Hiking in Catalina?

[Busybears]

Hi, everyone: My bf and I would like to go on a short (maybe 5 miles or so) hike while in Catalina. I read that Catalina has some beautiful trails. I have found no information in this forum. Has anyone done it before? Where and how to get there from where we get off the ship? I read that Two Harbors is where the hiking trails are, but not sure how to get there. Any information is appreciated. :) ~ Florrie

[SadieN]

Start here for info

 

http://www.catalinachamber.com/

[Busybears]

Thanks. I also found this and thought it's very helpful: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/hermit-gulch-trail-loop.

 

From the pier to Wringley Botanical Garden is about 1.75 miles. Can't wait to check this out and take in the view that everyone's talking about. :)

[Rosefloater]

Thanks. I also found this and thought it's very helpful: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/hermit-gulch-trail-loop.

 

From the pier to Wringley Botanical Garden is about 1.75 miles. Can't wait to check this out and take in the view that everyone's talking about. :)

 

Here's some info about the Botanical Garden: http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/index.php?s=visit&p=wrigley_memorial_and_botanic_garden

[SadieN]

Thanks. I also found this and thought it's very helpful: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/hermit-gulch-trail-loop.

 

From the pier to Wringley Botanical Garden is about 1.75 miles. Can't wait to check this out and take in the view that everyone's talking about. :)

 

Need to get a contour map.:D It's 1.75 miles up a steep grade.

[fabby50]

We go to Catalina frequently - my husband dives, I walk.

 

I usually go out to the garden. It is a gradually uphill, but not steep. It takes you by several Catalina landmarks and is a really nice walk, but I wouldn't call it a hike. The plants are great and the monument is a nice piece of art deco work.

 

If you are looking for a view, I'd also recommend taking the stairs up the hill behind main street. You can't miss them. Last time I walked up there, a couple of local artists were painting. You can go from there to the bell tower and up to Zane Grey's place.

 

If you like to geo cache, there are several - we found one up by an old mine, also saw some of the pig traps they used when they rid the area of the pigs.

 

If you feel a little more adventureous, I'd go zip lining. Not a lot of zips, but it was fun.

[Urban trekker]

There is also a trolley that you can use to get to some of the attractions including the Gardens.

 

Here's the link:

 

http://www.catalinatransportationservices.com/CTS_docs/07-trolley_route_card.html

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[Busybears]

We can do a 6-8 mile hike with 1,500 ft elevation comfortably. If it's a steep uphill to the garden, we might take the trolley as one suggested, and then do the hike behind the garden to the top, and then walk back to town... I need to find a good Avalon map so we know how to find the Garden from the pier.

[fabby50]

It is not a steep uphill to the garden, it's walking through housing areas, by the hospital, the golf course, the baseball field, the bird sanctuary, a camp, a area with some horses, just a nice walk.

[Busybears]

Just got back from the cruise and this is what we did. We got off the ship and walked 1.5 miles to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden using our cell phone GPS. We then paid $7 to get in, walked through the garden and got on the 1.2 mile "Garden to Sky" trail which has a gate at the entrance you can open and close. The elevation is not bad at all (to us anyway) and the view is definitely rewarding. We then came back down and climbed some steps to the top of the memorial which is beautiful. After the garden, we walked back to town and continued to walk everywhere checking things out. We were going to rent a cart after the hike, but were told the cart can only go around Avalon which we already covered most of it on foot, so we saved our money on that idea. It's $40/hour, and one place offered 1 free hour for 2 hours of rental. The trolley would be a great alternative but then again, it only goes around town and to the garden which we did on foot, so we didn't do that either. We also thought about zip-lining there, but it's over $100/pp, so we skipped it. We spent overall very pleasant 5-6 hours there walking, hiking and shopping.

Edited January 25, 2014 by Busybears

[fabby50]

SO GLAD you had a nice day walking out to the garden, etc. I hope you got a chance to check out the view from the top of the stairs and up by the bell tower and Zane Grey's.

 

We did the zip lining last time - it would have been good if you were doing zip lining for the first time. It has a braking system that makes if very easy. Not very many zips but it's supposed to be an "eco tour" so they talk a lot about the area.

 

We are going over for the weekend in March for the marathon weekend and staying at the Pavilion Hotel. Can't wait - going to go to the movies at the Casino and listen to the organ. This weekend, AMC showed Murder on a Honeymoon - a 1935s movie filmed in Catalina. I always enjoy seeing the landmarks as they looked them and comparing them to now.

 

I guess you can tell I'm a Catalina supporter :)

[Busybears]

I would love to visit Catalina again, but next time I would like to check out Two Harbors area or other part of the island. Haven't figured out how yet, but one day ;)

[CruiseGirlKS]

It is not a steep uphill to the garden, it's walking through housing areas, by the hospital, the golf course, the baseball field, the bird sanctuary, a camp, a area with some horses, just a nice walk.

 

Agreed....its a really nice walk. We have done it a few times. :)

[fabby50]

You can take the ferry over to Two Harbors or they have day tours that will take you over to the other side of the island. It's a nice drive - you may get to see some buffalo, you can go to the airport, the Ranch, and the Nature Conservancy has a location with information on how they're working on saving/returning the island fox and other native species.

[J2tyco]

Am I reading it correctly that the trolley only runs mid June- labor day??

 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app

[fabby50]

No, it runs all year but the hours do change seasonally. Try this link and make sure to look at the full page - there are two different sets of hours depending on the season. It always runs on days cruise ships are in the harbor.

 

http://www.catalinatransportationservices.com/CTS_docs/07-trolley_route_card.html

[J2tyco]

ahh I see that now!

 

Thanks!!;)

[oldschoolpinball]

SO GLAD you had a nice day walking out to the garden, etc. I hope you got a chance to check out the view from the top of the stairs and up by the bell tower and Zane Grey's.

 

We did the zip lining last time - it would have been good if you were doing zip lining for the first time. It has a braking system that makes if very easy. Not very many zips but it's supposed to be an "eco tour" so they talk a lot about the area.

 

We are going over for the weekend in March for the marathon weekend and staying at the Pavilion Hotel. Can't wait - going to go to the movies at the Casino and listen to the organ. This weekend, AMC showed Murder on a Honeymoon - a 1935s movie filmed in Catalina. I always enjoy seeing the landmarks as they looked them and comparing them to now.

 

I guess you can tell I'm a Catalina supporter :)

 

 

 

 

The pavilion is a very awesome hotel.it has this awesome outdoors campfire where you can gather after dark and chat with other hotel goers.the view into the stars is simply amazing

[angiebachner]

Does anyone have information on how to arrange for the ferry or tour to take to get to Two Harbors?

[fabby50]

Hey Angie! If you want to go directly from the coast to Two Harbors, you can take the ferry. Check catalinaexpress.com for the schedule. If you want to take a bus or a jeep tour from Avalon, you can arrange that through the Santa Catalina Island Company - the company that does the majority of the tours on Catalina. Just google their website - lots of great Catalina information on their site.