The Trans-Catalina Trail runs the length of Catalina Island and is a popular backpacking trail just off the coast of Southern California. At around 38.5 mi / 62 km, the trail can be hiked quickly or at a more leisurely pace - with several alternates and detours available to anyone looking for a bit
Running the Trans-Catalina Trail in a Day
The Trans-Catalina Trail crosses Catalina Island and is a popular and accessible multi-day backpacking trip. One of the most challenging parts of backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail? Getting permits for the campsites. Most of Catalina Island is managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy, including
Cactus to Clouds (C2C) Hiking Guide
Cactus to Clouds (C2C) is an 18.78 mi / 30.23 km hike from the Palm Springs Art Museum at just 481 ft / 147 m above sea level, up to the 10,833 ft / 3,302 m summit of Mount San Jacinto, and then back down from the summit to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The hike begins in Santa Rosa and San
Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) Backpacking Guide
The Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) is a 100 mi / 160 km route through California's Sierra Nevada that runs parallel to (and sometimes overlaps with) the John Muir Trail (JMT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). It is commonly referred to as a more rugged JMT since a large part of the SoSHR is
Forester Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Forester Pass, the 13,153 ft / 4,009 m pass named for the United States Forest Service workers who "discovered" it, is the highest point on the Pacific Crest Trail and is the first Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers (and the final pass crossed by southbound
Glen Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Glen Pass, the 11,969 ft / 3,648 m pass named for Forest Service ranger Glen H. Crow, is the second Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hikers and the eighth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail (JMT) hikers. It's located 11.6 mi / 18.67 km north of Forester
Muir Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Muir Pass, the 11,969 ft / 3,648 m pass named for John Muir, a Scottish-American naturalist, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and nature-enthusiast, is the fifth Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the fifth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail
Pinchot Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Pinchot Pass, the 12,093 ft / 3,686 m pass named for Gifford Pinchot, the 1st head of the United States Forest Service, is the third Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the fourth encountered by southbound John Muir Trail hikers). It's located just 9.8 mi
Mather Pass Guide: Approaches, Crossing, and Snow
Mather Pass, the 12,093 ft / 3,686 m pass named for Stephen Mather, the 1st Director of the National Park Service, is the fourth Sierra pass encountered by northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (and the third encountered by southbound John Muir Trail hikers). Despite it not being as high