Angel Island State Park
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Angel Island State ParkSan Francisco, CA 94920
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
Tired of the desk chair? We are the cure for Nature Deficit Disorder with Bicycling, Kayaking and Hiking in the Point Reyes Seashore area!
169 reviews for Angel Island State Park
169 reviews in English
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Review from Mr Bolo B.
San Francisco, CA
5/5/2012
My main reason for comming to Angel Island is because my family came through Immigration Station from Asia, I wanted to see what it was like over there, kind of like tracing my families history
the Island is full of history dating back to Civil War days , Spanish American War, WWI, WWII , the Cold War era
it was an adventure hiking around the old buildings and exploring
a very nice place to spend the day or have a picnic -
Review from Linh L.
3/13/2012 1 photo
I really liked how secluded Angel Island felt. It could've been because my friends and I went on a Friday afternoon, but it really felt like we owned the island. A lot of the buildings look abandoned and in disrepair (intentionally?), and it was fun to be able to walk through them. The danger was exciting!
Admittedly, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to do on the island, probably because it's so small. There's hiking by bike, on foot or on segway, BBQ and picnic areas, a few small monuments to look through, and camping (permit/reservations required). Regardless of what you do, if you stay near the perimeter of the island, there are BEAUTIFUL views of the bay!
There are ferries leaving around 10am, 1:20pm, and 2:25pm, so make sure you get back on time. The state park rangers didn't seem super helpful when it looked like we might not make it back for the last ferry... You have been warned. -
Review from dilly m.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful place and so close that we tend to forget about it. Was here again on Saturday for a race up and around the island...such amazing views! Definitely worth sailing or taking the ferry there and doing a little exploring. The also have a restaurant there in case you forget to bring your picnic lunch.
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Review from H K.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love doing the five-mile perimeter trail hike. It gives you a chance to get a view of the whole bay surrounding with every turn: from the Golden Gate Bridge to the City, and then the Bay Bridge, the East Bay, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and beyond to the north, and finally looking back towards Tiburon. I'd say it can be done in two hours if you power walk continuously, but for me it's too enjoyable such that I enjoyed stopping at almost every bench along the way to enjoy the view (and at one for even a quick nap). I arrived this past Saturday at around 1:30pm and timed it so that I'd made sure I caught the last ferry back to Tiburon at 5:20pm.
The uphill option to the Mount Livermore peak is a very nice hike also. The hiking book says it's a 700-foot elevation gain but much of the trails (or, the North Ridge Trail in particular because that's the one I'm more familiar with) does not involve much steep grades, except for right at the beginning after getting off the ferry. From up top, yopu can get a splendid 360-degree view and, space permitting, relax at a bench or picnic table. -
Review from M C.
San Francisco, CA
A nice getaway for those who can afford it. This is an island and the only way of getting here is by boat, either having one of their own or buying a ticket on the ferry. Either way one does it, it isn't cheap.
Takes about 2 hours to walk around. The stores know they are ones only choice for food and prices does reflect it, so bring food and drinks. -
Review from Karen Z.
10/18/2011 11 photos
I'd forgotten how excellent this place is! It's the perfect hike, because it has a good mix: sun, shade, views, just enough solitude, just enough foot traffic, fire roads, trails, even some paved stretches. At at the end, beer, oysters and live music. I mean *seriously* how could a hike be better than that? :).
I hiked for 2.5 hours and saw all sides of the island and i got to the peak of Mt Livermore. Incredible views.
All of my good hikes come from one book (60 Hikes within 60 Miles of SF by Jane Huber.) And her advice is spot on: do the Northridge Trail, then the peak, then the Sunset Trail. I think that route was perfect. I started at 1:30 and it was just starting to get cool by 4:00. So the timing was pretty good, too. Maybe go one ferry earlier.
About a two minute walk from the ferry landing (to your right) there are lots of picnic tables and small grills.
Also, the park employee at the ferry landing was friendly and helpful. -
Review from Raymond M.
San Jose, CA
10/23/2011
Angel Island is a jack-of-all-trades recreational park. Hiking, biking, jogging, picnicking, sailing . . . it provides recreation, fun, and getting away from the daily grind. There is a visitor's center, bike rentals, a small restaurant, and guided tours. I believe camping is allowed with permit because I saw a group of Boy Scouts.
The easy hike is the Sunset Trail that leads you to Mt. Livermore where you can see a 360 degree view of the San Francisco Bay. The better hike, which is also easy, begins on North Ridge Trail. There is a sign when you finish North Ridge Trail that tells you the trail to Mt. Livermore and Sunset Trail. Take the Mt. Livermore Trail. After you visit Mt. Livermore, eat lunch, and view the entire San Francisco Bay, hike back to the sign. Take the Sunset Trail back to the Visitor Center and then the ferry docks.
I like the North Ridge, Mt. Livermore, and Sunset Trail route because you hike in a circle seeing the view of the San Francisco Bay from Tiburon, East Bay, Berkeley, Oakland, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, to San Francisco.
Remember to bring food and water. Dress appropriately to weather conditions. -
Review from Diana M.
8/23/2011
The "Big Heads" rode our bikes around the entire island. What's out there? Abandoned buildings, camping sites, benches/picnic tables, and beautiful views of the bay!
