Angel Island - June 4, 2012

Walking Distance: 5 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 58 min. (11:00 a.m. - 2:58 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Ferry dock, Angel Island, CA

Angel Island, the largest of several small islands in San Francisco Bay, requires a ferry or boat ride to get there. The perimeter trail around the island is coded as a "purple" line, or connector trail, on the Bay Trail map.

For my second walk around the Bay, I decided to divide the Angel Island walk into two parts. Today was part #1, that included a partial walk around the perimeter of the island, and a trip over the top of Mount Livermore. (When I cross the Golden Gate Bridge and reach Tiburon (ferry stop), I plan to revisit Angel Island and will walk the perimeter path on the other side of the island, that runs past the immigration station.)

On the hour-long drive up to the Tiburon ferry terminal, it was raining. However, it cleared up just in time for our walk. By the afternoon, patches of blue sky started to poke out now and then. The Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline in the distance, were alternately visible, and then invisible, shrouded in mist.

From Ayala Cove, our group walked up the hill, heading to the right, southwest, to the Perimeter Road. We passed an old military hospital, old Batterys, and other historic landmarks along the way, as well as clumps of yellow lupine and other wildflowers. Some buildings were in better shape than others. It would be wonderful to see some of these restored.

We stopped at a picnic table for a lunch break, and then continued until we reached a fork in the trail, uphill from the old Nike Missile site.

A few of us headed (left) and up the mountain, following the Ida Trail for a beautiful 360 degree view from the top of Mount Livermore. The top of the mountain had been removed/flattened out earlier, but was recently restored to a more natural state.

We took the Sunset Trail leading back down (north) to Ayala Cove. This trail was partly wooded and offered a bit more shade than the Perimeter Road trail, with views of Tiburon and north bay in the clearings.

Near the ferry stop, there are restrooms and a small place to stop and eat. We had time to buy a small snack before our ferry arrived. This small cafe closes up shop fairly early (often before the last ferry leaves), so you may want to pack some food and water with you.

Wildlife Sightings:
10 little brown jobs (LBJs)/songbirds; 5 crows; 4 sea gulls; 2 turkey vultures; 1 black beetle; 2 butterflies/moths; 2 mockingbirds

Angel Island - July 23, '11

Walking Distance: 5.3 miles
Walking Time: 2 hrs., 12 min. (12:02 - 2:20 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Angel Island Ferry Stop (Ayala Cove)

Thank you to Alec who joined me in this trip to Angel Island today. This afternoon we started from the Ferry stop in Ayala Cove, on Angel Island, and walked around the perimeter loop trail around the island and back to the ferry station in Ayala Cove. We experienced a fairly typical weather pattern -- overcast in the morning, and sunny later in the afternoon.

For hikers, the most direct way from the ferry stop to the beginning of the perimeter trail is to head straight and to the left when you disembark, past the restrooms, and up a few sets of stairs and a hill. (Bikers have a separate path.) Unless you choose to take the trail up to the top of Mt. Livermore, with the exception of one other fairly steep hill, the trail is relatively flat.

Technically Angel Island is not part of the main Bay Trail. However, the island is shown as a connector/connecting trail (solid purple line) on the Bay Trail Map (Marin sectional map) -- and it is well worth visiting if you get the chance.

There are some unique historic points of interest, old/abandoned buildings, and scenic views of San Francisco, the back side of Alcatraz, and of Tiburon, that you would not normally get to see. And if you take the Ferry, you'll also get a unique perspective on the other parts of the overall Bay Trail landscape.

For hiking more than two hours, there was not a huge amount of wildlife to report, but that also may have had to do with large numbers of people on the island on this summer weekend day (Saturday). In addition to picnic and barbeque areas, visitors can take a covered shuttle or segway tour of the island, or bring or rent bicycles to take their own two-wheeled adventure. Skates, skateboards -- and dogs are not allowed in this state park.

Walking at a relatively brisk pace (which limited picture taking and rest stops), we had just enough time to walk this loop trail in a few hours, and grab something to go from the cafe near the ferry stop, before having to line up for our boat back to Alameda. Another hour would have been nice to explore and visit the immigration station site.

Wildlife Sightings:
1 blue jay; 2 crows; 1 kite (bird); 2 turkey vultures; 1 bumblebee; 2 sea gulls; 8 Canada geese.