Catalina Island - Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden

Here are the details:

Meeting Location: We will be taking the Catalina Express over to Catalina Island. The address where we will meet is at 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA 90802. This is where you will pay for your ticket and board. We will take the 6am boat departing Long Beach and return from Avalon, Catalina Island on the 6:00 pm boat. There is nice seating on the ferry. Breakfast/coffee can be purchased or you can bring your own food.

Fees: Adults $83.50 (check website for discounts for seniors and children). If it is your birthday then you ride free but you must register at Web site: http://www.catalinaexpress.com. There will be an additional $7 fee to enter the Wrigley botanical gardens where we will continue our hike. Parking is $15. Please book a reservation for you or your family online or call (800) 613-1212. Call Center Agents are available to book reservations from 5:45 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

PLEASE BE READY TO HIKE WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BOAT. THERE ARE LOCKERS AND CLEAN RESTROOMS AT THE PIER WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BOAT. WE WANT TO BEAT THE HEAT AND ENJOY THE TOWN WHEN WE RETURN. We wil gather ourselves together after getting off the boat, take pics,  get our land legs ready and then take a two mile  walk through beautiful Avalon to our trail head.

Trail Difficulty Rating: Moderate to challenging with rolling terrain. This is a hard dirt trail that goes uphill from the trailhead. Some parts get rocky. Part of the trip will be on Avalon Blvd and on the way back we will be on Avalon Blvd on the way downhill from the Botanical gardens. 

Number of Miles: About 5 miles round trip. Total time with rest and sight seeing about 4 hours depending on how many times you stop to take pictures and fellowship. We will not be walking all of this time.

Weather: Check the weather (weather.com) and dress accordingly. Dress in layers as you may feel cool or cold at the start and warm up as the hike progresses. Required Footwear: hiking shoes or good tennis shoes with support and tread. Required Gear: a LIGHT backpack or waist pack for your snacks and water, walking stick or pole, some of the trail takes the form of “steps” formed by rocks and railroad ties. Walking sticks help to navigate the steps. MUST have water, insect repellant, sun block, sunglasses and a hat on this trail. No heavy or dark clothing. You will want to stay cool. If you wear long sleeves make sure it is light breathable material.

Can I bring my dog on this trip? No pets.

Minimum Amount of Water to Bring: 1 quart of water is enough. There are lots of public restrooms and drinking fountains. Nothing on the trail so come prepared with water.

Minimum Amount of Food to Bring: PLEASE bring a sack lunch, fruit or energy snacks. There llots of restaurants and a VONS in town. Bring money to sit down and eat if you like.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: (include terrain, destination, challenges, flora, fauna, history)

We will gather ourselves together after getting off the boat, taking pics etc,  get our land legs and then take a ½ mile  walk through beautiful Avalon to our trail head. On the way,  Our trail starts at the Catalina Golf course where we will take a small paved walkway that leads to our trail. The trail  overlooks the harbor and golf course and gives you a workout during the first 30 minutes, after which it gives a little breather and goes downhill toward the Wrigley Botanical Gardens. We will stop to take pics when we are at the overlook that encompasses the golf course and the Avalon Harbor.

We will turn left toward Wrigley Botanical Gardens, pay $5 at the gate and enter. We will rest there as it has bathrooms, shade, a free discovery movie center with historical movies about the island and a desert garden. If you feel up to it we can climb the memorial and take some great pics at the top.

If your feeling really good we may (upon group consent) move forward another hour to the Divide Highway. This is the spine that divides the Island. If you are at the top you can see both sides of the island and the Santa Cruz islands behind Catalina. Those that wish to rest can do so at the gardens.

The trail to the Divide is all uphill and requires slow moving as it is a workout and more rigorous than the first trail.

HISTORY: People have been living on Santa Catalina Island for at least 7,000 years. As early as two thousand years ago, the Gabrielino Native Americans called it the "mountain ranges that are in the sea." For the past one hundred years, sailors, fishermen and vacationers have referred to it as an island paradise. Today, scientists and naturalists consider it to be one of the world's great ecological treasures. Located less than twenty miles from Los Angeles, Catalina Island's seventy-six square miles are covered with broad valleys, isolated coves, pristine beaches, two-thousand foot peaks and near vertical shoreline palisades.

Driving Time and Direction (include mileage, landmarks, turns) 1 hour 10 minutes from Rancho Cucamonga to Catalina Express site.  Take 10 west to 710 south. Continue onto the 710 south until you get to Long Beach Downtown/aquarium exit. Take the Shorline Drive and veer left and right on Golden shores drive. Golden Shores ill put you right at the Catalina Flyer complex. On your left will be the parking structure. On your right is the ticket office and boat landing. Park and go across the street/bridge to the ticket office. PLEASE ARRIVE 30 MINUTS BEFORE THE BOAT LEAVES. (ABOUT 5:30AM) ADDRESS TO BOAT LANDING IS 320 GOLDEN SHORES DRIVE, LONG BEACH,CA.

Six questions each participant must answer “yes” to before being allowed on hike 1. Are you medically fit to participate in this hike? 2. Are you bringing adequate food and water? 3. Do you have the required footwear for this hike? 4. Do you have the proper clothing for this hike? 5. Do you have the proper gear for this hike? 6. Did you prepare physically for this hike? In case of emergency: Dial 911 Nearest medical facility: Catalina Island Medical Center, 100 Falls Canyon Road, Avalon, Catalina Is. Nearest law enforcement Catalina Is Police, (Los Angeles County Sheriff Dept☺ 215 Sumner Ave., Avalon, CA 90704  Business Phone: 310-510-0174 Emergency 911.

Appropriate State Park, Forest Service, National Park jurisdiction: Catalina Conservancy: Leaving early: If you must leave the hike early please tell me. If I think you’re lost, I’m going to call heaven, my prayer partners, Pastor Eddie Torres, all emergency services will be notified, your family will be called, most likely the hiking group will be calling their families telling them they are waiting for you and every angel in heaven will be on alert. We can avoid unnecessary stress, use of emergency personal and heavenly time if you communicate. Emergency services are charged to people who unwisely use them. Special Conditions: As always beautiful scenery. I hike this at least once or twice per week for exercise. It is very pretty. The trail does not get any easier to hike but the scenery makes it all worthwhile. What happens when the weather does not co-operate: We will never go hiking in inclement weather (storms, lightning, thunder, possible flash floods, icy roads etc). Only God knows all things, my job is to do the best at planning a great trip. I will make all efforts to call and email you if we must postpone a date or change sites.