When most people think of Los Angeles, a sprawling metropolis littered with palm trees and star-studded sidewalks comes to mind. However, look beyond the glitz and glam and you may discover Catalina, an island teeming with opportunities for adventure鈥攍ocated just 26 miles from southern California鈥檚 coast.
Most people who know of the island relate it to Step Brothers鈥 鈥淔*cking Catalina Wine Mixer,鈥 or a relaxing but uneventful day at Avalon,聽the island鈥檚 main port. Venture beyond that tiny township to discover a land where wild bison still roam, and where thousands of fish swim in the sea.
Thanks to its close proximity to L.A., Catalina makes a great escape from the city; IndefinitelyWild鈥檚 editor, Wes, and I have had a lot of adventures out there. These are a few of our favorites.
Go Spearfishing
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How long does it take? 1+ hours – 1+ days
How much does it cost? $150
Spearfishing is like hunting, but underwater; it鈥檚 one of our favorite ways to source protein. Instead of waiting for fish to take the bait while using a traditional pole as anglers do, you get to engage fish on their home turf鈥攂ecoming a true member of their three-dimensional ecosystem. What鈥檚 the best way to get started? We created just for you.
You don鈥檛 need a ton of gear to give spearfishing a try; most of it (including wetsuits, mask, snorkels, fins, and weight belts) can be rented from various on the island itself. Make sure to pick up a before you go out (you can order an annual one online for $45 if you鈥檙e a resident鈥or pick up a day pass for $15.) A (these are great because they break down into smaller sections, making them easy to transport) can be purchased on Amazon for $60.
Make sure to go out with a partner,聽don鈥檛 spear the orange fish, and that鈥檚 about it! Once you make fresh fish tacos on the beach, you鈥檒l be hooked.
Hike the Trans-Catalina Trail
How long does it take? 3-5 days
How much does it cost? $22/person, per night
Though technically it鈥檚 only 37.5 miles long, by the time you finish hiking the Trans Catalina Trail, you鈥檒l have logged closer to 55 miles and nearly 9,000 feet of elevation gain鈥making it the perfect warm up for longer hikes like the John Muir Trail or .
The weather鈥檚 usually great, the trails are well-maintained, and the coastal views are unparalleled鈥攎aking this classic . Make it all the way to the end and you鈥檒l have a remote black sand beach all to yourself. We鈥檙e not saying that you should go skinny dipping, but we鈥檙e not saying that you shouldn鈥檛, either.
New to backpacking? Check out on how to get started.
Camp on a聽Secluded Beach
How long does it take? 1+ nights
How much does it cost? $20/person, per night + transportation
Catalina Island features several remote, boat-in only campsites along its eastern coast. These primitive sites come equipped only with picnic tables (meaning that you have to haul in your own supplies and fresh water) but the benefit of that is near total seclusion on what can effectively be your own private beach. All for the bargain price of $20 a night. Sounds pretty nice, right?
Here鈥檚 the catch: to get there, you鈥檒l have to either BYOB (Bring Your Own Boat) or paddle in like we did. If you鈥檙e feeling adventurous, kayaks (and SUPs) can be rented from either or . Check the to see which sites are closest to which harbor. Paddling on Catalina鈥檚 coastal waters can usually be done at a rate of 2-3 mph, so be sure to plan your trip accordingly.
All of these adventures are just a 45-minute away from L.A. Keep your eyes peeled, you might even see some dolphins.