Angel Island State Park

Angel Island has quickly become one of my new favorite day hikes in the Bay Area — the perfect blend of nature, history, and adventure. A quick ferry ride from Tiburon brings you to an island with sweeping views of the Bay, the skyline, and the Golden Gate Bridge that are absolutely breathtaking. The hiking trails are scenic and peaceful, winding through eucalyptus groves and open hillsides, with quiet spots to stop and take it all in. Layered into all that beauty is the island’s fascinating history as the West Coast’s former immigration station, complete with preserved ruins and historical sites that give the day real depth. It’s an easy, unforgettable day trip — great for anyone who loves the outdoors or just wants a fresh perspective on San Francisco. Ferry tickets and park access are simple to book online. A must-do for locals and travelers alike.

💚 amazing landscape and bay views with subtle wildlife 💚 historically restored camps, housing and administration structures from the island’s past lives are found throughout the park 💚 alternatively, a similar number structures are found in varying states of abandonment and decay, which only heightens the level of mystery and intrigue; most viewed from outside, but some can be explored inside 💚 old battery remnants also dot the island; fully accessible for exploring 💚 in short, this park is a photographer’s dream 💚 excellent rangers and park staff 💚 museum: Detention Barracks & Mess Hall requires a nominal fee to enter (check park’s website for current fee); highly recommended as all the top-notch displays completely bring the walls to life and submerge visitors into another time; it is two-floors, self-paced with an estimated time of 20-60 minutes depending on your interest 💚 museum: Immigration Museum is a former hospital facility and requires no fee to enter (as of this writing); this attraction is also self-paced with two floors of displays that do a superb job of taking visitors to another time; estimated time of 15-45 minutes depending on your interest 💚 amenities: restrooms, benches, and picnic tables are found throughout the park 💚 hiking: from easy to moderate, mix of both roads and trails accommodates 💚 biking: wonderful place to bike; bike rentals available; check hours and prices 💚 tram/shuttle: excellent option for those with mobility issues to cover the whole park and see its attractions (or those short on time); check available times beforehand—may require reservations at peak times 💚 cafe on the island, but do check hours; cafe may not open if not enough visitors on island; minimally bring a water bottle (can be refilled in a few locations) 💚 aside from ferry fare, and nominal fee to enter Immigration Station, there is no other cost to enter the park (as of this writing) ⛔️ caution: some attractions are accessed by very steep roads ⛔️ biking: must walk bike in some areas

Wow, what a park! I wish I'd had more time to spend there. I originally intended to hike the mountain after seeing it from Sausalito, but I got there, and discovered there was a history tram tour. I mixed up what I said to the employee at the snack counter, and when I went to correct it, he was so nice, which was par for the course. The tram driver was super kind and even let me hop off at the Immigration Station museum and come back on the last tram, which had no one else on it, so thanks to John for not leaving me stranded. The other concession workers remembered me and were so friendly, and every park ranger I spoke to was happy to answer my weird questions and joke with me when appropriate. The immigration station museum was incredibly moving. I had no idea this was here, and the museum itself is very well modernized, including elevators and accessible restrooms. The original dormitories with the carved poetry from detainees - my goodness. They have done such an incredible job of preserving the interior, though I know some of the original buildings have slowly deconstructed. Truly an amazing experience, and if I come back, I hope I'll be able to camp and get that hike in, but I'm so glad I was able to visit today, and so grateful for all the lovely staff at Angel Island. What an incredible place.

You can either do Angel Island as a combo tour with Alcatraz or on your own. I do this as part of a tour and it gave great background on the history of the island. You ride through this section of the park by the abandoned buildings making for some cool pictures

Tourists go to Alcatraz, locals go to Angel Island. So they say. I ended up here by pure change and I loved it. Amazing views of the Bay Area and well-maintained hiking trails. Will be visiting next time I go to SF. If you’re a biker, I suggest you rent your bike elsewhere though.

Beautiful place to visit. Knowledgeable and friendly US Park Service Rangers. Some wildlife with amazing views of the SF Bay. Snack bar/coffee shop by the marina. Easy ferry service to the island from various locations.

