Anyone hike in Catalina before?

[allroy71]

Not mountain biking, but close enough

My wife and I are going to Catalina for a day, this weekend. We are planning to do some hiking. I know there is a shuttle to the Airport, where I guess most of the good trails are?

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone might have some trail ideas. May be up to 2 hrs max hiking.

I can't seem to find any trail maps online, either.

Thanks.

[sdyeti]

Dan and I hiked Catalina in early June. We took the ferry from Dana Point and then got the shuttle from Avalon. The shuttle dropped us off at the stop before the airport. This stop is 2 miles before the airport. The stop/camping area is called BlackJack Junction. It's 1.3 miles from the road to the campground along the BlackJack Trail.

We used the Catalina Island Conservancy shuttle..it was the least expensive option.

We camped overnight (we were the only people out there with the buffalo) and it was beautiful.

We hiked out the next day from the campground back to Avalon (it was about 8 miles...we were getting ready for our Rainier hike and were trying to put in miles with the packs on).

I'm not sure what other trails are open since a lot of them were burned in the fires.

Let me know if I can help with more info. Dan also recommends checking out Little Gibraltar point which is just north of the airport near Cabrillo Harbor.

Originally Posted by allroy71

Not mountain biking, but close enough

My wife and I are going to Catalina for a day, this weekend. We are planning to do some hiking. I know there is a shuttle to the Airport, where I guess most of the good trails are?

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone might have some trail ideas. May be up to 2 hrs max hiking.

I can't seem to find any trail maps online, either.

Thanks.

[ryandood]

I went to Catalina this past summer with a few friends hoping to do some hiking/mtn biking and fishing and was pretty bummed when I found out you need a permit or pass or whatever they call it to bike or hike. I think it cost like twenty bucks a head but my friends and I are kind of poor.
We ended up hiking up a trail around two in the morning with cell phone lights. Lots of fun exept I was wearing sandals as always and our five minute walk turned into a two hour vertical hike. View was awsome at the top though. Sorry my story doesn't help you but maybe it'll inspire you....or something. Have fun!

[DISCO]

Franko makes a map.

[danlorek]

I bike there a few times a year and love it. I think a year pass is 50 bucks (needed if you go outside of avalon on your own) or you can get a day pass for $10 it think.

I usually go there on my own with my bike, a thermarest, and my sleeping bag and start off in avalon, ride to two harbors, then back over the course of a few days camping at various spots in between. There's a main road that takes you out of avalon to a point overlooking the city (on the way to the airport). Although this is a road, it has a decent shoulder and very little traffic and the views are amazing.

If you were to start off in Two Harbors, there's a fireroad that heads out to Pearson's campground (i think that's the name). Near the campground there's a trail that heads up to the tip of the island with breathtaking views and a fair amount of eagles.

both of these options push the two hour mark a bit.

[stinkyrider]

Just keep clear of the Bison.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20534920/

[davidB]

didnt know much biking there was...

needs to be an annual STR ride there

[DISCO]

I know someone who can set up our own boat. It's not about the riding so much as the "getting away" factor for me anyway.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by davidB

didnt know much biking there was...

needs to be an annual STR ride there

There is. I rode from Avalon to Two Harbors and back, 50+ miles. The problem with mtbing there is that you need a pass from the Conservancy and their office doesn't open till 11am. If you took the ferry in the morning, you would get there way before they opened. Then you would have to stay over because you will not get back fromyour ride in time to catch the ferry back. Best to stay 2 nights there so you can really do some riding among other things before heading back. The Conservancy also has trail maps there.

[chauvinist_youth]

I used to work at a boy scout camp about 2 miles past two harbors. I know a couple of trails on that side of the island. I also have an extreme hate for not being able to walk through coves haha.

[allroy71]

According to the Conservancy web site, the hiking permit is free, while the riding one costs. hhhmmmm

http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/v...ion/hiking.cfm

[OTHRIDER]

Our Scout Troop has an annual Catalina Hike. We take the ferry to Two Harbors and camp above the harbor. If the weather is clear, you'll have a scenic view of the mainland. The next morning we take a well maintained fire road and hike 7 miles across the island to Little Harbor. We have never had anyone else at the camp. You'll get wonderful sunset vistas here. You can hike over the rocks on your left for another secluded bay. The next morning, you simply hike back to Two Harbors and enjoy a burger & brew before the ferry arrives. This January will mark our 5th trip. We've been fortunate to see buffalo on every trip. Good luck.

Each year, we buy a few bundles of firewood from the general store in Two Harbors and ask the rangers to deliver the wood to our site at Little Harbor. They've always done it for us.

[mtbchip]

Restricted to dirt roads only, the riding is more about the ability to "get away" as a previous poster noted. I have been there several years in a row for the Jazz Fest in Oct. I take my bike on the boat across and get the permit. Our ritual was to ride from Avalon to Two Harbors, stopping at the Airport to eat. Takes about 4-5 hours to do the whole ride. We take the dirt road that the tour buses use to go into the middle of the island (I think that is BlackJack), hit the Airport (have you ever seen a plane land in Catalina!??! WACKO).

The ride from the airport, past little harbor and on to Two harbors is very scenic. Not to mention the resident population of Bison, they will hold still for a photo op if you promise to scratch their back (they can't reach it) LOL!

I think it is a VERY worthwhile place to hold an STR party. The riding is pure XC, nothing techy at all. 33 miles to Two Harbors the way we do it. Then get on the boat at Two Harbors and take the 45 minute boat ride back to Avalon. The boat leaves at 3:30, so there is plenty of time to goof off in Two Harbors, get lunch, take a nap on the beach!

Take a look at some photos

1) View from Airport area looking toward Two Harbors
2) View of Little Harbor (excellent campsites)
3) A photo op with a furry critter......

[CC]

This is all so great to hear. I won a trip in early summer to Catalina, but few days before we were supposed to go it caught on fire. Now they have rescheduled the trip for a weekend in January, and I'm hoping to get some riding in while I'm there.

[ericfoltz]

I've gone over a few times. I usually stay at Two Harbors and do a ride to the airport and back (really fun downhill to Little Harbor) and the loop around the north end of the island (tough ride with some steep unmaintained roads).

You can stay in the tent cabins or get a cabin with a kitchen pretty cheap. Bring your own food. The restaurants are really expensive.

[danlorek]

Originally Posted by allroy71

According to the Conservancy web site, the hiking permit is free, while the riding one costs. hhhmmmm

http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/v...ion/hiking.cfm

wow, i'm bummed to see hikers are free and they've increased the fees for cyclists! They told me in the past most of the reasoning for the permit was for insurance. anyhow, over the course of 2 or three days $65 isn't too bad... make that stretch into a couple trips and it's even better.
d

[Mdm. Dabalot]

We hike and bike out of Two Harbors a lot. There are several fireroads that lead up as well as the flat road along the coast. Off the high roads, you will see several trails that follow ridges back down to the coast road (all unsigned and some a bit sketchy in places). If you are hiking out of Avalon, I can't help you there except that you can walk along the paved road that goes to the airport. Not a lot of traffice once you get past the gates that stop the golf carts! I think an STR weekend would be great! Definately should be based out of Two Harbors. There are several big picnic areas with bandstands that can be reserved for group parties so we could have a bar-b-que dinner Saturday night.