Trans-Catalina Trail

Trans-Catalina Trail is a 61 km hiking route through Santa Catalina Island, suited to hikers who want island ridge and coast hiking terrain and a clear…

Route overview

A multi-stage route through Santa Catalina Island, with highlights including Catalina Island, ridges, coves, island camps.

Trans-Catalina Trail gives hikers a structured way to experience Santa Catalina Island over several days. The route is best approached as a staged hike, with planning attention on permits, accommodation, weather, navigation and daily distance. For BuddieHikes, it is a strong candidate because the trail is long enough or remote enough to benefit from a hiking partner, while still being understandable as a clear route objective.

Trans-Catalina Trail is a 61 km hiking route through Santa Catalina Island, suited to hikers who want island ridge and coast hiking terrain and a clear multi-day objective.

Trail facts

Country
United States
Region
Santa Catalina Island
Distance
61 km
Typical duration
3–5 days
Difficulty
Hard
Elevation gain
Not specified
Best season
October to May
Trail type
Island traverse

Access and logistics

Bookings
Book accommodation, huts, campsites or required permits ahead in peak season.

Safety context

Expect changing surfaces, exposed sections, road crossings and variable access to services.

Highlights

Catalina Island, ridges, coves, island camps

Why find a buddy

This route is well suited to finding a hiking buddy because the distance, logistics and multi-day structure are easier and safer to manage with someone who has a similar pace and planning style.

Primary source

Open the primary route source.

Explore and prepare

Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.

Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.

Open the interactive BuddieHikes trail guide