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| | | Two Harbors - Starlight Bch - Parsons Landing, CA | | | |
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Two Harbors - Starlight Bch - Parsons Landing, CA
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| Hiking | 24.32 Miles |
5,661 AEG |
| | Hiking | 24.32 Miles | 21 Hrs 34 Mns | | 1.13 mph |
| 5,661 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This Northwestern portion of the Trans Catalina Trail offers a challenging hike with stunning ocean views. Catalina Island is populated by an endless number of steep hills covered in pretty yellow grasses that sway in the wind or soft red tundra succulent plants. The TCT trail (often times also a road) mostly traces the tip top ridgeline of these hills affording fabulous ocean views on both sides of the island. The trail surface is smooth allowing you to walk along easily taking in all the beauty around you – well except for some super steep ups and downs.
Hiking friends and I completed this 24-mile semi-loop over 3 days, but it is manageable over two days. We started at Two Harbors (where we had been dropped by the ferry from San Pedro, California) and hiked to Parsons Landing to camp on the beach. Along the way we saw a huge buffalo right off the trail but he didn’t seem bothered by us. Thanks goodness; he was huge. Parsons Landing is a dry camp, so when you book your camp site, be sure to order a locker with a 2-gallon jug of water and a package of firewood. The cove where you camp is quite pretty, but swimming is difficult given the very rocky beach. Fortunately, the rocks didn’t put off a seal who shimmied well up the beach for a long break from swimming.
The next day I’d recommend hiking to Starlight Beach at the northern most tip of the TCT. Swimming is much more inviting here as the beach has fewer rocks. After cooling down in the ocean, you can return via the same trail to Parsons Landing and then take the Howland Landing Road along the Northeastern edge of the island all the way back to Two Harbors. You’ll have lots of beautiful views along this relatively flat road as it winds its way in and out of the pretty beach coves.
Two Harbors is a comfortable, inviting beach town with a general store, (sometimes) hot showers, casual diner, full bar, and formal restaurant. Camp spots are available about ½ mile from town – up and down a serious hill, of course. The campground is not all that scenic but there is running water, an outdoor shower, and fire rings. We had wood delivered to the campground. Back in Two Harbors if you have time you can rent snorkeling equipment or a sea kayak. Enjoy! |
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