Catalina Island Mountain Biking - Airport - Little Harbor - Avalon

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E-Bikes Unknown

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Start with shuttle ride up to the airport from Avalon, then enjoy a beautiful ride across 28 miles of Catalina Island. Views at every turn, especially of Shark Harbor and Little Harbor. Mostly dirt fire roads with a few small sections of paved roads, not very technical but some spots can get rocky from erosion. Some vehicles share the road, but very few. Make sure to get your bike permit from the Catalina Island Conservancy office. They can also provide you information on companies that can transport you and your bike up to the airport.

$35 bike permit fee (good for the whole year). No cell reception other than a few solar panels that provide WiFi.

It can get windy so dress accordingly. Bring plenty of water because there is no water access after the airport.

The ride starts out with an easy descent from airport to Shark Harbor and Little Harbor. Then takes you through some modest inclines and descents along middle ranch road to the middle ranch reservoir. There are some pretty decent climbs the rest of the way along middle ranch road up to the Airport Road. You send just a bit of time on the airport road until you take Divide Road just to left of Wrigley Reservoir. This could be easy to miss, you'll go through the opening in the locked gate.

There are no vehicles on this road but its open to hikers and bikes. Divide Road has some decent climbs and meets up with Hermet Gulch hiking trail where there are bathrooms and wifi access. Turn off onto East End Road and get ready for the steepest climbs of the ride along the back side of the mountain, before about 4 miles of descent on Renton Mine Road back into Avalon. You'll come out of the fire road onto a Main Street Road and turn left to head into town with some scenic views of the marina.

(Note: when you see a small solar panel along the road, those are WiFi access points. Otherwise you'll have no cell reception along the whole ride.)

Be on the lookout for Bison, the island has about 200.