If you're lazy or have a bum leg, they offer segway or tram tours that comes with a historical low down. Or, you can rent a bike or kayak. Should you decide to hike, it's about 13 miles.
There's also a cafe once you get off the ferry in case you get hungry. And bathroom facilities if you need to make a pit stop.
It's not like Alcatraz! If you haven't been, go check it out! -
Review from Melissa L.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2011
Angel Island is great for a day of hiking, biking, having a picnic or just learning more about the Ellis Island of the West.
I've been coming here since grade school and it's a good place for kids and adults to have a laid back day outdoors. There is a beach with amazing views of the GG Bridge, SF and Marin for those that just want to kick back and hang out. There are trails for all skill levels, with the paved path around the island for bikers and casual walkers. A more challenging path is available to Mt. Livermore. Overall I would characterize the trails here as easy. It still helps to wear a pair of sneakers or trail shoes for hiking.
Rangers are available at the ferry landing and at the historic immigration buildings to provide information on the recreational areas and activities as well as role this island played to those arriving in the US. A visit to the immigration station is worth your time. The rangers and volunteers are available to answer questions and provide information about what happened there, how people were processed, how long they were stationed there, etc. In addition, the site was recently remodeled/upgraded and the changes enhance the overall experience.
There is a tram available to take passengers on a guided tour around the island, but I haven't taken that since I was in middle school and cannot remember much about it. Is it necessary for the visit here? Not really, but it is a nice option to have.
Part of the experience is taking the ferry over to the island. It's rather relaxing and offers many opportunities for taking great photos.
Restrooms and trash cans are available at many sites.
Please note the ferry departure times to allow for enough time to return to the dock. On my last visit we had to cut our hike short in order to get back in time for the last ferry departure!Listed in: Outdoor Adventures in the Bay…
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Review from Emy B.
10/9/2011
Beautiful place to get away and bike for a day. The tram ride guide provided some great insight on the history of this island that I knew so little about. I came here with 14 of my family members and they enjoyed a bike ride while I hung back, walked around, chilled, and did the tram island tour.
My only complaint is that they confiscated my daughter's scooter from her as soon as we walked off the ferry boat and she bursted into tears. Oh park officials, why did you take her scooter away from her? She had her helmet and all four of her pads on her too. I was not a fan of those park officials that day, but we managed to rent a bike with a little trailer hooked up to it so she could ride behind her daddy the whole day.
The cafe on the island rocked some pretty awesome food and I have to say that their fritto pie was rockin'. All in all it was a good day, except for those park rangers...who eventually gave us back her scooter at the end of the day when we were leaving. Boo. -
Review from Margaret R.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2011
I came on a beautiful day, and I have to say I LOVE ANGEL ISLAND!!!
My friend and I went on a segway tour, which was way more fun than I thought it would be. The tour guides were extremely nice, especially Frita. I didn't learn much about Angel Island and its history. However, I did love the scenery and segwaying around. A little boy scout even raced me.
The hamburger at the cafe was good and reasonably priced.
The only "minus" is a lady named Dee, who is rude. However, the sunshine made up for her meanness. -
Review from Lorrayne L.
Oakland, CA
6/30/2011
My ass still hurts. And my legs. No, not really. The pain is something like that of a ghost wound - the wound no longer exists, but your brain certainly remembers the agony and makes you relive it every now and then out of spite. I realized during the crazy hectic climb up the 75-dip slope to the non-existent missile site that we needed to go hiking more often. Sheesh! It should not have been that hard!
Friends and family gathered on a gorgeous Saturday morning to visit the Island and its historical values. My mum never went to the Island when she came over; they'd put it to rest before then. But it was most fun for me as the boat was full of Asians, and I got to make all sorts of racist jokes all day long. Good thing I was in good company, or more than just my ass and legs would've been hurting.
The Island affords wonderful views of the entire Bay Area, depending on which side you're on, and the ferry ride to and from was exhilarating. I started my morning with a beer to commemorate my first ever visit to the Island of my kin's sufferings. Many joined me this time round for the photography club shoot, including mine own parents. We all had a blast, but were really knocked out by the return trip home.
We didn't actually go see many of the sites on the Island, as we feared heading down to the shoreline would have had us stuck down there for inabilities to trek back up to the main road. One site that we perused was the little village just above Quarry Beach. The buildings possess some spirits still. You see, my brother and I are a keen bit sensitive in that regard (sometimes I can actually see things), and it was somewhat unnerving walking through the rooms of the abandoned buidlings. The air got noticeably thicker and harder to walk through, and the light would dim just ever so slightly if you know what to look for. The chills I attributed to the cold winds blowing off the Bay that day. Nothing of that sort to be alarmed about. Simply note that while the ghosts are gone, their residue was left behind. Fun stuff, eh?
Now, speaking of roads.... Why the hell were there so many nicely paved roads and cars all over the damn Island?? We pondered that the whole of the trip. J_ found the prettiest bit of red sandstone to take back with him, and we all have loads of photos to go through.
The highlight of our excursion was the finish line. We all gathered at the Cantina in Ayala's Cove, a few of us sipping cold ones as we waited for the ferries to arrive. The sun was out, we were sheltered from the cold winds, the people were lovely and as tired as we if they had walked instead of taking the trams, and the band played classics as we toasted to our victories.
