Jess and Aaron are incredible humans. If you are planning a trip to Catalina to stay anywhere outside the civilization of Avalon you need to know about them and I'd recommend utilizing their services. They take packs and humans to each campground along TCT. We learned about them as we were dangerously hot near mile 9 of TCT and found they generously provided ice water. Our crew of 7 were so grateful. The next day after a long hike into little harbor we decided we would like to get our packs taken for us so that we could continue to hike the TCT but without the toll of a 25lb pack on our backs. Jess was so kind and helpful. Immediately booking the transaction taking our bags from LH to Parsons. Sadly shortly after my daughter started throwing up and we decided we needed to cut our trip short. I asked Jess for help on recommendations how to get a ride out. She quickly made adjustments to her schedule and said "we can take you". Aaron was there early to ensure we had plenty of time to get on the boat while providing tour level information about the island during the drive. We can't say thank you enough! These people are gold and backpacking Catalina, while beautiful, is no joke. I wish I knew about their service before starting TCT. I highly recommend connecting with them to help you with your trip. read more

Catalina Backcountry - Backpacking Catalina from airport to little harbor - Hiking Near Me

We were a small group hiking the TCT, we at were just finishing one of the longer climbs on Day 1 heading to Blackjack and right when we were at our hottest we found an oasis in the form of a cooler full of ice cold water left for any hiker who needed it. While we were cooling down a gentleman (who I never caught the name of) came by to restock it. Apparently Catalina Backcountry provides his water for free for any hikers who need it out of the kindness of their hearts. To top it all off there was a 78 year solo hiker who was having some trouble and Catalina Backcountry helped him out and brought him back to town since he didnt feel like he could make it. If they take care of random strangers like this for free I can only imagine how amazing they would be for their paying customers. If I never need services, they have won me over and will be my first call. read more

This family business rocks!!! they're kindness and loving care helped me hike Catalina Island. If at any time on the trail, you need help with practically anything they are your people to call. highly suggest carrying their number with you as you will have cell services on and off throughout the island. read more

From start to finish our experience with Catalina Backcountry was everything you could hope for. We did the Trans Catalina Trail gear haul with Camp setup. Could not recommend these guys enough!! Very reasonable prices - super friendly - responsive - and five star service all-around!! I dealt with Jess for scheduling and booking stuff... very friendly & responsive. Little did I know what we were in for with Aaron though... He's once of the coolest & nicest dudes I've ever met. They coordinated pickup of our gear at the hotel we stayed at in Avalon. Early/right on time for pickup - met Aaron and we BS'd for a little bit. Gave us some tips/pointers and said we'd see him out on the trail. Day 1 from Avalon to Blackjack was absolutely brutal with the heat. At mile 5.2 (Haypress reservoir) - Aaron magically showed up as we were having a quick rest/lunch. Refilled our packs with nice cold bottled water. Said there would be more waiting for us at Mile 9! Sure enough Mile 9 - nice full and iced cooler waiting for us in the shade. Aaron swung by again to say hey and make sure we were still good with the heat. Made it to Blackjack Campground. Everything was setup perfectly. Gear was in our tents - cooler in the foxbox, etc.. Just what we needed after that long, hot hiking day. Day 2 - Blackjack to Little Harbor. Stopped at Catalina Airport for a Bison burger and pit stop before the rest of the hike for the day. Aaron showed up at the airport - checked on my knees (which started hurting the day before) and was giving advice. Much easier hike this day. Got to camp - gear setup perfectly. Aaron was there again waiting for us - handing out ice cold bottled water!! Man - what a life saver!! Day 3 - Little Harbor to Two Harbors - Aaron showed up in the morning as we were leaving. Offered us donuts from their little "Island Donuts" store in Avalon and ice cold waters for our packs to start the day off right. Made some recommendations on the trail upcoming if knees started to hurt and told me to call in case I needed him to come pick me up midway thru. Made it to Two Harbors - gear setup perfectly again. Day 4 - another tough day from Two Harbors to Parsons. Didn't see Aaron until the end as we were finally coming into Parsons and as he had just finished setting up camp for us. The trail is out of any normal roads - so he couldn't have checked on us on the trail that day. Regardless, pulled over - we shot the sh*t for a few mins - gave us a bunch of ice cold water. Even proactively filled our cooler with more ice and threw extra cold waters in there too!! Gear and camp setup perfect again. Day 5 - last day from Parsons to Two Harbors. Aaron showed up early to fish and wait for us to get going so he could pack everything up. More donuts and ice cold water. Easy final day of hiking. Gear was right were he said it would be on time for us to grab the ferry off Catalina in Two Harbors. We couldn't have done the TCT without Catalina Backcountry's services. Aaron was top-notch and white glove service the whole way. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. If I could give 10 stars out of 5, I would. Thank you Aaron, Catalina Backcountry and Island Donuts!!! read more

