Bison Expedition

I took my boyfriend on this tour on a Monday morning, and it ended up being such a special experience!! There were only six of us in the Hummer, which made it feel really intimate, but honestly, even if it was full, it wouldn’t have felt crowded. It’s set up in a way that still feels awesome and exclusive. Our guide Andrew was fantastic. So knowledgeable and personable. It honestly felt like we were getting a behind-the-scenes look at the island thanks to his expertise and all the spots he took us to. We saw so many bison, and he was super interactive with our questions, tailoring the tour to our group’s vibe. The ride back was such a nice touch, he put on music, and we just relaxed, soaking in the views and the moment. 100% recommend this tour for the scenery, the wildlife, and the great energy throughout.

We went on the Bison tour with Cindy Lowe as our tour guide. She was fantastic- funny, informative, and entertaining. The ride was in a Hummer and it was a pretty comfy ride. Some of it was very bumpy but that was kind of fun. We saw great views and learned about the history and agriculture of the island and saw a few bison too!

We chose this tour without really knowing what to expect. Our driver Andrew was great and funny from the start. He warned us about the choice of seating and how the back seats would be really bumpy. My teens sat there of course. The trip turned out to be way more than we expected. A combination of incredible sights, education about the Island, lots of “bad dad”jokes (which were punny), a thrilling ride, and great music: It felt like a combination of a real life Disneyland’s jungle cruise with a bonafide Indiana Jones like adventure. All the while, Andrew warned us of what was to come all the way. His enthusiasm and wit were contagious. I was laughing uncontrollably. The highlight of Catalina! Be prepared for a bumpy ride! My teens loved it too!

We booked the open-air Hummer bison tour mostly because our kids are both super nature lovers, but it turned out to be the highlight of our entire Catalina trip. And that’s entirely thanks to Andrew, our guide, driver, DJ, and all-around legend. The first part of the ride was jam-packed with Catalina history, fun facts, and stories about Avalon and the island’s bison population. There was also a surprise off-roading section that genuinely felt like Thunder Mountain meets Indiana Jones—bumpy in the best way, with just the right amount of thrill. Even our youngest, who is usually nervous about heights and roller coasters, was TOTALLY fine. This was a core memory for our family. We’ll be talking about it for years. Spend the money. Opt for the Hummer. You won’t just get a tour. You’ll get an experience.

We were visiting Avalon for three full days, and we did the bison expedition on our first day. It was great! Our driver, Tom, was so friendly and knowledgeable. We loved hearing about the history of the island, and seeing the beautiful views as we drove up the mountain. We found a large herd of bison, about 30, lounging in the sun. We did an afternoon tour, since we were here in mid-June and the weather was nice.