Come with me next time, and I'll make more racist jokes about my kin and the Island. Then we'll watch the sunset with beers in our hands.Listed in: Get Lost
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Review from Natasha R.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2011
I was surprised at how much of a gem this island is, filled with different activities and not with tourists making it worth many repeat visits.
Hiking. The mountain is something like 788 feet to the top, a pretty decent climb with a spectacular panoramic view.
Bike riding. The perimeter road is wide and paved, with small inclines throughout making it ideal to bike around. You can rent on the island for $10 an hour or bring your own on the ferry.
BBQing and Lunching. There is a Cafe and Oyster bar, food isn't spectacular, but more like passable. They have BBQ pits for a group day trip, or keep it simple and pack a picnic lunch.
Beaching. I hate sand and water, but there are a few coves with small beaches along the island. It can get a bit windy in the areas facing the bridges and the city, so I assume sunbathing here is probably good only a few days out of the year.
Camping. Apparently setting up a tent overnight is so popular you have to book out six months if you want a camp site on a Saturday. Feel free to steal my idea, but I'm planning a "LOST on Angel Island" themed camping trip. Bring the LOST trivia game, outfit your wine and food packages with with dharma labels. Have a night hike along the perimeter and check out the spooky abandoned building (its like our own little Hashima Island replica!). Bring some lasers and play Jack's Team vs. the Others tag or have a scavenger hunt. Anyone else miss being a kid?
Museum. Throughout American history, if you aren't white (or the wrong kind of white- ie: Irish in the 1800's) we haven't exactly rolled out the welcome wagon for your arrival upon our shores. Instead you were brought to Angel Island, separated from your wife and kids, stuck living in deplorable conditions that make Alcatraz look like a luxury resort. After an absurd amount of time (months and months), you might get lucky and be let into 'the promised land' or just sent back home on a boat. Better luck next time!
Seagulls. On the boat trip back its kinda fun to throw bread at them and watch them dive-bomb.
An easy 5 stars. :-) -
Review from Scott A.
Santa Monica, CA
8/8/2011
I can't believe all the 4 & 5 star reviews on this place. The ferry itself is a decent price ($10 each way), but the island itself sucks.
There's nothing to do, unless you want to pay for a bike (before the island) or rent a segway. If you don't plan on walking aimlessly on dirt paths looking for something to do.
There's a reason why not much is listed, besides what you pay for, because there is nothing to do here! -
Review from Seong P.
8/24/2011
I was nervous about taking the ferry to get here because of motion sickness but once we arrived, I was impressed. I don't know why I had never been here before, but it's very scenic.
I had it easy with an electric bike so I had a nice cruise around the island. I think it was about 5 miles total. The panoramic views the entire way were fantastic, especially since it was a clear and sunny day.
I'm excited to hike, BBQ and camp here sometime soon. I heard I had to make reservations way in advance so I better remember to do that.Listed in: nature-y places i like
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Review from Eric G.
Mountain View, CA
8/29/2011 27 photos
Angel Island is a fantastic camping destination. It easily ranks in the top 10 most scenic campgrounds I've ever camped at. If it weren't for one serious defect, I'd rank this one of the best camping destinations I've been to.
Getting There
Ferries service Angel Island from Tiburon, San Francisco and Alameda. The Tiburon ferries operate frequently, but Tiburon isn't convenient unless you live in Marin. We took the Blue and Gold Ferry from Pier 41, which only operates a few times a day during the week. We took the 1:05 pm ferry to the island (which stopped in Tiburon along the way) and the 1:45 ferry back the next day, giving us about 24 hours on the island.
The Campground
We camped at East Bay #3. This site was huge and fairly well set-off from the other two East Bay sites. We didn't hear our neighboring campers or see them except at the water spigot (although we could hear some shouting from the workcamp at the Immigration Station). The East Bay sites are much more private than the Sunrise sites, which have effectively no visual or aural privacy from each other. Both the East Bay and Sunrise sites have favorable microclimates compared to the Ridge campsites on the island's southwest side. By being on the island's east side, they are shielded from the fog pouring in from the west. Indeed, our tent's rain-fly was barely wet in the morning. The mountain ridge also blocks some of the wind, but we did get a little wind.
When the fog lifts, the Ridge sites have jaw-dropping views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. However, in summer, the fog rarely lifts for very long In contrast, our campsite had fantastic mostly fog-free 180 degree views of the East Bay from Richmond to Oakland. Among other points of interest, the shipping lanes run along the island's east side, so we watched ship after ship trundle past. At sunset, I watched the fog roll through the Golden Gate and across the bay, hit the East Bay hills, and spread progressively further north. I could have spent hours just watching the fog, the ships and the sunset. It was amazing.
The campsite required about a 45 minute hike from Ayala Cove. It wasn't very steep or arduous, but we had packed light. The campsites have a water spigot for fresh water, so you don't need to pack water. The campground has an outhouse. Our campsite also had a picnic table and food locker.
The campsite, including the reservation fee, cost less than $40/night. If you want a comparable view of the Bay at a hotel, expect to pay many hundreds of dollars a night. Camping on Angel Island is unquestionably one of the best bargains in the Bay Area. Even better, because we were willing to go mid-week, we had no problem getting a prime campsite with about 10 days advance notice. Weekend reservations will require more advance planning.
