A DAY ON ANGEL ISLAND
Leader: Edward Joy
Leader Email: edward@edwardjoylaw.com
Leader Phone: 415-608-6727
Meeting Date and Day: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Meeting Place: San Francisco Ferry Terminal, Gate B to purchase tickets and for departure.
Meeting Time: 10:00 am at the San Francisco Ferry Building, Gate B. Unless you have a Clipper Card, you’ll need to purchase two tickets (one for the outbound and one for the return) at the main Golden Gate Ferry Terminal located about 100 yards South of Gate B. The round-trip total fare is $31.00 without the Clipper Card, $19.50 with the Clipper Card, and $16.00 for seniors.
Departure Time: 10:15 am at the Ferry Building, Gate B. Alternative ferry option for hikers from the East or North Bay: meet at 9:45 am at Angel Island Tiburon Ferry dock in Tiburon; ferry departs Tiburon at 10:00 am. Purchase tickets online at https://angelislandferry.com/schedule. Tickets are round trip only, and the full fare is $19.08 for adults and $17.00 for seniors. Email the hike leader if you’ll be coming from Tiburon. San Francisco ferry riders will arrive at Angel Island around 10:45 am. Tiburon ferry riders, please wait for us near the restrooms. Both the San Francisco return ferry and the Tiburon return ferry depart Angel Island at 3:20 pm.
Rating: Level-3
Mileage: 8-10 miles on fire roads and well maintained trails
Elevation Gain: About 900 feet
Description: Immediately upon arrival at Ayala Cove on Angel Island (San Francisco ferry riders will arrive at Angel Island around 10:45 am), 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 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 ferry to Tiburon and the ferry to SF both depart at 3:20 pm (arriving back at Tiburon at 3:40 pm and the Ferry Building at 3:50 pm).
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
Meeting Place: In San Francisco, Ferry Terminal Gate C is just north of the Ferry Building. Gate B, from which the ferry departs is between the Ferry Building and Gate B.
Alternative Meeting Place: Alternative ferry option for hikers from the East or North Bay: meet at 9:45 am at Angel Island Tiburon Ferry dock in Tiburon; ferry departs Tiburon at 10:00 am. Purchase tickets online at
https://angelislandferry.com/schedule. We'll all be departing Angel Island around 3:20 pm.
