360 Eco Zip Line

Introduced just within the past year, the 360 Eco Zip Line Tour is one of the newest and most exciting attractions to arrive on Catalina Island. Extending from the beach (Descanso Beach) steeply up hill into the Catalina Interior, the Zip line takes guests at speeds of up to 45 mph down the slope, through the wilderness of Catalina with a few stops on platforms along the way before one final drop to the final platform that is near the beach (Descanso Beach) where a cocktail (or 2) are just a quick walk.  Since opening in April of 2010, the tour has already become one of the most popular activities on the island.

The tour begins 3,671 feet up high into the Catalina Interior at Hogs Back Gate.  The line is designed so that riders make stops at 5 different platforms (or called eco stations) along the way. Each platform has a guide stationed that educates the rider on the various wilderness elements of Catalina Island and the surrounding land around that station.  The guide then checks to make sure all the safety wiring is just so before sending the rider to the next platform.  The majority of the rides are exciting and exhilarating as riders pass what feels like just inches above tree tops, rock ledges and bluffs (but in reality the clearance is a lot greater than that).  The journey ends at the final platform (number 5) where Descanso Beach is just a quick walk.  The longest zip line between 2 stations is 1,100 feet long.

The tour is around 2 hours long. The actual ride is extremely safe and a great deal of safety precautions go into bringing the ride to the highest safety standards-that said it is still a thrill and adventure and will have your heart racing. The ride allows groups as large as 10 people, has a weight limit of 245 pounds, and requires long pants or shorts as well as sturdy shoes.  To get to the starting point at Hogs Back Gate, participants must be able to hike and climb steep stairs. 

The tour is operated by the Santa Catalina Island company (operator of many of the attractions found around the island).  The cost is around $99 per person and includes instruction and all necessary safety gear.  This tour does not operate all day long however with the last zip lines to depart around 2:30pm.

For those riders not taking one of the many interior tours of the island, they will find this journey to be an unforgettable one as well equally educational on the uniqueness of Catalina Island.