Catalina Plans Helicopter, Bike and Hike Expeditions

Byline: Ambrosia Brody AVALON — Visitors to Catalina Island will soon be able to see the island like never before, with the Santa Catalina Island Co.’s new Catalina Heli Expeditions. The customizable tours can include a variety of combinations of helicopter tours and hiking, biking and/or picnic adventures. “Never before has it been this easy for guests to experience the island’s most remote and scenic parts,” said Randall Herrel, CEO of the Santa Catalina Island Co. (SCICo). “Helicopter expeditions are just another way that SCICo is elevating the visitor experience across the board, including other new tours, more nightlife, upgrades to our hotel properties and new dining options.” Each heli expedition includes transportation from the Pavilion Hotel to Pebbly Beach Heliport. There, visitors will board an Island Express helicopter to begin a narrated sightseeing tour from Avalon Bay to the island’s West End. Hikers taking the heli-hiking trip can choose from two locations — Empire Landing or Ballast Point — where they will select one of two demanding trails. Both challenging in their own right, the Empire Landing route consists of trails and dirt roads, with intermediate ascents and descents before joining an unpaved road leading to Two Harbors. The Ballast Point hike takes hikers...