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We used Catalina Backcountry for our gear haul while camping at Little Harbor over Thanksgiving. Aaron was amazing- dropped off our gear and kept it safe from the birds. Plus, he was fishing most mornings, and gave my partner tips on how to get the good fish. He was always there with the water, and just a generally likeable person. Thank you! read more

wonderful crew from the first time I called for information to the end of our hiking trip. Getting a gear haul was key to an amazing adventure. We did a basic camp set up and walking into camp with everything set up and an ice chest with the food and cold beverages I ordered waiting put a big smile on our faces. After hiking 12 plus miles a cold drink was great! Totally recommend this team. Jess,Aaron thank you read more

We would like to thank Cinde, Aaron, and (Sharon? Sorry - it was a chaotic time when we met up!) for all of their assistance during our recent trek along the Trans Catalina Trail. Our group of three are experienced backpackers and have done numerous high mileage backcountry trips. We were not planning on using a gear haul service for the TCT, but a shoulder injury 2 weeks prior to our trip meant I had to either cancel the excursion or humbly ask for assistance. Cinde was extremely helpful and quick to respond to my inquiry. She was prompt to reply to questions that I had and explained everything thoroughly. Our first day on the trail was a long day, as it included a 3 hour drive, a ferry ride, and an 11 mile hike. We were extremely grateful to not have to hike with full packs and when we arrived to Black Jack campground in the dark, our gear was waiting there for us, along with a surprise cooler of ice cold water. We had recorded 96 degree temps along the trail, so the surprise cooler was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow! The next day we packed our day packs, and started along the trail. It was a strange experience leaving our beloved gear behind, but we knew it was in good hands. On day two we had another long mileage day (15 miler with 3k ascent) and it was a treat to do the hike without our packs! I thank the team at Catalina Backcountry for helping me achieve my goal of hiking the TCT and taking care of our equipment with the utmost care! We ran into a family at Parson's Landing that had a huge amount of gear and one member was hiking out to get cell service to figure out if anybody could help them get their gear out the next day. I immediately recommended Catalina Backcountry without hesitation! We enjoyed our lunch at Parson's and then ran into the same person as we headed out. He had contacted Catalina Backcountry and was so grateful that they were able to help his group out the next day! read more

Catalina Backcountry - Walking into camp and seeing our gear ready for us!! - Hiking Near Me

Sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. For me, the sign of a good business, is one who puts the customer first and rights the wrongs, even when it is a loss to the business. This was my experience of Catalina Backcountry. We hired them to haul our food/beverages from Two Harbors to Parson's Landing for a 4-day girls backpacking-meets-glamping getaway. We hiked in with all our gear, but they carted the food/drinks that were to be dropped off in the fox box at our site. However, instead of the food (all in soft, insulated bags) being dropped off in the fox box to protect it from critters, their hired hands left it at the top of the site, where they often leave more secure items (ie - large yeti coolers, car-camping-size tents, etc). NOT a good plan for soft bags containing all of our food. As expected, the food was ravaged. Thankfully, a friendly camper who was already there, shooed the critters away and salvaged what they could, placing it back in the bags and taking it all to our fox box. It was too late though - we lost a lot. But the point I REALLY want to highlight is how Cinde handled the situation. She handled it with empathy, grace, and a 50% refund plus a delivery of replacement items for all that was lost, and a really nice bottle of wine as a bonus--all delivered the next morning by her incredibly sweet and kind husband, Mike. I wanted to write this review because it isn't always about the incident but rather the way in which it is handled. I am impressed with Cinde and Catalina Backcountry. We will use them again and I will continue to sing their praises! read more

Best service ever! The wife and I frequent CAT and for the last couple years, started camping on the backside. Each time we've used Catalina Backcountry and are ever grateful for their service!! Aside from being super cool people to chat/work with, they're incredibly attentive and mindful to ensure we have an incredible experience. And it truly is. As we're getting older, we need some of the extra comforts, which makes hiking in with our gear not an option. Without Catalina Backcountry, we'd be unable to camp on the backside of CAT and would be limited to chartering a private boat to make the trip from mainland or choosing elsewhere. They're worth every cent and would give more stars if it were possible. Am looking forward to our next trip this summer and will absolutely book them again. Thank you Catalina Backcountry, see you this summer! read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Catalina Backcountry! I just returned from hiking the TCT and our group used their services to haul our gear from campsite to campsite. Each night when we arrived at our campsite, our tents and cots were set up along with our freshly iced coolers and cooking gear. Literally nothing went wrong - everything was perfectly set up for us every single night. It made our through hike even more enjoyable not having to worry about packing our own gear and food. Larina was a delight to work with - I highly recommend their services! read more

