When we last left off (Day 3 on the TCT), we had made great time hiking to Little Harbor so we decided to push on through and try and make it to Black Jack Campground before nightfall.
Well, we didn’t make it. One of the hikers in our group fell ill and the weather took a cold and windy turn for the worse as night fell upon us.
Due to the dire situation, we made the necessary [but easy] decision to set-up an “emergency camp” somewhere off the side of El Rancho Escondido Road in hopes of nursing our friend back to health.
Hiking The Trans-Catalina Trail (TCT): Part 4 – Little Harbor (Interior Area) to Black Jack Campground (Catalina Island, CA)
As a refresher, here was our planned 5 day itinerary:
- Day 1: Two Harbors to Parsons Landing Campground [7.6 Miles]
- Day 2: Parsons Landing Campground to Two Harbors Campground [7.2 Miles] (with the Starlight Beach spur trail [9.2 Miles])
- Day 3: Two Harbors Campground to Little Harbor Campground [5.9 Miles]
- Day 4: Little Harbor Campground to Black Jack Campground [9.7 Miles]
- Day 5: Black Jack Campground to Avalon [11.7 Miles]
Day 4: Little Harbor (Interior Area) to Black Jack Campground
The blue arrow marks the trail from Little Harbor to Black Jack Campground (original image courtesy of catalinachamber.com)
Sunrise Somewhere Between Little Harbor And Airport In The Sky
Luckily, we made camp fast and had just enough water left to make dinner and slip our friend some medicine before she passed out for the night. The rest of us hunkered down as the frigid wind storm blew over the island.
By the time dawn rolled around the next morning, my friend had thankfully made a miraculous and full recovery, and she was ready to finish the journey on the TCT.
The weather had let up and we were treated to a beautiful sunrise, before making our way up the trail for brunch at the Airport In the Sky.
Sunrise at our “emergency camp”
Section 1: “Emergency Camp” To Airport In The Sky [Mileage Unknown]
We arrived at Airport In The Sky hungry and eager for some fresh-brewed coffee.
Arrival at Airport In The Sky (and DC-3 Gifts & Grill)
Hangar at Airport In The Sky
Airport In The Sky
Breakfast At DC-3 Restaraunt
DC-3 was the name of the [famous] restaurant at Airport in the Sky.
Part restaurant, part gift shop, part tourist attraction – it was the perfect place for brunch.
The menu selection was large and varied, so we opted to share several plates so we could try a bit of everything.
Inside DC-3
The outside deck at DC-3
Brunch and coffee at DC-3: Sourdough sandwich and Mexican omelette
This guy joined us for brunch
Stop Over At The Nature Center
After brunch, we made a quick stop over at the [free] Nature Center at Airport in the Sky.
Mural panel of the long history of Catalina Island
Catalina: the old and the new
Section 2: Airport In The Sky To Upper Cottonwood Road [1.1 Miles]
Fully recovered and still on a caffeine fix, we got some sandwiches to-go and then once again hit the Trans-Catalina Trail.
Learning our lesson from the day before, we decided to take it easy just stick to our original itinerary, hiking to Black Jack Campground and stopping there for the night.
This section of trail was mostly rustic and dusty chaparral, but it was also beautiful and full of desert plant and animal-life.
Hitting the TCT again on “day 4: Heading toward the Soapstone Quarry Trail
Black Jack Campground lies at near that water tank on the ridge of the mountains ahead
Avalon, here we come
It’s official, we’re back on the TCT
Around the airport, the TCT, Soapstone Trail, and Airport Loop Trail briefly overlap
The trail past the soapstone quarry rapidly became very dry and wild as it plunged into the small valley
This section of the TCT was another one of my personal favorites
Section 3: Upper Cottonwood Road To Black Jack Campground [0.6 Miles]
Before long, we hit the intersection of the TCT with Upper Cottonwood Road.
Here, the trail climbed out of the valley, past through another wildlife gate, and then joined the Cape Canyon Trail.
The road from the Cape Canyon Trail to Black Jack Campground was mostly flat (or slightly downhill) all the way to the campground.
Following the [many] stairs
TCT marker ahead
We unexpectedly ran into a large bison bull in this area. Luckily for us, it was hot and he was moving slow on the other side of some thick vegetation
Once on Cape Canyon Trail, we headed north [just a hair] to reach this much-needed and perfectly located shade pavilion. It was the perfect place for an afternoon snack and to watch the bison we ran into from a safe distance
Monument to “Worth’s Wine Stop”
Looking north toward Black Jack Mountain
The last stretch of road to Black Jack Campground (with the bison sleeping on the trail to the far right)
Arrival At Black Jack Campground
Black Jack Campground was a sight for sore eyes.
The campground itself was well-developed, yet in a rugged part of the island. Each campground came with its own picnic table and metal fox-bin.
There were bathrooms, a [public/outdoor] shower, great campsites, and even running potable water sources.
FHOP Tip: Don’t leave your food out (even for a minute) at Black jack Campground, the island foxes here are clever and sly and are skilled in thievery from unsuspecting campers. I had to chase the same fox away three times! You’ll never see them coming. Instead, put your food in your fox bin whenever you can’t keep your eyes on it.Â
We really enjoyed this campground, it was the perfect place to have our final backpacking dinner on the TCT. It was such a mild night, we left the tent tarps off of our tents so we could sleep under the stars.
The trail to the Black Jack Campground
Black Jack Campground “central” (bathrooms on the left, shower on the right)
Empty campgrounds at the top of the hill
Black Jack Campground’s [non-secluded] open-air shower
Our Black Jack campsites for the night, sleeping under the stars!
Fox-bin
Click here to continue on to Day 5 on the Trans-Catalina Trail: Black Jack Campground to Avalon
Cheers!
