Catalina Mountain Biking

Going to a new destination by plane is always exciting, and when the destination is as spectacular as Santa Catalina Island's Airport in the Sky, it is even more so. The Catalina Airport (AVX) is situated on a 1,500+ ft high plateau on the middle of the island, with the Pacific Ocean less than a mile away.

The Island itself is 26 miles from the mainland at the closest point, which is a heck of a distance to traverse by kayak, and quite a few hours away even by sailboat. Strangely enough, I have seriously considered using either of these two means to get to the island, as I have ready access to both. But for practical reasons I chose to take the ferry instead, with my favorite folding kayak as baggage on my first two visits. Having traversed the entire northern coastline from Two Harbors to Avalon and then some on a soft-hull kayak, being subjected to the forces of nature more than any motorized boater, beachcomber, and hiker would care to admit, I am quite familiar with and attuned to the island's coastal environment. Yet little did I know, far above the water line lies a totally different world that is still Catalina Island.

Just as a sea-kayak enables one to experience the coastal environment in a way that a larger vessel could not replicate, a mountain bike enables one to appreciate the wonders of the Island from a land perspective more than any larger vehicles. Much more efficient yet conducive to hiking, and unencumbered by limited bus schedules, it is a fantastic way to experience inland Catalina.

With its central high interior location, the airport serves as a perfect access point to the network of ridable dirt roads on the island. All rides start from the airport as a downhill ride, giving the rider a thrilling warm up to the rigors of biking the Island. With an early start, it is possible to ride to ANY part of the island accessible by road, and get back to the airport in time before sundown. There is also a number of readily bike-accessible campgrounds on various parts of the island that could extend one's exploration time.

There are a couple of caveats to Catalina fly-in mountain biking:

1. There is no bike rental at the airport location; it's strictly "BYOB" or you will need to catch a shuttle bus to Avalon or Two Harbors and rent one there.
2. Many folding bikes are not mountain bikes, and they are not allowed under the Conservancy's bike permit rules.
3. There is an airport curfew, with varying hours depending on season, usually starting around sunset. There is a $20 landing fee. No aviation fuel is available.
4. Under prevailing conditions, the upwind side of the airport plateau may be subjected to coastal fog due to orographic uplift, while the downwind side may be subjected to downdraft just beyond the runway's drop off.
5. The shuttle bus that runs between the airport and other points on the Island requires advanced reservation. One therefore cannot count on a "last minute" trip back to the airport from Avalon, especially if bikes are involved.