Catalina Backcountry - Our setup upon arriving at Parson's Landing. - Hiking Near Me

Using Catalina backcountry to surprise my wifey for our 26th wedding anniversary... we coordinated a beautiful candlelight dinner over looking the ocean at little harbor.. Larina and her crew catered to the smallest details, from the white table linens to Arron cooking up a delicious dinner.... cheese and crackers to set the mood along with some red wine and a few Coronas. The wifey was pleasantly surprised along with our guests. 5 star service all the way. read more

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My wife and I are no longer able to enjoy backpacking on our own because of health issues. But we decided to try a variation on backpacking by booking Larina's Comfort Camping Services for an exploration of the Catalina interior along the Trans Catalina Trail. We found Larina and her mother, the new family owners of Catalina Backcounty since about 2015 to be very accommodating, especially as we booked just as the National COVID crisis was beginning. Larina offers a variety of services including gear haul, camp set up, naturalist led day hikes and planning for special backcountry occasions. Our Comfort Camping option might better be described as luxury camping. Larina recommended stretches of trail for my wife and myself for each day's journey and supplied us with maps and lunches. She also set up and tore down camp each day, cooked amazing dinners and breakfasts, and helped us with concierge services. On her recommendation we stayed at Banning House Bed and Breakfast which offered an amazing view of Two Harbors when we got to town. She also scheduled an affordable ride back to Avalon for us. In all this is the perfect option for older couples looking for a gentler backcountry experience. In talking with her we learned she is continually investing more into the company and future guests may have the option of full campers at some locations. She was also very accommodating. My wife forgot to pack a book and Larina purchased one for her to read during camp time. We will definitely use her services again. read more

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Larina and Cyndi are THE MOST WONDERFUL HOSTS!!!! We spent 5 days with them and their island insight, thoughtfulness, attention to detail and cheerfulness were constant. Cyndi's food was delicious and Larina's campsites and island trivia (amethyst treasure at Parsons!) were amazing. They retrieved my missing cellphone from a washed out trail with enthusiasm for yet, another adventure! These two women MADE our trip the most memorable hike of a lifetime, and I have done a good deal of difficult hiking. read more

Hired Catalina Backcountry to transport my bride, two photographers, my officiant and me from the Catalina Airport to a couple spots on the island for my elopement on October 6, 2022. Larina was the driver and provided excellent customer service and safe driving. My party arrived via helicopter and Larina was waiting for us before we showed up. Larina was able to take us to Shark Harbor Overlook, Little Harbor and Two Harbors before dropping us off at the helicopter landing zone at Two Harbors. The vehicle was also clean and everything worked pretty smoothly. I will likely hire this company again for a camping trip at Little Harbor. read more

Had a great experience working with Larina. She was very attentive to our specific needs and her depth of knowledge as a local made the difference between having an awesome trip vs. just a fun trip. If you are hiking the TCT, her services are well worth it. Pick ups, drops offs, and communication were all timely. read more

After spending a few days in Avalon it was time to get out of the city and into the backcountry; as well as, doing some kayaking out of Two Harbors. My husband and I had an awesome day trip with Amanda and her husband, Levi. They picked us up and took us through the backcountry of Catalina Island giving us the history of the island and the environment. Then we went kayaking from Two Harbors through the beautiful clean ocean. It was so clear and you could see deep into the water which was a beautiful blue. A couple of sea otters swam through too. They took us Shark Cove to watch the most beautiful sunset ever! I will pray for rain as the island really needs it. Know that Catalina is an expensive vacation destination so your are going to spend some money whatever your do. In reading the other reviews, I do agree that communications could be improved a little with DeAnna. read more

Their gear haul service made our group through hike of the TCT way more comfortable and accessible!

