Hiking Angel Island - Mt Livermore Loop.

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You are here: Home / State Parks / Angel Island Mt.

Livermore Loop

Angel Island Mt.

Livermore Loop

NOVEMBER 9, 2012 BY JEFF HESTER

11 COMMENTS

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Last year during the holidays, Joan and I visited my

mom and her husband in San Francisco. While the
city of San Francisco is great for walking, I was
surprised how easy it is to find a wilderness
experience nearby. I have not hiked much in the Bay
Area, so I put out a call to Twitter for suggestions,
and got a great suggestion: Hike Angel Island.
Angel
Island

Trail Details

is the

Distance: 5.9 miles

largest

Time: ~3 hours

island

Diculty: Easy

in the

Elevation gain: 1427 ft

San

Dogs: Not allowed

When to go: Year-round

Francisco Bay, and a California State Park. To reach

the island, we walked down to Pier 41 and took a
15 minute ride on the Blue and Gold Ferry. The trail
is a fairly easy 5.9 mile loop with a short spur to 788
ft. Mt. Livermore the highest point on the island.
This loop uses two trails the North Ridge and the
Sunset trails and is truly the road less traveled
at least of the options available on Angel Island.
Once you disembark from the ferry, bear to the left
and look for the sign marking the North Ridge Trail.

You will initially climb a set of stairs set into the

hillside by the Conservation Corp decades ago,
shaded by towering pine and oak trees.

When you reach the perimeter, the trail continues

across the road after a short jog to the right. Most
people who visit Angel Island take the wide and
mostly level perimeter road, shared by hikers,
runners and bikers. In contrast, the North Ridge Trail
offers quiet solitude and mostly single track no
bikes allowed.

At last you begin to leave the crowds behind and

see a part of the island that few visit. The North
Ridge Trail is windy; slowly but steadily climbing in
altitude as you near the summit of Mt. Livermore.
Youll notice different climate zones as you traverse
the islandthe cool shade of the oak trees; the
sunny exposure amidst red manzanita; aging pines
towering over saplings; and the drier, sunnier south
side of the island.

As you near the summit, watch for a spur to the

right that leads to Mount Livermore. This final
section is not long, and the summit has several
picnic tables that make it a perfect place to stop for
lunch.

Mount Livermore

On a clear day, youd see Alcatraz, the San

Francisco skyline, the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges
from here.
After your break, retrace your steps to the Sunset
Trail to your right, following it all the way back to the
docks at Ayala Cove. Note that you will cross two
roads; dont follow them, just look for where the trail
picks up after a short jog.

When you get back to Ayala Cove, you can stop in

the Visitor Center for more information on the history
of the island.

Trail Map and Elevation Profile

Map

OpenStreetMap contributors

Map data 2016 Google

750ft

Terms of Use

Altitude

500ft

250ft

0ft
0.0mi

2.0mi

4.0mi

Photo Gallery
Click a thumbnail to view a larger image.

6.0mi

Additional Resources
Bay Area Hiker Trail Guide
Getting to Angel Island

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Plank Walk Trail to

Mt Tamalpais
In "Trail Guides"

Hiking the Canopy

View Loop in Muir
Woods National
Monument
In "Trail Guides"

Exploring Lands
End
In "Trail Guides"

FILED UNDER: STATE PARKS, TRAIL GUIDES

TAGGED WITH: 3-6 MILES, ANGEL ISLAND, COASTAL,
EASY, SAN FRANCISCO, STATE PARK, VISTA

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About Je Hester
I'm an avid hiker and
backpacker. My wife Joan
and I are on the trails throughout
Southern California every weekend. I
started SoCal Hiker to share my passion
for outdoor adventure.

COMMENTS

Wendy Cobrda
(@TheDataDiva) says
November 9, 2012 at 9:00 am
Now this looks like something
Im going to have to try when I make my
way out to San Fran early next year.
Thanks for the tip!

denniscarpenter says
November 9, 2012 at 9:53 am
Great find. Hiking is such a
great form of recreation and
especially in such a beautiful setting.

Jeff Hester says

November 9, 2012 at 10:59
am

Especially around the holidays.

Its a great activity that most of the family
can participate in, you get out in the fresh
air and burn off a few of those holiday
calories. It brings you closer together.

Jeff Hester says

November 9, 2012 at 11:01
am
Thanks, Wendy. Its definitely
worth doing. Im going to hike it again,
hopefully on a sunnier day.

Kimbundance says
November 9, 2012 at 7:57 pm
That is awesome! What a
great stress-reliever. I havent
hiked this intense before but maybe one
day. Ive only been on easy 1 hour hikes
here and there.
You even got some great pictures! It
looks cold, hope you had a great time
and warmed up afterwards.

Inspired by Learning says

November 10, 2012 at 3:46
am
Thanks for the great post Jeff
and all of the wonderful pictures. I made
this hike many years ago with friends
who still live in the bay area, and it was a
blast. Another hike or wandering I enjoy
there is Muir Woods as it is almost
surreal when the fog rolls in and you get
a little lost, find your self emerging from
the redwoods near Half Moon Bay.

Oscar Gonzalez aka

@notagrouch says
November 10, 2012 at 6:03
pm
I like the fog that is shown in the pictures.
Id love to hit up this place when I get a
chance next.

Oscar Gonzalez aka

@notagrouch says
November 10, 2012 at 6:04

pm
Ive been to SF so many times, and I
never realized this even existed and that
it is so easily accessible. Ill have to add it
to my todo list. Going to add it to
foursquare for now.

Tyler says
November 23, 2012 at 4:15
pm
Cooling temperatures make
fall a great time to check out a new trail
http://bit.ly/TjqbAb

LEAVE A REPLY

ABOUT JEFF HESTER

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