A DAY ON ANGEL ISLAND SATURDAY HIKE

A DAY ON ANGEL ISLAND

Leader: Larry Stites

Leader Email: Larry.Stites@gmail.com

Leader Phone: 408-797-7088

Meeting Date and Day: Saturday, Dec 28 2019

Meeting Time: 9:20am at the Blue and Gold Ferry ticket kiosk in front of Pier 39 to purchase tickets. You’ll need to purchase 2 tickets, one for the outbound and one for the return. The fare for each ticket is $9.75 for adults (round trip total of $19.50) and $5.50 for seniors (round trip total of $11.00). We’ll then walk to the Blue and Gold Ferry dock on Pier 41 where we’ll board the ferry at 9:30am for a 9:45am departure.

Departure Time: 9:35 am at the Blue and Gold Ferry ticket kiosk in front of Pier 39 to purchase tickets. You’ll need to purchase 2 tickets, one for the outbound and one for the return. The fare for each ticket is $9.75 for adults (round trip total of $19.50) and $5.50 for seniors (round trip total of $11.00). We’ll then walk to the Blue and Gold Ferry dock on Pier 41 where we’ll board the ferry at 9:30am for a 9:45am departure. Alternative ferry option for hikers from the East or North Bay: 9:45am at Angel Island Tiburon Ferry dock in Tiburon; ferry departs Tiburon at 10:00am. Purchase tickets upon boarding. Tickets are round trip only, and the full fare is $15.00 for adults and $14.00 for seniors. Payments must be made either in cash or by check—NO CREDIT CARDS. Contact the hike leader if you’ll be coming from Tiburon. We'll all be departing Angel Island around 3:30pm.

Meeting Place: Blue and Gold Ferry ticket kiosk in front of Pier 39 

Rating: Level-3

Mileage: 8-10 miles on fire roads and well maintained trails

Elevation Gain: About 900 feet

Description: According to the hike archives, we’ve not hiked on Angel Island in more than four years. Immediately upon arrival at Ayala Cove on Angel Island (whether you’re coming from San Francisco or Tiburon as both ferries arrive at approximately the same time), we’ll assemble just to the left of the restrooms. From there, we’ll begin our clockwise circumnavigation of the island by first hiking up the North Ridge Trail and Perimeter Road to the Immigration Station. From there, we’ll go on to the summit of Mt. Livermore (788’) via the Easy Bay View Trail, Fort McDowell, Perimeter Road, Ida Trail, and Summit Trail. From the top of Mt. Livermore, we’ll descend back to the Perimeter Road, stop at Camp Reynolds and Point Stuart (and if time permits, possibly a side trip to Perle’s Beach), and then return to Ayala Cove via the Perimeter Road. Angel Island offers many wonderful opportunities to experience human and natural history. We’ll take short photo breaks and/or food breaks at four examples of the human history of Angel Island over time: Immigration Station, Fort McDowell, Mt. Livermore, and Camp Reynolds. The hike will include both the fairly lush woodland vegetation on the north side and the chaparral and scrub on the south side with sweeping views of the City and the Golden Gate. Depending on whether we have time remaining before the afternoon return ferry, we may also be able to explore the Angel Island Museum at Ayala Cove. We’ll catch return ferries at Ayala Cove: the one to Tiburon departs at 3:30pm and the one to SF departs at 3:40pm arriving back at Pier 41 at 4:45pm. Since this is off season, these are the last ferries of the day.

Bring/Wear: Water, snacks, lunch, sturdy shoes, jacket/layers of clothing (expect a windy day), hat, and sunscreen. 

Rain Policy: Canceled in the event of heavy rain

Alternative Meeting Place: For hikers from the East or North Bay: 9:45am at Angel Island Tiburon Ferry dock in Tiburon; ferry departs Tiburon at 10:00am. Purchase tickets upon boarding. Tickets are round trip only, and the full fare is $15.00 for adults and $14.00 for seniors. Payments must be made either in cash or by check—NO CREDIT CARDS. Contact the hike leader if you’ll be coming from Tiburon. We'll all be departing Angel Island around 3:30pm.