These guys made our family trip a dream come true. Laurina was super accommodating and friendly. Her expert advice, insider tips and local knowledge lead to an excellent experience for our family of 6. We would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for the experience of a lifetime. read more

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My fiance and I had a private tour with Larina from Catalina Backcountry... and it was a 5-Star experience! Lorena is a professional, friendly, and fun tour guide. She knows a ton about Catalina Island and worked with my fiance to customize the experience and make it extra special. If you are visiting Catalina Island, I strongly encourage you to book a tour/adventure with Catalina Backcountry. You will not regret it! read more

Deanna and her knowledge made my first trip to Catalina a memorable one! It's an amazing island and with Deanna, I felt I was running around with the next mayor...waving to everyone, knowing the local, secret spots,and enjoying the peace and tranquility. And, delightful conversation! God Bless read more

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My husband took me to the island for my first time for our honeymoon and I fell completely in LOVE! It was my very first time on an island, and I was blessed to see my very first live dolphin up close That dolphin was the 5th most beautiful thing that I have ever seen next to my 4 gorgeous children coming into the world!!! THANK YOU JUSTIN. CARTER. read more

Deanna was such a huge help! I worked for weeks to plan a special wedding proposal for my girlfriend on Catalina. I must have contacted a dozen people from various companies without much luck until I found Catalina Back country. Deanna went out of her way to make my ideas a reality... I can't thank her enough! If you are checking out Catalina and you want a great local tour guide, you need to contact Catalina Back country! read more

We had a great guided hike around the airport. We were picked up at our hotel and driven to fabulous viewpoints after describing what we wanted to see and how far we wanted to hike. Our guide was warm and friendly. read more

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Just returning from a hike we coordinated thru Catalina Backcountry in October 2014. Deanna was the best...she not only delivered on everything we had asked of her but went above and beyond. From special dietary requirements, tips on which camp spots were best to sharing some of the fascinating history of the island. She thought through the smallest of details of our 3-day, 38 mile hike so we could enjoy Catalina to the fullest. You can see she has a genuine love of Catalina that adds to the whole experience of this beautiful place on Earth. Thank you Deanna. You are a gem. If considering exploring Catalina, you can't go wrong with Deanna & Catalina Backcountry. P.S. And when she tells you to hide your food bags from the ravens, listen to her! :) read more

We recently got comfort camping from Catalina Backcountry. A fabulous experience. They did everything for us and made it an extremely enjoyable camping adventure for our visiting niece and great nephew and us. We live in Hamilton Cove and they picked us up on time with all gear packed in their vehicle. They forgot nothing we asked for and it could not have been better customer service. The food they prepared for us was delicious. The camping site they got for us with permits, perfect. We would suggest it to anyone and hope to do it again. Best experience. read more

Deanna MADE our trip. Seriously. We were free to explore and play along the transcatalina trail without the limitations of the weight of our gear. We were able to bring bins of food for gourmet meals (ok, maybe just good, hot meals), wine, games, snorkel/dive gear...it enhanced our experience and allowed us to finish up the tct tired, but not spent (especially in the summer heat). Deanna was communicative, gave us great insight and tips along the way, and is totally reliable. Our stuff was at our campsite everyday, neatly tucked under our picnic table. Above all else, we were greeted each day with a contagious smile, energy, and love for the island. HIGHLY recommend Catalina Backcountry and will do gear haul again for our future adventures, no question. read more

There were 9 of us in our group all with 60-70L backpacks. Add 4 rolling ice chests, 2 folding wagons, and just stuff. We hauled it all to Hermit Gulch to set up camp our first night. Catalina Backcountry arrived on Wednesday morning at exactly the time they said they would. They picked up all our belongings, minus our day packs, and wished us well. By the time we arrived tired, hungry, thirsty and dirty to Black Jack campground we were ready for good eats and ice cold adult beverages. Thanks to CB it was all there and ready for us to set up camp and relax. Their efficiency continued throughout our entire hike of the TCT. I would highly recommend their services for anyone who may have trouble carrying a heavier pack, doesn't have lighter weight backpacking equipment, wants to have better than dehydrated food and water for dinner, etc. They answered every question we emailed to them or left a voice message with. I would use them again and again. You may look at the price of the service and think "Oh no. Too pricey." There were 9 in our group. The individual cost of the service was much less than purchasing a light weight tent or sleeping bag or pad. Even those of us with UL equipment felt that the cost was well worth the benefits we had at the end of a long hard climb during the day. d read more

My son and I hiked the Trans Catalina Trail over Thanksgiving weekend. Catalina Backcountry set us up with help planning and support for the entire adventure. Each day after hiking, we found our provisions in camp as we arrived. I definitely recommend relying on this company if your knees can't handle carrying all the weight through the mountains or you want to do a little glamping. read more

I suggest you book the logistics of a hiking trip yourself. Communication needs improvement and can take up to 2 weeks. Pleasant personnel overall. read more