Now, about the major downside. From East Bay #3, we could hear a buoy warning signal going 24/7. It wasn't very loud, but I'm sensitive to those kinds of noises. Then, as the fog deepened through the night, other foghorns turned on. By pre-dawn, 3 or 4 different foghorns were going simultaneously along with the buoy warning, each with their own sound and cadence. It was like a discordant symphony--beautiful in a way, but not very peaceful. I take melatonin when I camp to help get some sleep, so I ended up doing OK overall; and my son slept through it all. Bring earplugs.
What to Do
For nature, you can hike or bike around the island and to the top of Mt. Livermore. Mt. Livermore offers 360-degree views of the San Francisco Bay, but the view depends heavily on the fog situation. For the best views, go on a clear winter or spring day. In summer, it's highly likely that some of the iconic sights--such as the Golden Gate Bridge or downtown San Francisco--will be partially or wholly obscured in the fog. The good news is that the fog is aesthetically pleasing itself...so long as it's not on top of you! The loop around the island offers constant beautiful views with the same fog caveat.
For military history, Angel Island is remarkable. I was blown away by Ft. McDowell (on the east side) and Camp Reynolds (on the west side). They are exceptionally well-preserved ghost towns with interesting ruins set among beautiful views. I could have spent more time poking around Ft. McDowell, where visitors have effectively unrestricted access to most of the abandoned buildings (be safe, but many of the buildings still look very sturdy). Camp Reynolds has a totally different feel, and it was instantly obvious that it was from a different military era. I didn't get much out of the batteries and Nike missile installations, but they are an important part of Angel Island's military history as well.
For immigration, the immigration station has been nicely restored. We still enjoyed taking the self-tour and inspecting the remaining buildings. -
Review from Allison L.
Berkeley, CA
7/12/2011
You mean I can only give five stars?
I've lived in the Bay Area since 1997 and today was the first day that I ventured over to Angel Island. Why have I waited so long? The ferry ride over was terrific and I hit the North Ridge Trail immediately after disembarking.
I was worried that the trail would be too strenuous, but really it's a gentle grade, continuously uphill for a large part but really not too bad. And even on a foggy summer afternoon, the views are terrific. Head on back down the Sunset Trail and make sure to bring your camera. I'm sure glad I did. -
Review from Darrel D.
Castro Valley, CA
Visiting Angel Island is a geat way to get to know the Bay Area. One can take the ferry from either the East Bay (Oakland/Alameda) or SF Pier to the island. The ferry ride is great as one goes under the Bay Bridge, and if the fog is not in, one will get an awesome view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Angel Island is a fun hike, a person can hike Perimeter Road all the way around the island and trek up to Mount Livermore if arriving early in the day. Great place for picnic's and BBQs, but it bites to haul everything there if one is hosting a big BBQ. In all, this is a fun place with great views. -
Review from Heather J.
Laguna Beach, CA
10/12/2011 8 photos
I came here YEARSSSS ago when I was a proud girls scout & loved it then & when I came back as an adult with the kids it was even better.
My friend & I both being blondes didn't think of making reservations so we packed the kids up with backpacks & sleeping bags & took the ferry over to the island. ALWAYS... ALWAYS... make reservations!! We were just soooooo lucky we got a site. I was told not to say anything so I won't but the ranger there is extremely nice... I cannot imagine going there with the kids & all the food we packed & all the stuff we had been hauling on our backs & then had been turned away for our own stupidity... that would have sucked. So anyways you have to hike into your site which makes the experience that more fun! The site we camped was amazing we had views that were breathtaking. We hiked all over the mountain & the kids learned a lot about the island & all of it's history. They even played on the beach while looking at the gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge & the sail boats sailing the bay. Truly is a fantastic place to go. Next time I go I want to rent some bikes & go biking around the island.
It also was REALLY fun to scare the kids & tell them about all the haunting's of the island too. The old hospital was right next to our campground & I showed the kids 'the man up in the window starring at us'... hahaha it was a memorable moment for sure :)
Here is how BLONDE we are.. somehow we forgot to put some of our food into the locker so we had some visitors ALL NIGHT LONG...
DO NOT FOR ANY REASON LEAVE YOUR FOOD OUT... Raccoon's will get into your ice chest & will eat your bacon!!!!! We had a zipper closed ice chest & they managed to eat our entire breakfast!! We had some pre-mixed strawberry daiquiri's & they drank all of them!! They hissed & fought all night long. We did not know the island had no bears so we thought we were pretty much going to die lol in fact the only animals on the island is the raccoon's & deer so again we ended up being the joke of this trip lol
I CANNOT wait to go again :) -
Review from Kiristen R.
San Francisco, CA
7/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great views of the bay.
Bike rentals are horrible, old and unorganized. Bring your own. And watch the time on the bike rentals. If you are 5 mins late returning a bike, you'll get charged even though the bike rental line is completely disorganized, there is no time stamp when taking or returning a bike and the return line can be long and slow. (Bad customer service)
Bike roads aren't very interesting.
Hiking trails aren't very interesting or challenging. Tilden is better.
Cafe food is average.
All in all, I can't say that it's worth the $16 ferry fare from the city. -
Review from Ryan G.
Boston, MA
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Segway tours....The best thing on this island.
You gotta try it!! OMG worth every penny. -
Review from Dave A.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011
You know how it's so easy to pass by things when you live nearby?