A must-visit getaway just a short ferry ride from San Francisco! ⛴️✨ Angel Island State Park offers stunning panoramic views of the Bay, scenic hiking trails, and plenty of open space for picnics or leisurely walks 🌿🌸 — perfect for travelers from India or tropical regions looking to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and a peaceful escape from the city buzz. ☀️💚

This was really fun to check out the island. It is quite a beautiful place. It would be really helpful to visitors if they could figure out a better way to get around the island though. Maybe an on and off tram that just you pay one fee and can hop on and off all through the park. It’s ALOT of walking and a rough terrain in some areas and unfortunately, taking the tram or shuttle- it doesn’t stop very many places at all to see everything - kind of a goofy set up for their scheduled. I feel like that makes it not very user-friendly to visit this place. There was a lot more of the island that we would like to have seen, but didn’t want to pay the $130 to rent a bike. Hopefully they figure out a better usage of the transportation on the island. Lots of cool information and beautiful things to see there though and a lot of very historic buildings that it would’ve been cool to check out further.

A great day trip from San Francisco. It's only accessible via ferry from which I took from Terminal B - San Francisco Ferry building. The ferry ride gives you great views of both the San Francisco and Oakland City Skyline and both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes or so. There is a general map of Angel Islands near the restroom area when you get there but no paper maps available. There are 2 trails, Perimeter and Sunset. I hiked the Sunset trail all the way to the end which is the top of Mount Livermore. There is shade, for the most part, during the hike although there's no shade once you get near the top. The trail has nice views as you're making your way through it and you'll be rewarded with a great 360 degree view of the Bay Area once you get to the top. There are some historical buildings here as this used to be an immigration station and it was nicknamed "Ellis Island of the West". I'll be back for this though since I went on a Tuesday and that part of the island is only staffed from Thursday-Sunday

Despite having grew up and spending the better part of my adult life in SF Bay Area, I have sadly never been to Angel Island until recently. Short of having your own boat or being a very fit (albeit slightly suicidal) swimmer, the only way to reach Angel Island would be via ferry from either SF or Tiburon. We opted for the Tiburon route, which proved to be the wise choice. As we had a lot less people to contend with vs the SF ferry, and parking at/near the pier in Tiburon was plentiful. Tickets cost $17.40 round trip for adults. Although originally utilized as a seasonal hunting and gathering location for indigenous peoples, Angel Island has been repurposed over the years for quite a few uses, many of which were tragically sad and a direct result of our countries past bigotry and racism. Some of its history includes an army fort and battery defense for WWI and WWII, a quarantine station for the bubonic plague, an immigration station, and nowadays, a state park with an active US Coast Guard lighthouse. While for most visitors (including us), Angel Island is just a day trip. But you can also book a reservation for a camp site to stay overnight. For the rest of us, you can opt to either hike, bike, or like us, book one of the tram tours that will take you from the pier to the former immigration center and back. The tram costs $18/adult, and most people will hop off at the immigration center to explore and ultimately walk back to the pier on foot.

Angel Island is a wonderful natural place to visit. However the trams are noisy, rattling, out of date messes. The audio portion was too loud and harsh on top of it so I had to use earplugs to try and tune it all out. They need to replace all of them with modern electric vehicles and no pre-recorded content. Allow the visitors the luxury of the natural environment. I would not recommend the tram as a way to see the Island.

My boyfriend surprised me with a wonderfully planned trip to Angel Island after doing an extensive amount of research on his own. We ended up taking the ferry at noon at the Tiburon location instead of the SF one. We left our car at a $5 all-day public parking lot a couple blocks down. It was approximately $18 round trip for the ferry itself and about $8 for the toll back over the Golden Gate Bridge. The ferry was a fun and gorgeous 10 minute ride. There's plenty of activities you could do on Angel Island and we were tempted to rent a bike or do a tour. My boyfriend planned for us to do the 5 mile hike to Mt. Livermore (roughly 2.5 hours). The forested portions of the hike had a lot of nettles that felt impossible to avoid because of the number and the narrowness of the path. There were also a few scattered poison oak towards the top of the island. I highly recommend avoiding shorts for this hike. Luckily, we soon forgot bout the nettles once we started getting glimpses of the 360 view of the bay. This was definitely one of my favorite hikes and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a mild/moderate challenge! The Tiburon Ferry departs Angel Island every 20 minutes past the hour, with the last being 5:20 pm. Our line was significantly shorter than the SF line, however, since the ferry arrives less frequently, we ended up leaving after everyone in the SF line had boarded and left.