Terrible service and extremely slow in responding to communication. Gave estimates and demanded payment before guarantee of service. Better off booking the trip yourself online. No need for ineffective middle man. read more

Awesome sights and great memories! Deeana is amazing and made our trip! She knows the island like the back of her hand and has a wealth of knowledge like no other. read more

Terrific experience today with Larina. We had a small window of time and she totally worked with us to have a meaningful tour. Friendly and helpful - will absolutely use Catalina Backcountry next trip! read more

Is Catalina Backcountry lacking employees? Hey, Catalina Backcountry...I was willing to pay $65 for a hike, but you just lost a customer! Two weeks ago was my first trip to Catalina Island and I so wanted to hike and see the interior. I called these guys, got their voice mail, left a message with my information and two days later, someone finally returned my call and left a message on my phone. But that was a day after I wanted to go. I returned their call, but AGAIN got their voice mail and left them my information! In short, it was a small game of phone tag. When I return to Catalina Island, I WILL NOT call these people! I'd rather buy the Catalina Conservancy membership and do my own hiking. read more

We hiked catalina trail in september 2011. We have done many hikes in the past, at home in canada and also in europe (tour du mont blanc). As my girlfriends and i (5 of us around 50 yrs old) getting older we think we deserve some luxury. We contacted catalina backcountry and asked them to carry our camping gear from campsites to campsites and also to take care of all meals for us. It was FANTASTIC! Lee ann from catalina backcountry diid it all. Booked hotels before and after trip and did all our shopping and organizing. All we had to do is hike this amazing trail and enjoy the views. The weather was superb and the campsites are so beautiful with running water and showers. We didnt do the whole trail because we were short of time but i strongly recommand this hike, views, clement weather and buffalos were quite something. The first day from avalon to first campsite is very long and hard, if you plam to do it by ypurself with all your gear, leave early and keep a good pace. It is a very long day. It was good to have only a daypack to walk and made it so much easier. I would do it again anytime, in fact i think ill do it with my husband this time, he has to go. I will off course phone leeann one more time as i am not getting younger and i just sooooo deserve some luxury. Jocelyne drouin Calgary Canada read more

We just finished an amazing weekend hiking the Trans Catalina Trail with the support of Deanna and her team! We would not have been able to do it without them! They supported us along the trail as well as set up our camp, brought us dinner, drinks, and dessert! Everyone went above and beyond from meeting us on the trail when one of our members was struggling with heat exhaustion to coming back to camp when a bison decided to join us. If you want to hike the TCT, I highly recommend having Deanna and her team help you have an awesome adventure! read more

My brother and I hiked the TransCatalina Trail from Avalon to Two Harbors in July 2012. LeeAnn did a spectacular job of organizing the trip for us. She told us her goal was to have us so enjoy the hike that when we finished, we would want to return to Catalina -- and we do! LeeAnn asked enough questions about us, our interests and our abilities, to be able to recommend a schedule at a pace we could enjoy. She made all the arrangements and her preparations were superb. We arrived at each campsite to find everything we needed waiting for us. Like magic, our food supplies were re-stocked each day, and all we had to do was hike from one campsite to the next with our daypacks. I have used similar services in other locations and Catalina Backcountry is one of the very best. read more

I have hiked all over Catalina for my entire life, but I could not have done this hike without LeeAnn's terrific help. Last Sunday I hiked the entire length of the island (35 miles) in just over 15 hours. LeeAnn arranged to pick me up with my first co-hiker in Avalon at 3:30 a.m. to drive us to the east end of the island so that he and I could begin our hike, with headlamps, at 4:40 a.m. I think she went back to bed for a few hours, but on Sunday afternoon she left Avalon in a 4-wheel drive vehicle that she had arranged to borrow and drove nearly the entire length of the island, catching up to me and my third co-hiker (my wife Sue) on the West End Road near Parsons Landing at 6 p.m. She drove on ahead and made sure that we made the right choices at each fork to reach the end of Land's End Road (past the trail to Starlight Beach) right at sunset (8 p.m.). She celebrated with us and took our photos. And most importantly, she drove us back to Two Harbors in the dark before driving herself back to Avalon. What a hike, what an island, what an experience. I met LeeAnn last summer and told her about my dream hike. She gave me maps, other helpful information and encouragement as we worked out all of the details, and she worked with the supportive Conservancy staff to get the necessary hiking and driving permits to make it happen. If you need help for a hike or other activity on Catalina, I highly recommend LeeAnn, and even more so if you don't know the interior of the island. Sue and I and our friends look forward to some more hikes with LeeAnn's help in the future. But less than 35 miles. read more