September 8-13, 2025

Santa Catalina Island, CA

6 Days/5 Nights on the Trans-Catalina Trail (38.5 Miles)

$1,695.00 per person (double occupancy)

(for comparison, REI offers a similar 4-day trek for $1,999-$2,199)

Imagine hiking across a beautiful island with unbelievable views of the Pacific Ocean, eating and shopping in tiny villages, camping on ocean beaches and developed backcountry campsites (think tropical paradise complete with potable water and toilets), viewing diverse and unusual wildlife like buffalo, dwarf grey foxes, falcons, hawks, sea gulls and pelicans, and letting the sounds of the sea lull you to sleep at night.

This is Santa Catalina Island!

Join Born 2 Be Wild for a week in paradise! Over 6 days you’ll hike through small villages starting in Avalon, then up into the arid high country with cactus and sagebrush, camping in a grove of trees on a mountain, then descending into tropical regions with flowers, palm trees, and beaches at sea level. On the final day, we’ll take the Catalina Express back to Long Beach before heading home with memories and friendships for a lifetime.

This hike is rated Very Strenuous

You must be physically fit to participate. Hike includes long, steep ascents and descents throughout. 

 Your registration includes: 

A guided 6-day, 5 night transformational trek on the 38.5 Trans-Catalina Trail

Round Trip Ferry Boat transportation from Long Beach, CA to Catalina Island on the Catalina Express

Commodore Lounge upgrade with premium seating and free adult beverage on the Catalina Express

Spiritual direction provided by Bruce W. Martin each day

Transportation shuttle from trail end at Two Harbors back to Avalon

All meals provided while on the trail in a special B2BW food kit with carry bag.*

Free time for shopping in Avalon and Two Harbors

All Catalina Island Conservancy camping and usage fees as applicable

Potable water, bathrooms, and storage lockers at all campsites

Experienced, wilderness medicine and CPR certified guides

Pre-trip briefing and equipment check with your guide in Avalon

Secure luggage storage in Avalon while you are hiking the trail

*Does not include lunch at Airport in the Sky or lunch/dinner in Two Harbors

Day 1: Travel Day

Wherever your origination, you can travel to Los Angeles, CA, or go all the way to Long Beach, CA for an overnight stay. I will fly into LAX, then Uber to Long Beach the next morning.

Day 2: Catalina Express Ferry from Long Beach to Avalon. Hike 2 miles to Hermit Gulch Campground

Today we arrive in Long Beach by 9:00 AM to catch the 9:50 AM Catalina Express ferry to Avalon. We’ll enjoy drinks and snacks on the 70-minute ferry ride to the port of Avalon. We’ll drop our travel luggage at the secure storage facility, then hike a short two miles through town to the Hermit Gulch Campground. Dinner that evening is on your own.

Day 3: Hike 9 miles from Hermit Gulch to the BlackJack Mountain Campground

Today the real hiking begins! We’ll begin the day with a long 3-mile ascent with the views of the Pacific getting better and better the higher we go. We might catch sight of the unusual species of dwarf grey foxes that inhabit the island. We hike past several reservoirs, finally finishing our day at the Blackjack campground in an island tree grove with multiple tiers for camping.

Day 4: Hike 9 miles from BlackJack Campground to Little Harbor

Today’s hike is an up and down day as we hike across the dry exposed interior of the island. It reminds me of Arizona with cactus and sagebrush and red earth. It we’re lucky, we might see a herd of bison grazing in the frequent meadows. We’ll have lunch (on your own) at the famous Airport in the Sky cafe’. Then we finish the day with a long, beautiful descent into the tropical paradise of Little Harbor where we’ll camp for the evening with a lovely view of the Pacific.

Day 5: Hike 5 miles Little Harbor to Two Harbors.

Today is our shortest day, but not our easiest! We begin with a long ascent out of Little Harbor, enjoying a scenic lunch along the summit of the ridgeline. Then we’ll descend into the lovely island village of Two Harbors. We’ll be camping on a ridge overlooking the Pacific at the Two Harbors campground. There are hot showers available in town and dinner at the Harbor Reef restaurant is on your own.

Day 6: Hike 7.5 miles from Two Harbors the Beach at Parson’s Landing

This is your hardest, but most rewarding day! After we leave the level ground of Two Harbors, we begin a long, steep ascent that seems to have no end. I’ve nicknamed it “The Stairway to Heaven” even though there are no stairs and it feels more like climbing a ladder! However, the hard work pays off when we reach Parsons Landing where we’ll make camp and enjoy dinner by the fire right on the beach!

Day 7: Hike 8 miles along the coast back to Two Harbors, shuttle to Avalon, ferry to Long Beach

Today is our easiest day, as we hike a flat 8 miles along a winding dirt road that follows the coastline all the way back to Two Harbors. There, our shuttle driver will pick us up for a 90-minute drive back to Avalon.

From there we take the Catalina Express back to Long Beach.

Then you can stay overnight in Long Beach where we will have our last group dinner together. Or you can Uber straight to Los Angeles and take the red-eye home, or stay overnight and fly out the next morning, travelling home with memories and friendships for a lifetime!

This trip is limited to the first 12 people who register.

We cannot offer refunds for this trip unless we don’t have enough participants.

We must have a minimum of 3 participants to do this trip.

DO NOT PURCHASE AIRFARE UNTIL WE HAVE CONFIRMED THE MINIMUM OF 3 PARTICIPANTS. We will hold your registration in escrow until then. If we do not get the minimum number of  participants, we will offer you a full refund.

No gear, no problem! You can rent all of your backpacking equipment from us for just an addl. $300 per person. Just click the “Add to Cart” button “Trans-Catalina Trek with Gear” and we’ll get you set up with all the essential gear you need.