Angel Island is a perfect example of this.
What a stunning, jaw dropping recreation area.
I just spent this past Saturday on the island, just a stones throw away from downtown SF.
The views on the ferry ride over are worth the trip in itself.
Just unreal sights of the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, the rolling hills of Marin, and of course the beautiful San Francisco skyline.
Once on island, hike a little, or have a picnic. Or do like we did and play an insanely fun game of croquet. A great band was playing good tunes all afternoon which added to the atmosphere.
Locals take notice, don't let the tourists have all the fun!! -
Review from Ann L.
Updated - 4/6/2011
Went to Angel Island last Sun 4/3/11 for Civil War Days. They were celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.
We walked to Pier 41 from Embarcadero Bart, bought round-trip tickets at the stand in the front, then walked to the back, people were already lined up. Best to line up 20-30 min early so you can get the seat you want on the ship. It's $8 one way from SF. I charged it.
Events were at Camp Reynolds. Got to see a battle, inside of Camp Reynolds, Bake House, something else. Saw them do a demo using the Howitzer Cannon - made a big boom - they didn't use a real cannon, but still loud!
Saw a bit of the First Skirmish & saw the 2nd Skirmish. Walked by the Chapel of Saint Marie & walked on Battery Ledyard. The Visitor Center isn't staffed - just a model w/ stuff to read on the walls.
There's the Cove Cafe w/ Lappert's Ice Cream - didn't buy.
Bathrooms available - flushed toilets w/ sinks. You can rent bikes by the hour or day, even bring your own if you want.
Camping available - haven't tried yet.
Saw nice views on a great, clear, sunny day.Listed in: places to hike, Things to do in SF
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/24/2009
We went to Angel Island SP on Sun 5/23/09. We took Bart to SF from the East Bay and wanted to take… Read more »
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Review from Jona C.
Oakland, CA
7/19/2011
Breathtaking 360 degree panoramic view of the Bay Area, well that is if you hike to the top. The trail was moderate, it was a killing since it started off with flights of stairs. Some parts can also use a grooming as they get narrow and concerning if you just watched a segment on ticks and lyme disease. The weather was near perfect the Sunday before July 4th. It was hot but you were rewarded with the seabreeze.
This time around I didn't have time to take any of the historical immigration station pictures to share and bring back memories for my father....NM, that's Alcatraz, wrong island but I'll be back for a brief history lesson on my peeps. -
Review from Rachel R.
Oakland, CA
10/6/2011
I just went to Angel Island for the first time last weekend with my sister and loved it!
We started out by driving to Tiburon to catch the ferry. We had been planning to just take BART to Embarcadero and ride up to Pier 41 to catch that ferry, but there happened to be a race that day along the Embarcadero, so we decided to avoid that hubbub. Parking in Tiburon was so easy. The supermarket and bank I believe take turns using their parking lots as ferry parking for $5 a day. Try finding that in SF! Look for the blue ferry parking signs. So we paid $10 (since we were staying overnight), put the ticket on our dashboard, and rode our bikes over to the ferry boarding location (just after turning onto Main St from Tiburon Blvd).
We paid as we boarded the ferry. It was $1 extra to bring our bikes, but a couple dollars off the regular price since we were camping, so be sure to mention that. Bike racks were located on the bottom level of the ferry. Quick 10-min ride and we were there.
When you first get off there ferry in Ayala Cove, there are nice bathrooms, cafe and oyster bar, bike rentals, segway tours, visitor center, some kind of tour vehicles, and many picnic tables and grills. And in our case, many drunk people playing picnic-type games like corn hole and frisbee. Some people just set up shop and spend all their time on the island right here. We sat around and ate lunch before checking in for our campsite at the little booth there. They gave us a map and directions.
We rode our bikes up to the main loop around the island (paved, 5 miles) and rode to where we saw the turn off for our campsite. We started by trying to walk our bikes up the hill, and decided instead to leave them locked at the bottom. We were in site #1 which is located very close to the immigration center which had bikes racks, perfect. Sites 1,2,3 and 7,8,9 are all on the same turnoff. Look for the camping sign and the dirt road by some buildings just after the immigration center.
We loved our campsite! If you want to reserve just one site, #1 is good because it is kind of separated from 2 and 3, but honestly they are all huge. Our site had 2 picnic tables, a locker to store food (bc of racoons not bears), awesome views, trees, plenty of tent space, and a garbage can. Each group of three sites has an outhouse bathroom (with TP), a water spout, and recycling bin. Pretty nice!
We walked over to check out 7,8,9 too, and there was no one staying in them this Sunday night in October. These sites are smaller and closer together, but would work better if you wanted to have a giant group and get 3 sites. Also these ones had AMAZING views. We never did check 4,5,6 or 10.
While not at our campsite, we rode around the perimeter road, walked around the immigration center (which was not open when we went, but still plenty to see outside the buildings), and checked out some of the most amazing views I've ever seen in the Bay Area. After the last ferry leaves (~5pm) it's just you and the island! You can explore abandoned buildings, hike around, pretend you are on LOST, anything really. Except build a campfire. They got a little sensitive about that since the huge fire a few years ago. And it is so quiet! Where else can you go in the Bay Area and not hear cars outside?? I loved it.
We took the first ferry back the next morning (~10am) and promised to come back soon! -
Review from Eddie H.
