If you’re like me, you’re constantly thinking about backpacking.
I spend most of the year patiently waiting for—and training for—summer trips. I had seen friends hike the 38-mile Trans-Catalina Trail and decided that this year, I’d shake off my Colorado snow and hike it myself!
The TCT winds across Catalina Island, located just off the coast of Southern California in the Pacific Ocean. Catalina is a special place—inhabited for around 7,000 years, used as a filming location for over 500 films, TV shows, and documentaries, and home to a variety of diverse ecosystems.
Planning the Trip
Planning for this hike was relatively simple: book campsites a month in advance and grab ferry tickets for both directions. Both sell out quickly, so we reserved everything as soon as it became available.
The weather on the TCT was consistently beautiful—highs around 65°F, lows around 40°F. I packed a 20-degree sleeping bag and a liner, and I was perfectly warm (sometimes too warm) each night. I kept my clothing setup minimal to reduce pack weight: shorts, a sun shirt, a sun hat, and camp clothes were all I brought. I did pack three pairs of socks, knowing I’d be on loose dirt and sand and wanting to avoid blisters at all costs.
Day 1
Miles: 14.6
Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
Day one was a flurry of excitement and nerves—we knew it would be our longest day of hiking, plus we had to check in, set up camp, and get our permits. We hopped on the ferry and were greeted by Pacific dolphins on the ride over.
We began our 14.6-mile day from Two Harbors around 2 p.m. and were immediately met with long, steep climbs, sweeping ocean views, a bison (!!!), and dips in and out of coastal coves all evening. We returned to camp after dark, but had a beautiful clear evening, before having some food stolen by a very bold fox.
Day 2
Miles: 14.6
Elevation Gain: 4,100 feet
Day two brought some serious climbing, but the views made every step worth it. Incredible ridgeline vistas stretched out in every direction. Being above cliffs and ocean all day was amazing—and honestly, I kept wishing we had an extra day just to stop early and swim!
This was my favorite day by far, but also the most physically demanding. We took a much-needed break at the Airport in the Sky (yes, a real airport—we even saw a plane take off!) before making our way to Black Jack Campground during a beautiful dusk walk.
Day 3
Miles: 11.2
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
After the previous day’s efforts, we started day three slowly—and wow, did that feel good. We only had 11.2 miles to reach Avalon, our final stop.
Just as we were packing up to head out, we got a text: our ferry had been canceled due to high winds. We scrambled to check the schedule and realized the only ferry we could take was at 1:00 p.m.—and it was already 10:00 a.m.
What was supposed to be a leisurely final day quickly became a frantic jog to the finish. We made it to the dock with just minutes to spare. While we didn’t get the celebratory ending we had envisioned (we were hoping for wine on Catalina Island—our own version of the Catalina Wine Mixer), the descent into Avalon offered stunning views that almost made up for it.
Major Takeaways
I’m not afraid to say this hike was more challenging than I expected. I’d challenged myself to hike nearly 200 miles between Thanksgiving and New Year’s and felt like I was in great shape, but the TCT is unforgiving. Catalina Island doesn’t do switchbacks—it’s all steep grades straight up and down.
My friends and I wanted to conserve PTO, so we squeezed the hike into a three-day weekend. While it was doable, the terrain combined with ferry timing made two of our three days major pushes. As a result, we had little time to actually enjoy the landscape (I had big plans to swim in the ocean when we finished).
My advice: take your time on this trail. Get to camp early and swim. Take a long lunch at an overlook. It’s truly beautiful, and you’ll be grateful you gave yourself the space to enjoy it.
Style of Footwear
I hiked in the Katabatic Wind, and they performed incredibly well—grippy on loose gravel, quick-drying, and super comfortable. I’d give them a 10/10. That said, if I were to do the TCT again, I’d opt for the Katabatic LT (they weren’t released at the time of my hike). They breathe so well in mid-day heat and would’ve really helped with foot swelling.