Took a day trip out to Angel Island. You take the ferry from the ferry building. Make sure your clipper card has $18 for round trip fair. All the folks at the dock were very nice and helpful. They made sure we were I'm the right place and had enough fair. We went on a Tuesday so there were not a lot of people. It was nice to be able to sit on the sun deck on the way over. You can see the whole city from out on the water -- from Bay Bridge to Golden Gate Bridge. The only down side is the museum isn't open on Monday or Tuesday so we didn't have access to that. We walked the Perimeter Trail which was a moderate hike. It was not super hard but there is parts with incline that can get you out of breath if you're not used to hiking (AKA me). We did have a hard time finding which trail to start on using the map they have near the ferry but once we figured it out it was easy to follow. Such a great day trip. However note there are only a select number of ferries so plan accordingly.

Angel Island is a perfect destination for a day trip. I did camp here once which was a really cool experience. Today though we hopped the ferry in Tiburon with picnic lunches in our backpacks and walked the perimeter of this beautiful island. The views are spectacular! We made some time to visit the historical buildings which are quite alarming when reading the history of the immigration station. During World War II, the U.S. military used the immigration station on Angel Island as a processing center for prisoners of war, as well as a detention center for hundreds of Japanese immigrants from Hawaii and the mainland United States. I'm pleased that much of the history has been preserved so that others may learn what happened here. If you come to Angel Island sans food, there is a cafe on the weekends and otherwise a small snack station. I've brought my bike on the ferry in the past to cycle the island- also quite nice. Bike rentals are available however.

Located a short ferry ride from the city, a trip to Angel Island will have you feeling like you're a world away...that is until you see the sweeping views of the city from the island's many vantage points. From the ferry building it was $18 roundtrip to visit the island. After a nice ride over you're greeted by beautiful views, a small cafe, some other historical buildings. The island offers hiking, bike rentals, and guided tram tours. We went with the intention of riding bikes and arrived just before 10am on the first ferry. The cafe, which it seems also runs the bike rentals was short staffed and let us know they would be open for rentals closer to 11am. We spent the hour walking around and looking in the small museum on the island. Finally around 11 we were able to get our bikes and head out on the bike path around the island. The first part was more of a dirt path, but as soon as you got to the top of the hill it opened up to a paved road. We rode around the island stopping at different viewpoints and historical sites including the old military barracks. Biking was definitely the best way to explore the island if you want to see the whole thing. The ride did have some steep hills, including one you have to walk your bike down, but it was fairly easy riding for two people that hadn't ridden bikes in years. Bathrooms were sparse and we did run out of water, so be prepared with water and go to the restroom before you take off. Food on the island is limited to the cafe, so be sure to check the menu beforehand and see if they'll have something you want. We opted to bring our lunch while was the right move. The ferry schedule to and from is fairly limited on weekdays so be sure to plan ahead and look at the schedule.

Angel Island is a good place to learn about the history of immigration to San Francisco. Angel Island offers a trams tour around the island which is very informative. The immigration center had lots of history about Asian immigration to California. The person at the pay desk at the immigration center was very helpful in helping me navigate around the island. Angel Island has stunning views of the San Francisco landscape. There are lots of biking and hiking trails. There is also lots of picnic tables available . This place is worth multiple visits.

Beware if you are attempting Angel Island as a chaperone for your child's class. We missed the public ferry because I took a wrong turn on the freeway. We stood on the dock and watched as our scheduled public ferry pullEd away. I reassured my son the next public ferry would be along soon. But when it arrived, we were refused admission due to a wealthy wedding party. They had rented out the entire ferry! The employee at the ferry entrance told us we could board and beg the wedding party to take us to the island. I explained to my son we do not beg wealthy people to board a public ferry. Instead, we had a fun day in Sausalito and San Francisco. My son made up his homework assignment because we drove back to Angel Island (from a suburb of Sacrament) the following weekend. Angel Island itself is incredible. It was well worth the very long drive back. But I would strongly advise against making it your school's field trip destination unless the school makes alternate plans for late arrivees. Thank you. Peace.

The park itself is amazing but it does need some trail maintenance. The path to Perles Beach has a section that completely fell off at some part, no trailhead either, and another trail has a giant fallen tree. It would be nice if they trimmed up some of the poison oak and included landmarks like the Red Hospital on their map, along with some symbols for stairs and such. I went camping and the directions we got contradicted and used landmarks not on the map. It was a lovely time though! Definitely come through.