7/25/2010
Angel Island is a must for any hiking / nature enthusiast in the area. The 360 degree views here are unique and definitely worth the cost of the ferry ride, the hike itself and the hassle of putting up with tourists.
I hate dealing with tourists more than anyone else (I hate crowds in general) so I'd recommend going mid-week if possible. As soon as you get off the boat, I'd start your hike immediately (so you don't get stuck behind large groups on the trails). Be sure to get there early so you don't have to worry about catching your ferry on time (since there are limited return times).
As with any tourist attraction, the food here is sub-par and over-priced; bring your own snacks on the hike not only to avoid getting ripped-off, but again to avoid the lines as well.
My favorite areas along the trail to take hikes are at the top (360 degree angels), towards the end of the r/t hike (when you are closet to the GGB Bridge), shots of Tiburon (at eye level) and lastly close to the end of the hike when you have great shots of the cove.
I highly recommend going here when the fog clears up (not as nice when you can't see everything) and make sure to plan ahead with logistics (food, time, cost, etc.) Most people who gave this place less than 5 stars seem like showed up without planning ahead.Listed in: Hiking in the San Francisco…
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Review from Thomas D.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2010
I am including a link to one of the Ferry boat companies that you can use to visit Angel Island.
http://www.blueandgold...
Please note that this schedule changes during the year. It's important to get the most updated schedule.
If you've never been to Angel Island, then you are missing a truly beautiful day trip that is part of completely knowing the Bay Area.
Check the weather forecast and pick a day that is predicted to have excellent weather and then take the ferry over to the island.
I rent bikes there--$10.00 an hour or $35.00 for the day. If you bike Perimeter Road, then you'll only need a little over an hour to complete the trip. It could be a bit longer if you'd like to stop along the way and enjoy the outstanding views of the city.
The bike renting process requires that you fill out a simple form. Your drivers license is usually kept. What's confusing is that when you are finished with the bikes, you return them at the bike rental place but you have to pay at the snack bar which is next door. The lines could be long because people are ordering food too.
Don't panic when the initial bike path takes you through a bit of forest--it's only to be sure that you stay off the main part of the road where the guided tour vehicles are coming and going.
When you get to Perimeter Road, you'll have the entire road to yourself. There is no traffic allowed on Angel Island except for those multi-seated guided tour vehicles.
A bit of advice here--when you get to Perimeter Road after the 2 minute detour on the forest path---go LEFT. It's a much easier bike route--there is a lot of downhill --although there is one challenging ascent that some people will probably have to walk. There are many places to explore on bike--beaches, historical buildings etc.
There is a snack bar next to the bike rental place that serves the usual fare--sandwiches, chips drinks, etc.
It's a peaceful place so close to home. Hope you enjoy it.Listed in: Tales of the City
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Review from Jen H.
7/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Years of living in SF went by w/o me ever coming to Angel Island. "Oh, I can always do that some other time." Bad thinking, the time is now. Quit letting tourists show us up on Bay Area experiences. Locals, unite!
This place is a throwback in time w/ great hiking, views, nature, barely touched by development.
Pack an epicurean picnic, have a mini getaway & give yourself another reason to justify the outrageous mortgage payments we carry to live in this great place. -
Review from Richa A.
3/13/2011
I don't know how I hadn't heard of this place until recently. This is an amazing place with amazing views of the Bay Area. There are hiking trails, bike paths, paths down to the beaches, a TON of picnic tables (they were everywhere, was actually kind of weird), older abandoned buildings/houses, and probably more organized stuff that we did not look into. Also noticed some tents pitched up.. had no idea you could camp here.
My friend and I primarily biked. The bike path starts out with a narrow ish climb up to the main route. It's covered in twigs etc. and might not seem super biker friendly, but it's short. Once you get to the top of that, there's about a 5 mile loop around the entire island with spectacular views the whole time. This path is really wide, paved, and alternates between steady downhill or steady uphill. We saw only a few other bikers... it was really nice and didn't feel like a huge touristy spot.
Completely worth the $16 roundtrip from SF on Blue Fleet... or however else you might get here. -
Review from Bleep s.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/27/2011
Went back on a weekday...the ferry was not nearly as packed. The guy brought his bike and I rented one on the island. It had 3 gears and could've used 4 more. The ride is gorgeous and we did the loop twice. This time we brought our own lunch.....smoked turkey sandwiches from Mollie Stone .....and chocolate, of course. The ferry was packed on the return trip.It's strange because when you're on the island it doesn't seem crowded at all.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2011
Heaven on earth. We took the ferry from Tiberon on a cloudless, clear, blue sky Sunday. Many other… Read more »
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Review from Cassie J.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2009 6 photos
Angel Island is a Bay Area must. And even more so a M U S T for Asian Americans.
Not a lot is known about Angel Island, in comparison to its more famous neighbor-- Alcatraz Island, and also Ellis Island Immigration Station for the European Immigration experience on the East Coast. But if you really want to explore the a beautiful piece of land, Angel Island is the place to do it. A state park, Angel Island is great for leisurely recreation like hiking, biking, picnics etc.
I've had the opportunity to visit Angel Island over the summer with my dad, specifically to visit to Immigration Station (operated between 1910-1940) Our visit was in response to the California State Budget cuts that will be heavily affecting the State Parks systems.
