Catalina Edition

Backpacking Catalina Island

Just an hour off the coast of Los Angeles, Santa Catalina Island feels like a whole different world. With 54 miles of rugged coastline and sweeping ocean views, this island paradise offers something for every kind of adventurer. Thanks to the Catalina Island Conservancy, which protects 88% of the land, you'll find miles of scenic trails winding through dramatic cliffs, rolling hills, open fields (yes, complete with buffalo!), and thoughtfully designed campgrounds.

Whether you’re craving a true escape from the city grind or hoping to blend backpacking with a few good meals in charming port towns, Catalina has you covered. You can go full-on nature mode with a classic backpacking trek, or take the more relaxed route with pit stops for hot food and a comfier camp setups. No matter your style, it’s the kind of trip that recharges you and leaves you wanting more.

Here’s what we learned along our journey

Reservations

You need to pre-book 2 things to make this trip your reality. 

1. Camping reservations: This does take a bit of pre planning as the campgrounds do fill up. You can book your camping reservations through the Catalina Island Company. We recommend doing this at the beginning of the year when the reservations open up to lock your spot in. 

2. Ferry Tickets: We booked through the Catalina Express and they operate out of San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point. They offer various times throughout the day. Although San Pedro is the only port that has a returning ferry if you are leaving from Two Harbors. 

   • You don’t need to book your ferry right away. We waited until the week of our trip and had no trouble finding times. That said, we did notice that morning ferries on weekends tend to fill up quickly. If you’re hoping to catch the first ferry out, especially on a weekend, it’s a good idea to book about a month in advance to be safe.

   
   

Budget Breakdown / Costs (all pricing was in the year of 2025)

In addition to your backpacking gear that we imagine you already have, here are the other costs to keep in mind while planning your trip.

Camping Reservations: $75.25 per night; there are options to add on Firewood, fire starters, charcoal to some of the campgrounds where fire pits are active. We highly recommend adding on Firewood to your Little Harbor stay. Nothing beats a bonfire on the beach with star gazing. 

Ferry Tickets: $42 each way + taxes 

Daily Parking: You have to leave your car at the port that you decide to depart from (unless you are planning to get dropped off). The daily parking at the ports ranged from $20 -$25 per day. 

Food: If you want to opt to carry less dehydrated food and snacks and enjoy some of the delicious dining options in Catalina, then plan to bring about $20 - $30 per person for the following meals we suggest you take advantage of. 

• Avalon: Whether you are starting or finishing here- there are so many restaurants to pick from. We recommend you take an afternoon ferry into Avalon, enjoy an early dinner at your restaurant of choice, and then head to Hermit Gulch for your first night of camping. 

• The Airport in the Sky: Just about 2 miles past Blackjack campgrounds you’ll come across this fun joint that brings together backpackers, day travelers, bikers, and road tourers together to enjoy some buffalo burgers, great breakfast, and other classic american style offerings. The gift shop has some fun collectables as well

• Two Harbors: Harbor Reef restaurant offers great american style food during the day and flips to a wider variety of options for dinner. The general store in two harbors is bigger than you’d think. It’s stocked with a great selection of groceries, wines, beers, and liquors and even has backpacking food items and gear. It’s a great option if you’re looking to restock on your food or want to do a picnic style meal on the beach. 

Packing Tips & Food Notes

There are plenty of water fill-up stations at each campground and along the trails, so no need to overpack on water. Each campsite also comes with its own picnic table, which is great if you’re trying to lighten your load. You can get away with not packing a chair unless you want extra comfort. We brought our camp chairs because we prefer the lean back option but it’s totally optional.

You’ll also find bathrooms, trash cans, and animal-proof food storage boxes at every campground, which makes things super convenient.

Meal Tips Eating on the trail is half the joy of backpacking, so bring food that gets you excited. Some of our go-to’s this trip were chia oatmeal with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and a drizzle of honey — easy and energizing. For dinners, we packed freeze-dried meals and brought a mini Yellowbird hot sauce to keep things flavorful.

For lunch, we switched it up with salmon sandwiches made from Trader Joe’s lightly smoked pink salmon tins. Normally we’d avoid fish on trail, but since there were so many trash cans available, it worked out perfectly and was a fun change.

Bonus tip: If you stop by Airport in the Sky, grab one of their giant cookies, they are freshly baked and perfect for a sugar boost!

Need to Know: The Trail

Hermit Gulch Campground is a well-maintained site just about a mile outside of Avalon. It’s the perfect launch point for your hike. Before heading out, you can grab a meal or pick up any last-minute supplies in Avalon, it’s super convenient.

The first 2 miles out of Hermit Gulch are a solid uphill push. It’s a challenge, but it levels out after that, giving you a chance to catch your breath and take in the sweeping views. The next 7 miles or so to Blackjack Campground are a mix of rolling hills — nothing too intense, just steady. About halfway to Blackjack, you’ll reach a Reservoir Park, which has water fill-ups and bathrooms. But be warned: just before reaching Blackjack Campground, there’s a steep climb that can catch you off guard. Definitely save some energy for that final push!

Blackjack Campground itself is a quiet, shaded site surrounded by trees. It’s not particularly scenic, but it’s a peaceful stop with a sweet community vibe.

If you're planning to stop at Airport in the Sky Café, it’s just 2 miles from Blackjack on the way to Little Harbor. A perfect breakfast or snack stop, with solid food and a chance to reset.

The trail from there to Little Harbor is gorgeous: wide, scenic ridgeline paths eventually give way to a 3-mile descent into the harbor area.

Little Harbor Campground was the highlight of our trip. We stayed in Shark’s Cove, a tucked-away spot with just three campsites (though the main Little Harbor area has lots of sites). We pre-ordered fire logs and they were waiting at our site. The weather was perfect, warm enough to swim and dry off comfortably. Pure magic.

The hike from Little Harbor to Two Harbors includes the longest and most consistent uphill stretch of the journey, about 3.5 miles of sustained climbing before you hit the peak and begin the descent into town. The views along this section were some of the best of the whole trip.

Want to add a little bonus? You can detour about a mile each way to Cat Harbor Viewpoint, which offers a stunning panoramic lookout.

We ended at Two Harbors, where we were rewarded with a resort-like vibe and a hearty meal at the restaurant. Since we arrived midweek, the town was mostly filled with other hikers, which made for a fun and friendly atmosphere. Everyone we met was open, kind, and full of trail stories, some even do this trip every year.

Hot tips: Bring a deck of cards, make new friends, and soak it all in. This trail is as much about the people and the pauses as it is about the miles.

If we were to do it again, we would have stayed 1 extra night in Little Harbor. There are some great day hikes you can do from this campground that allow you to access different beaches you’d otherwise not see.