Catalina Island sits off the coast of Southern California and can be seen from shore on a clear day. The Trans Catalina Trail (TCT) is 38.5 miles and takes hikers from the southern end to the northern end of the island. To hike over 38 miles can take a few days and is not an easy thing to do. The good news is that you don’t have to do the entire trek to have an awesome experience backpacking Catalina Island and get some great views!
In March 2021 I backpacked from Two Harbors to Little Harbor and back with my group of six. This hike is about 6 miles each way and has a lot of elevation change. We did the trip in two days with one overnight.
This was not my first backpacking trip, but I do think it is a good introductory backpacking trip because Little Harbor is a built out campground. However, it is a tough hike, especially with weight on your back, so be sure to train ahead of time.
Planning the Trip – Backpacking Catalina Island
You will need:
2 Boat Tickets (San Pedro <> Two Harbors)
1 Campsite reservation (Little Harbor/ Shark Harbor)
Backpacking gear (backpack, food, sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad)
Booking the Ferry
The only port that goes to Two Harbors is San Pedro, so you must book your boat ticket from there. Tickets for the Catalina Express can be purchased here.
Pay close attention to the times of the boats, there is typically one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We took the 9:00 boat on a Saturday to Two Harbors, and the 16:45 boat on Sunday back to San Pedro. When I originally booked the tickets there were not enough tickets available for the 16:45 time, so I called and they put in a request for a bigger boat. Fortunately they released more tickets within a week!
Cost: $37.35 each way (adults)
Things to know before you get on the boat:
-The crew takes mask wearing very seriously! Our boat turned around and dropped off passengers that did not comply
-There are various baggage guidelines which you can read about here (backpacking backpacks were not an issue)
-Special recommendations for campers can be read here
-Fuel canisters are not allowed
-During COVID there is no eating or drinking allowed on the boat
Booking the Campsite
Little Harbor and Shark Harbor are located on the west side of the island and have a total of 26 campsites (23 in Little Harbor and 3 in Shark Harbor). Shark Harbor is in the next cove over and is more private, while Little Harbor is a more happening campground. These campsites are very built out with shade structures, picnic tables, fire pits, potable water spigots, and more.
You can book campsites at Little Harbor/ Shark Harbor here. These campsites fill up fast, so make sure to book ahead of time!
Cost: $25 per night per person
Note: The website says weekends have a 2 night minimum but I did not encounter this
Know Before You Go
-When you book your campsite you can also purchase bundles of wood that will be delivered to the site
-You can arrange to have just about anything delivered to your campsite including a cooler, beer, food, and more. For more information, see here.
-Each campsite at LH has a potable water spigot
-This campground can be very windy
Campsite Guide
Little Harbor 1-12: along the main path, expect lots of foot traffic
Little Harbor 10-12: right against the beach
Little Harbor 14-14D: more private, little foot traffic, and still only a few minutes walk to the beach
Little Harbor 15-17: on a hill, nice view but exposed, not necessarily flat
Shark Harbor 8-10: more secluded, right on the beach (no idea why they aren’t 1-3)
Hiking From Two Harbors to Little Harbor, Catalina Island
Much of the Trans Catalina Trail is hilly and steep, and the section from Two Harbors to Little Harbor is no exception! There is zero tree cover along this stretch of the trail, which could be brutal in the summer. Additionally, there is no water source between these harbors, so be sure to pack enough to make it the full 6 miles.
When you arrive in Two Harbors there is a General Store, a couple restaurants (may be closed due to COVID), and a bathroom with flushing toilets and running water. The General Store has just about everything you need, including fuel canisters, which are not allowed on the boat. If you want to have items delivered, the General Store is where you arrange that.
To start the hike, head west toward the second harbor, and turn left after the red house before Isthmus Yacht Club on Banning House Road. This is the start of the uphill climb that does not let up until you are nearly 2 miles in and reach a radio tower. We were startled by how abrupt and relentless the hill was, so be prepared!
Once you get to the radio tower there are a couple more hills to go up, but they are significantly smaller. As you approach mile 3, there is a picnic table with a shade structure which has some of the best views of the island. After this, the hike is almost entirely downhill, but is more gradual other than one very steep downhill. You’ll know you’re getting close to Little Harbor when you see bright green grass aka the campground.
We started the hike around 12:30 and arrived at Little Harbor about 3 hours later. We stopped to eat our lunch and took many photo breaks.
Little Harbor Campground, Catalina Island
Little Harbor campground has been deemed one of the best campsites in the West and I can understand why. Not only do the campsites have tons of amenities (a private water spigot!), but also Little Harbor has a sandy beach with beautiful turquoise water. I can imagine this is a fun place to swim and lounge in the summer.
We camped at site 14B which is tucked away from the main path. I appreciated the privacy with little foot traffic, and was pleased that it only took a couple minutes to walk to the beach. We were even so lucky to witness a bison wander through our camp area. Because the bison on Catalina are wild, people should stay at least 125 feet away. Bison could attack if they feel threatened and can run faster than you might think.
Hiking Back to Two Harbors
Even though this is an out and back route, the hike back felt different with new perspectives and reverse inclines. The climb starts much more gradual, but this direction has the steeper hills to go up. Around mile 2 we saw a large herd of bison in the distance, so keep your eyes peeled!
Soon after the radio tower there is a fork in the trail where you can opt to go to Cat Harbor overlook. This is an out and back trail at about 2 miles round trip.
We started hiking around 11am and it took roughly 3 hours, including stops, to get back to Two Harbors. For us, it took the same amount of time hiking in and back out.
Two Harbors, Catalina Island
We arrived back at Two Harbors with a couple hours to kill before it was time to get on the boat. With this extra time, we played disc golf at the Isthmus Disc Golf course which has 18 tees and 10 baskets. We brought our own discs, but there is typically somewhere you can rent them. After that, we went to Harbor Sands, near the dock, and drank a few Buffalo Milks which is the official drink of Catalina.
Final Thoughts – Backpacking Catalina Island
I chose to do this trip in the spring when the hills are more green, and we lucked out with warm, sunny weather. Doing this trip during COVID-19 did not pose many challenges, but some noticeable impacts are mask requirements on the boat and closed restaurants. I’m excited to do this trip again and may opt to do a longer stretch of the TCT over more days.
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In the final picture titled “the Crew”, who is that handsome, muscular man on the left wearing no shirt ? He looks like a Spartan. š
Super informative blog!!!! Well done šš
I might add that there are plenty of porta potties in the campground, also an outdoor ( cold water) shower and a sink. The food containers were a big plus to keep your food safe from any animals.
2-3 bundles of wood per night is about right.
Definitely a fantastic campground!
This is a great guide! Thanks so much! Could you see the water from your campsite at Little Harbor?
Thanks! From our specific campsite, 14B, we could not see the water. However, at many of the other sites you can! Sites 10-12 back up to the beach