Tim Kizirian - Ring Mountain Preserve: A Short, Steep Circuit with Top-Tier Wildflowers

I’m Tim Kizirian—Chico resident, ex-CPA at Ernst & Young, long-time hiker, and steady believer that you squeeze the most from a Saturday by pairing simple logistics with guaranteed views. Angel Island’s Perimeter Road is my go-to loop when I have visiting relatives who want a “Bay panorama” without a punishing climb. The circuit clocks in at 5.9 miles, 820 feet of rolling gain, and because it’s on an island, traffic is capped by ferry capacity—automatic crowd control.

Ferry timing

Vallejo and San Francisco both run morning boats; I favor the 9:20 a.m. from Tiburon. That means leaving Chico by 5:45. Early, yes, but the schedule works: I’m back on Interstate 80 by late afternoon and still home for dinner. If you’re parking in Tiburon, Sixth & Main garage offers $8 all-day weekend rates—cheaper than many hikes that require state-park permits.

Lap clockwise or counter?

I always walk clockwise, stepping off the ferry dock and turning right toward Ayala Cove bathrooms. The grade rises slowly, giving legs time to warm. Mile one passes the Immigration Station spur. I jot time (about 20 minutes) in my trail notebook—not for bragging rights, but to keep a pattern. Like any auditor will tell you, year-over-year comparisons only work with clean data.

Southwest shoreline

Between mile one and mile three, the road hugs cliffs above Raccoon Strait. You get unobstructed Golden Gate Bridge views without shoulder-to-shoulder tourists. Fog often swirls at deck level, and container ships slide underneath like moving apartment blocks. I carry a 200-millimeter zoom in a chest pouch; shot count never exceeds ten frames. Living behind numbers taught me to skip redundant captures.

West Garrison lunch stop

At 2.9 miles, the Perimeter Road flattens near the West Garrison picnic grounds. I schedule a 15-minute break—half a peanut-butter sandwich, a handful of almonds, 250 calories. There’s a water tap at the restroom block; fill bottles here. My rule is simple: one liter per 90 minutes. Skimping on hydration jeopardizes the whole ledger—expense first, cost later.

Northwest climb

Leaving West Garrison, the road climbs 420 feet over the next mile, the steepest sustained grade of the day. If group members are new hikers, this is where they’ll slow. I keep conversation light and cadence steady. The reward is a postcard shot of the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge and Mount Tamalpais beyond—worth every heartbeat.

East Garrison descent

Mile five drops gradually to the historic hospital complex. If time permits, duck inside the barracks museum—$5 donation covers access. Exhibits are concise and grounded in immigrant diaries. I grew up in a Central‐Valley farm town; reading those accounts reminds me that every personal ledger has more columns than first appear.

Stewardship check

Trash cans sit near the dock only. I pack a quart-size freezer bag for snack wrappers and any stray micro-litter. Nothing sanctimonious—good housekeeping, like clearing your own spreadsheets of duplicate formulas before month-end.

Ferry return

The afternoon boats fill quickly with rental-bike riders. Buy your return ticket with your outbound to avoid standby queues. I aim for the 2:20 p.m. departure; that puts me rolling out of Tiburon by 3:00 and back in Chico before 6:30 p.m., fish-taco order placed en route.

Numbers recap
Distance 5.9 miles
Elevation gain ~820 feet
Moving time 2 hours
Total elapsed 3 hours with breaks

Few Bay outings combine world-class views, layered history, and an honest walking workout on such a tidy timeline. If you have a single Marin day and need guaranteed “wow” with minimal risk, Angel Island’s perimeter is the most reliable entry in my spreadsheet.