DECEMBER 18–24, 2026
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA
38.5 MILES // 7 DAYS // 6 NIGHTS
11 SPOTS AVAILABLE

$749 / PERSON

Four nights crossing Santa Catalina Island on foot.

We’ll travel from Avalon through Catalina’s interior, moving camp each day through Black Jack, Little Harbor, Two Harbors + Parsons Landing, before hiking back into Two Harbors and returning to the mainland.

This is the final Honolulu Hiking Club backpacking trip of 2026 — and our first mainland expedition.

The Trans-Catalina Trail covers approximately 38.5 miles across the island, with substantial climbing and descending between the coast and interior.

You carry your own pack. We move as a group.

IMPORTANT // AIRFARE IS NOT INCLUDED

Every participant is responsible for purchasing their own round-trip airfare to Los Angeles.

TRAVEL DATES

ARRIVE: Los Angeles — Friday, December 18
DEPART: Los Angeles — Thursday, December 24

You may book whichever airline and flight works best for you.

MEETING POINT

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro

Everyone is responsible for getting themselves from their arrival airport to the designated hotel on December 18.

The HHC trip officially begins at the hotel.

A mandatory pre-trip briefing + final gear check will take place that evening. Exact meeting time will be provided to confirmed participants in advance.

Do not book a flight arriving on December 19.

For the return, participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation from the hotel to the airport on December 24.

THE ROUTE

AVALON → BLACK JACK → LITTLE HARBOR → TWO HARBORS → PARSONS LANDING → TWO HARBORS

The official Trans-Catalina Trail runs approximately 38.5 miles across Santa Catalina Island. The route moves between mountainous interior terrain, exposed ridgelines and the Pacific coastline before finishing in Two Harbors.

This is a full backpacking trip.

There is no gear-haul service included.

Every participant carries their own:

• Backpack
• Shelter
• Sleep system
• Clothing
• Food
• Water
• Personal equipment

ITINERARY

DAY 01 // FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18

ARRIVAL — LOS ANGELES / SAN PEDRO

Fly from Honolulu to Los Angeles on the flight of your choice.

Make your own way to:

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro

Check in, settle down + meet the rest of the expedition team.

That evening we’ll complete:

• Group briefing
• Final equipment check
• Pack check
• Trail conditions
• Ferry logistics
• Emergency procedures
• Morning departure plan

Hotel accommodation included.

DAY 02 // SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19

SAN PEDRO → AVALON → BLACK JACK

Early departure from San Pedro.

We board the ferry for Santa Catalina Island and arrive in Avalon.

From Avalon, the backpacking portion begins.

We leave the coast and climb into Catalina’s interior toward Black Jack Campground.

This is one of the more demanding days of the trip and immediately establishes the pace for the week.

Set camp. Eat. Recover.

Night 01: Black Jack

Black Jack has potable water, bathrooms and an outdoor shower; fires are not permitted there.

DAY 03 // SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

BLACK JACK → LITTLE HARBOR

Break camp and continue west through Catalina’s interior.

The route eventually drops back toward the Pacific and Little Harbor.

Oceanfront camp.

Shared HHC campfire.

Dinner + recovery.

Night 02: Little Harbor

Potable water is available at Little Harbor, and fires are permitted in designated fire-ring areas when conditions allow.

DAY 04 // MONDAY, DECEMBER 21

LITTLE HARBOR → TWO HARBORS

A shorter mileage day takes us north toward Two Harbors.

This becomes our mid-expedition reset:

Refill water.
Eat.
Recover.
Reorganize packs.
Prepare for Parsons Landing.

Night 03: Two Harbors

Two Harbors has potable water and is approximately one-quarter mile from the village.

DAY 05 // TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22

TWO HARBORS → PARSONS LANDING

We leave Two Harbors with full water capacity and continue toward the remote northwest coast.

Destination:

Parsons Landing.

Beach camp.
Pacific Ocean.
Final night in the backcountry.

There is no running water at Parsons Landing. HHC has pre-arranged the campground locker system containing drinking water, firewood + fire starters for the group.

Night 04: Parsons Landing

DAY 06 // WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23

PARSONS LANDING → TWO HARBORS → SAN PEDRO

Final morning on trail.

Break camp and hike back toward Two Harbors, completing the Trans-Catalina crossing.

From Two Harbors we board the ferry back to San Pedro. The official trail guidance specifically identifies San Pedro as the preferred mainland port for Trans-Catalina hikers because Two Harbors ferry service returns there.

Return to the DoubleTree.

Hot shower.

Real food.

Sleep.

Hotel accommodation included.

DAY 07 // THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24

DEPARTURE

Expedition complete.

Check out of the hotel and travel to the airport independently for your flight home.

Participants may book whichever December 24 flight works best for them.

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES

$749

6 nights of accommodation

• Dec. 18 — DoubleTree San Pedro
• Dec. 19 — Black Jack
• Dec. 20 — Little Harbor
• Dec. 21 — Two Harbors
• Dec. 22 — Parsons Landing
• Dec. 23 — DoubleTree San Pedro

Round-trip Catalina ferry transportation

• San Pedro → Avalon
• Two Harbors → San Pedro

All four backcountry campground reservations

Required Catalina hiking permit

Parsons Landing water lockers

Campfire supplies where applicable

Expedition planning + route coordination

Pre-trip briefing + preparation

Group logistics

HHC expedition leadership

Shared safety / emergency planning

And most importantly:

your place on a 12-person HHC expedition across Santa Catalina Island.