Visiting Angel Island is an essential part of Asian American history, and to have had the opportunity to visit hits deeply in my heart.
The Immigration Station was opened as a response to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which restricted the number of Asian immigrants allowed to enter the country.
My maternal grandfather was a detainee at Angel Island during the years before WW2. He was stationed on the Island for a short time, but just as other Chinese immigrants were quarantined, inspected, and interrogated before being able to enter the U.S, he too has his own terrifying experience.
So of course I was honored to be able to visit and learn as much as I can about the experience(s) of my grandpa, and of the thousands of other Asian immigrants who were detained on the island.
Dad and I took the Blue and Gold Fleet ferry over the Angel Island, and for $18.00, this fee is extremely reasonable to get you over as you can spend the majority of the day there.
Once on the Island, we purchased the Immigration Station guided tour for $7.00, I repeat 7 D O L L A R S. You get a great tour of the dormatory, shower room, etc, all while receiving very important pieces of history. And as Chinese American and the granddaughter of a former detainee, this experience and visit was priceless.
Enough heart to heart! Even if you aren't into the Asian American immigration experience, the Island is still great for relaxation. Dad and I also had an awesome hike from the ferry docks to the Immigration Station and the former WW2 military bases surrounding the Eastern side of the island.
I truly recommend all folks making a visit to Angel Island at least once in their lifetime. The views are magnificent, and you can truly forget you are on a Island in the middle of the Bay. I can't wait to return for a bike ride in the future.
M U S T ! -
Review from Bobby L.
10/21/2008
Since Angel Island re-opened this week, I thought it would be appropriate to write a review about this extraordinary state park that's surrounded by water.
First of all, driving through Tiburon is always a treat on a clear sunny day and taking the 20-minute ferry ride from Tiburon to the island is always fun. On weekends, the ferry departs Tiburon every hour starting at 10 am. Round trip fare is $13, cash only. Add a dollar per each bike on board. Make sure you keep the ticket they give you so you can return to the Tiburon pier.
We've been going here every year during Fleet Week. We usually start off riding our bikes towards the northwest side of the island (Richmond-bound). And then we just follow the Perimeter Road enjoying the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the gorgeous city skylines. The paved trail is easy. There might be some gradual uphills, but very manageable for beginners.
Once we get on the other side of the island...facing the SF skyline and Alcatraz, we would set up a little area to eat and watch the Blue Angels do their air-crobatics. They usually start performing around 3 pm. My favorite part of the show is when they fly over the island...screamin loud. Although this year, not too many fly-overs. The last Tiburon ferry out of the island is at 5:20 pm on weekends. So right after the show, we continue on the perimeter road, which connects back to the pier. If you miss the ferry, there are other ferry services to SF, or you can camp on the island as well.
There's a lot of history at this amazing park. It used to be an immigration processing station and also run by the US Army many years ago. Now as a state park, you'll notice some historic buildings amidst the beauty of nature. The perimeter road is about 5 miles long, and there are other non-paved trails and loops for hiking and biking enthusiasts.
Good exercise and the great "Bay Area" outdoors, keep me coming back every year!Listed in: Let's Get Physical...
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Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2008 1 photo
The views are nice but it's $15 to get there; the best part is the ferry ride, not the island. Once you get to the island, there isn't that much to see and do. The historical sites are interesting (e.g., Immigration Station, barracks, old military hospital) but many of the buildings are behind fences, so you can't get close to them and others are abandoned and boarded up. They provide signs so you can read about the various sites of interest.
It's surprising that most people don't walk around the island but they head for the tram (or some people ride their bikes). Once you step off the ferry, you can rent a bike, take a Segway tour (I didn't see anyone on a Segway though). It seems like they only have garbage cans in the landing area.
They estimate that it will take 2.5 hours to walk around the island on the Perimeter Road. We were able to complete the loop in 2 hours. The toughest part (and it's not that tough) is the dirt stairs that you encounter when you first get off the boat. Perimeter Road is a wide, paved asphalt road.
As for wildlife, I didn't see much - just a hawk and some birds. I also noticed many tree stumps. Maybe they died naturally but the patches of stumps look rather sad. I wasn't that impressed with the natural beauty of the island.
The bathrooms, snack bar (with hot dogs, nachos, ribs, coffee), oyster bar and gift shop are located at the landing area.Listed in: The Great Outdoors
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Review from Jonathan W.
San Francisco, CA
11/1/2009 20 photos
I remember the first time coming to Angel Island on a field trip back in elementary school and enjoying the nice weather and sights. However we were also here to learn about the past. How Angel Island was used as an immigration station to for immigrants coming into America. It has a lot of history to it and I didn't realize this until i was much older. I had told Marie that i had wanted to come back here because I felt that it would have more of a significant meaning to me since my people had to go thru it and i learned alot from my Asian American courses.
Back in June, Marie wanted to take me here as part of her Anniversary gift to me. I thought it was perfect, although our scheduling was off. We ended up moving it to a Monday, however it was good we did because there were less people and it was a super nice and sunny day!!!! The only sad part was I wanted to go into the immigration station but it was closed on Monday. :( boo!
