Trans-Catalina Trail Hiking Guide: GPX files
Kraig Adams, kraigadams.com

These are my own GPS recordings of two days on the Trans-Catalina Trail,
Santa Catalina Island, California, on July 28 and 29, 2020: from Avalon
past Hermit Gulch, Haypress, Black Jack and the Airport in the Sky to
Little Harbor Campground, then from Little Harbor to Two Harbors, up the
Silver Peak Trail and down Fenceline Road to Parsons Landing, and back
along the West End Road to Two Harbors and the Banning House Lodge. They
show the way I actually walked. All timestamps have been removed.

trans-catalina-trail-day-1.gpx   Day 1: the Avalon waterfront, Avalon
                       Canyon Road, Hermit Gulch Campground (the trail
                       start), the Hermit Gulch Trail, Divide Road,
                       Haypress, Black Jack Campground, the Airport in
                       the Sky, the Big Springs Ridge Trail and Little
                       Harbor Campground (20.4 mi / 32.8 km)
trans-catalina-trail-day-2.gpx   Day 2: Little Harbor, Two Harbors, the
                       Silver Peak Trail, Fenceline Road, Parsons
                       Landing, the West End Road, Two Harbors again and
                       the Banning House Lodge (21.9 mi / 35.2 km)
trans-catalina-trail-full-route.gpx   Both days in one file, plus
                       waypoints for the campgrounds, the water taps,
                       the airport, Two Harbors and where I slept.

The official trail now ends at Two Harbors and runs 38.5 miles. My tracks
are longer: they include the walk through Avalon to the trailhead, a side
trip to the airport building, two passes through Two Harbors and the
climb to the lodge.

stats.json             The numbers for each day, and how they were
                       worked out.

HOW TO LOAD THEM

AllTrails: on a computer, sign in at alltrails.com, create a new map and use
Import to upload the file. The map then shows up in the app on your phone.
Downloading it for offline use needs a paid AllTrails plan.

Gaia GPS: on your phone, open the file from Files, email or AirDrop and choose
Gaia GPS, or on gaiagps.com choose Import. Then download the map area for
offline use.

Garmin: in Garmin Connect (web), go to Training, Courses, Import, and pick the
file. Save it as a course and send it to your watch.

Organic Maps: first download the free offline map for California. Then open
the GPX file on your phone and choose Organic Maps. It shows up in your
bookmarks and tracks list and works fully offline.

Before you take the boat, download offline maps and check that each day
shows up in your app: cell service is limited or missing on much of the
trail. Trails, campgrounds and closures change: check the Catalina Island
Conservancy's notices before you go. Use this as a guide, not a guarantee.

Copyright 2026 Kraig Adams. For your personal use. Please don't share or resell.