Catalina hiking permits are mandatory but issued free of charge by the Conservancy.

NOT INCLUDED

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

AIRFARE TO/FROM LOS ANGELES

Participants purchase their own airfare.

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

Transportation between your arrival/departure airport and the DoubleTree San Pedro is not included.

FOOD

Bring your own backpacking food for the trail and budget separately for mainland meals.

PERSONAL BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT

Tent/shelter, backpack, sleeping bag/quilt, sleeping pad, stove, clothing and other personal equipment.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Optional but strongly recommended.

PERSONAL EXPENSES

Additional meals, drinks, shopping, transportation or activities outside the included itinerary.

WHY THE TRIP IS $749

This is not simply a campground reservation.

Your place secures a complete seven-day HHC expedition framework:

Two mainland hotel nights.
Round-trip ferry transportation.
Four consecutive campsites across Catalina.
Backcountry water + camp infrastructure.
Permits.
Route planning.
Logistics.
Pre-trip preparation.
HHC leadership.
A capped expedition team.

The difficult part of executing the Trans-Catalina Trail as a group is not buying a hiking permit—it is coordinating the sequence of travel, ferries, accommodations and four consecutive backcountry camps so the group can keep moving across the island.

That has already been done.

You book your flight. Pack your bag. Meet us in San Pedro.

GROUP SIZE

12 PEOPLE TOTAL

11 participant spots + HHC lead

Keeping the expedition small allows us to move efficiently, keep the camps manageable and operate as one group throughout the crossing.

Once the 11 available spots are filled, registration closes.

DIFFICULTY

INTERMEDIATE / STRENUOUS BACKPACKING

This is not an introductory camping trip.

The Trans-Catalina Trail includes significant elevation gain and loss, exposed terrain and hiking days approaching approximately 11 miles. The Conservancy recommends the trail for fit hikers with previous hiking experience and specifically recommends training with a weighted pack.

Participants should be comfortable:

• Hiking multiple consecutive days
• Carrying a loaded overnight backpack
• Climbing and descending steep terrain
• Hiking exposed sections
• Managing their own hydration + nutrition
• Setting up and breaking down camp
• Following group pace and instructions

You do not need to be an elite backpacker.

You do need to arrive prepared.

WEATHER + CONDITIONS

The Trans-Catalina Trail is accessible year-round, though the Conservancy identifies spring and fall as its most temperate seasons. December conditions can vary.

Participants must come prepared for:

• Sun exposure
• Wind
• Rain
• Cool evenings
• Changing trail conditions

The itinerary may be modified when necessary because of weather, wildfire restrictions, ferry changes, trail conditions, participant readiness or group safety.

The route is the plan. Safety makes the final decision.

WILDLIFE + LAND

Catalina is home to wildlife including the Catalina Island fox, bald eagles and bison. Wildlife must be given space and should never be approached or fed.

We travel through the island with the same expectations we carry at home:

Respect the land.
Stay on trail.
Pack it in. Pack it out.
Leave camp better than you found it.

REQUIRED TRAVEL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING

Your HHC ticket does NOT include airfare.

By purchasing this trip, you acknowledge that:

• You are responsible for purchasing your own transportation to and from Los Angeles.
• You must arrive in Los Angeles on December 18, 2026 and report to the designated DoubleTree San Pedro meeting location in time for the mandatory pre-trip briefing.
• You are responsible for transportation from the airport to the hotel.
• You should not purchase an arrival flight for December 19.
• You are responsible for purchasing your return flight for December 24, 2026.
• You are responsible for transportation from the hotel to the airport on December 24.
• HHC is not responsible for missed trip components caused by a participant's independently booked flight delay, cancellation or late arrival.
• Purchasing transportation that conflicts with the expedition itinerary does not require HHC to alter the group's scheduled departure.

Purchasing this ticket confirms that you have read + accepted the independent-airfare requirement above.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY

Backpacking inherently involves risk.

Terrain may include steep climbs and descents, loose or uneven surfaces, rocks, exposure, fatigue, dehydration, weather changes, wildlife encounters and other natural hazards.

Each participant is responsible for arriving physically prepared and carrying the required personal equipment.

Participants are expected to:

Stay with the group.
Follow HHC leadership and safety instructions.
Carry sufficient food + water.
Carry the required equipment.
Respect other participants, campsites + the land.

HHC reserves the ability to modify the itinerary when conditions require it.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Make sure you can commit to:

DECEMBER 18–24, 2026

And understand:

AIRFARE IS PURCHASED SEPARATELY.

Once your HHC reservation is confirmed, you will receive the complete participant briefing, packing requirements, travel instructions + expedition communications.

TRANS-CATALINA // 2026

38.5 MILES.
4 BACKCOUNTRY CAMPS.
1 ISLAND CROSSING.
12 PEOPLE.

DEC 18–24

SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA

$749 / PERSON

11 SPOTS AVAILABLE.