We decided to hike around and enjoy the lovely weather. Hiking always builds up a good appetite for me and there's something about walking around in nature with not many people around. Marie and i decided to hike up to Mt. Livermore. We hiked and hiked and it turned out we took the long way around to head up to Mt. Livermore. It was so worth it tho. The view was gorgeous, on all sides you could see the entire bay area. We had our picnic on top of a picnic table and enjoyed the view with our food. It was romantic and it was awesomeness. You know i am coming back, hopefully when the weather is nice and there are few people. -
Review from Jeff H.
11/10/2008 3 photos
Bike amidst the fog.
Camp with a view of the Bay or SF or Oakland.
Sit on top of Mount Livermore watching the fog roll in through the Golden Gate
Visit Historic sites
This is a great place to go for the day or camp for several days.
Regarding the camping - since all the campgrounds are a bit of a walk/hike from the ferry, treat it like a small backpacking trip where you have to bring everything in and out.. It's great. Quiet, views of the bay and city, wildlife, and some fun times with friends. But please, no fires!!
You can bike around the island, hike, fish, boat, etc. Just a great place that we have that is so close.
And I think next year I'll borrow Bobby's idea and go out there for the Fleet Week airshow. That would be so cool.Listed in: My SF haunts
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Review from MIA N.
1/28/2011
Wow! This is a total hidden gem!
We did our first trail run here, organized through http://pctrailruns.com, and got the chance to enjoy the island and get some exercise.
Spectacular views of Marin County, SF, and Golden Gate.
There's a lot to do here!
Museum/immigration tour, guided segway tours, bike rentals, tram tours, hiking, camping. -
Review from Shari D.
1/4/2007
I've sailed to Angel Island before, a couple of times. I think because I go during the summer, there's not as much plant diversity as I'd like to see. But I love the hike to the cool "ruins" of the old military buildings, and I like taking pictures to try to see if there are any ghosts lurking about.... is this place HAUNTED? I don't know. I have no evidence, or proof. The only thing I can say is that when the past speaks to you the way this place does, it's got to have SOME kind of spirit, right?
I also love the cute raccoons who run around trying to get food from your picnic table. Especially because they aren't in my backyard eating the cat food, or trying to get into my garbage bins. They're MUCH cuter way off on an island in the bay.... -
Review from Linda M.
8/8/2009
A great spot to get out and enjoy some fresh air and beautiful views with a serving of history on the side.
We took the ferry from Tiburon (right next door to Sam's). You buy round trip tickets as you board ($13.50 adults, $11.50 children 6-12, $3.50 children 3-5, Bicycles $1) that include entrance to the state park. On a Saturday it runs every hour on the hour beginning at 10am. Returns are on the :20, last one at 5:20pm.
We took our own picnic and water for our hike, which I recommend, but you can buy food at the cafe once you arrive. Picnic tables are plentiful both near the dock/visitor center (with BBQs) and scattered around the island. The perimeter road encircling the island is a 5 mile hilly hike/bike/segway or tram ride (purchase segway or tram tours or rent bikes near the docks). We had no problem walking it, but there is no way any of us could have made it up some of those hills on a bike.
The posted signs indicated to plan for 2 1/2 hours to walk around the perimeter, and that's about what it took us with stops along the way...although the Immigration Station museum had already closed (3pm) by the time we got there. Next time we'll go clockwise around the island and hit that up near the beginning...and also build in a little beach time on the Berkeley side of the island too. Even though it was easy to follow the perimeter road, the hiking trails were less well marked and some of the structures were also not identified by signage...so I might spring for the map sold at the kiosk down by the docks.
All in all, a beautiful day on the island with views of Tiburon, Sausalito, all the bridges and even SF when it decided to come out of the fog (although Angel Island was sunny all the way around today). We got some good exercise, enjoyed the wind in our face, learned a little bit about the various uses of the island, and came home happy and tired.Listed in: Parks and Trails
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Review from C L.
Valencia, CA
5/18/2008
The Bay Area was our final destination of our California Coast road trip, and we spent a few days with my mom and pop. We decided to take a family excursion to Angel Island after my mom went here last year and loved it. Angel Island used to be a military reserve, and nowadays people dock their boats to hike, bike and camp on the island.
We, on the other hand chose a different mode for traversing the island...SEGUES!!! After being told that the last Segue tour had left an hour earlier, I pouted and we dejectedly walked away preparing to simply walk the island. Then we were told that we could get an hour tour for 1/2 the price of the 2 hour tour personally given by the owner of the Segue tour operation. We were in!
Now if you love Arrested Development as much as me and my husband do, we loved the prospect of acting like Gob on these things. We got a quick tutorial, put on some helmets and we were off! Touring the island on these things was a ton of fun, and our tour guide Rich was really cool (he and his brother provide the guided tours). The highlight was seeing the city from the other side of the island. Fantastic photo op!
I would highly recommend trying this out and taking an afternoon to picnic on the island after your tour. Huell Howser would be proud of us, and my mom rocks for encouraging us to take this excursion!!
***For More Info on the Segue Tours call 415-897-0715 x 5***
***For More Info on Ferry Service from Tiburon call 415-435-2131***Listed in: Road Trip! (C.L.'s California…
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Review from Gretchen T.
San Francisco, CA
7/16/2007
Great for Kids? Check
Good or groups? Check
Affordable? Check
Good views? Check
Romantic? Check
It is amazing how many locals haven't checked it out. Don't wait for out of town guests--just go!Listed in: Culture shock
