 8.2 miles Day 3: Little Harbor to Two Harbors Campground – 5.9 miles Day 4: Two Harbors to Parson’s Landing via Silver Peal Trail & Fenceline Road – 7.2 miles Day 5: Parson’s Landing to Starlight Beach and back to Parson’s Landing – 8.8 miles Day 6: Parson’s Landing back to Two Harbors (via relatively flat coastal trail back to Two Harbors) – 7.7 miles The trail officially opened in 2009 and most sections of the trail follow established trails or roads, but some sections are new. See map here. Then length of the trail lends itself to hiking over four or five days. You must use established campgrounds which include Black Jack Campground, Little Harbor Campground and Two Harbors Campground. Because of the length of the first three segments and the steep hills and total vertical elevation gain, this is a very strenuous backpacking trip. Potable water is only available on the Trail at Haypress, Black Jack Campground, Little Harbor Campground, the Airport and the Isthmus. Potable water can be reserved for pickup at Parsons Landing for a fee by calling the Two Harbors Visitor Services at (310) 510-4205. Hiker can pay for bundle of firewood at campsites. They store the firewood in lockers, and give you a key when you pick up reservations at Atwater Hotel in Avalon and Two Harbors Visitors Center (for parson's Landing). Food is available in Avalon, The Airport in the Sky, and Two Harbors. It's recommended to either taking an earlier boat from the mainland or spending a night in Avalon (Hermit Gulch campground) and getting an earlier start. Otherwise it will be a late arrival to Black Jack. Note:You need a hiking permit before you start out. You can obtain one online (http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/) 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. There are services like Catalina Backcountry that will lug gear from campground to campground on the TCT for a fee, allowing hikers to travel lighter, or bring a cooler and more gear. 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. Afishinados Charters provides transportation by sea to and from Avalon, Two Harbors and Parsons Landing. For information and reservations call (323) 447-4669.

5.0 out of 5 Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›