My husband and I visited Angel Island over the weekend and it was such a wonderful day! We took the ferry from SF and spent the day hiking and exploring the historical buildings. There is so much to explore on the island and so many breath taking views! They have a food stand for smaller bites and snacks and they also have a cafe for a bigger meal after hiking or biking. They offer guided tours and electric bikes too! I highly recommend the day trip to Angel Island for the views and history.

From time to time I plan weekend outings for our family of 3. We hadn't visited this general area in a long time and I thought it would be a nice treat. We've visited Angel Island in the past for organized events, but this was the first time we went for sightseeing. One can take the ferry to the island either from SF or Tiburon. I prefer Tiburon as it is the quieter option with parking for $5 a day in parking lots A & B. Just be sure to arrive early on weekends tension a parking spot. For an extra $1 per ferry ride one can bring bikes on the island, just be sure to stay on the bike paths. Great place to hike, catch-up on history, enjoy 360 views of the surrounding bay and spend time with family.

Very beautiful island with a lot of history, hiking trails and amazing views of San Francisco city and Bay . You need to take short ferry rides to get there.best time to visit there is on the sunny day. Pack your snacks and water before get on the trails.

On a cool and clear April weekday, the Tiberon Ferry was on-time and no problems. We hiked to the top of Mt. Livermore, where the views were spectacular. Allow a minimum of three hours for a hike with some stops for viewing or picnicking. The afternoon tram ride was very interesting with John, an informative and helpful driver.

Way back in my working drone years, I seemed to have a boss who wanted to come here for our corporate outing. It happened twice to me, and the last time I was with a group of tortoise-like colleagues who found ourselves running late for the last ferry. A ranger in a sag jeep picked us up to get to the dock much to our humiliation for several weeks back at the office. Now you know why I had not been back to Angel Island in over twenty years. But the reopening of the Angel Island/Tiburon ferry (review: https://bit.ly/3ErPSaq) in the midst of the endless pandemic made me think I should address my mental block, especially since neither Jamie W. not I had visited the immigration station museum (review: https://bit.ly/3EpAyvd). Going there itself took up a quarter of the 5-1/2-mile perimeter hiking trail. While most of it is scenic and manageable, there are a couple of unexpected hills that will add flights to your FitBit. There's another, more challenging trail up Mt. Livermore, but after all, we had Bloody Mary's waiting for us at Sam's (review: https://bit.ly/32u8bPc)., and no one likes a show-off. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Had a great day on the island with family visiting from out of town. I highly recommend the Angel Island Company tram tour for first-time visitors or anyone wanting to see more of the island without having too strenuous of a walk. Hames the driver / tour guide was kind and informative. Great customer service from the rest of the company, answering any questions I had and helping make the day memorable.

This day trip is a must if you're a Bay Area resident and probably worth it even if you're not. Take the ferry from Fisherman's Wharf or Tiburon (like we did) to Ayala Cove, which is in the northwest part of the island. Plan on at least a couple of hours to explore, or camp overnight if you want to stay longer (the last Tiburon ferry leaves at 3:20 pm). Visitors either bring bicycles and circumnavigate the island's gentle rise clockwise from Ayala Cove, or hike counter-clockwise along a steeper gradient to the best vistas on the southwest corner where the batteries are. You can book a tram which takes you around if you want to do neither. We saw beautiful views everywhere we looked - from Mount Tamalpais, Tiburon and the Richmond Bridge to the north, to the Bay bridge, fog-shrouded San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate to the south. We also saw deer and an amazing pair of flowering cacti that took my breath away! We will definitely be back!

I'd been to Angel Island a couple of times prior to yesterday. Both were for corporate events from an earlier chapter in my life. Yesterday was much different. It was a day trip with my bike group. Contrary to popular belief e-bikes are allowed on the island. There are signs posted throughout the island marking the bike route. The perimeter road is asphalt. Our bike leader led us on both the asphalt perimeter route and the fire road which is gravel. I've never been on a mountain bike or off road gravel road so this was a little unnerving for me. But I managed without incident on my trusty ebike. Some folks in our group later defaulted to only the perimeter road as the hill climbing and off road became challenging with their non ebikes. Be prepared for hill climbing. We covered most of the island. I think it's nine miles around the island but not 100% sure. Someone in our group had a flat tire. Fortunately it was replaced as our group of 31 bikers were prepared. I suggest a packed lunch. Lots of picnic tables scattered throughout the island. Many great views from atop of the island. We had enough time to bike the island but not enough time to examine the various buildings or learn more about Ellis Island of the West which is what Angel Island is known as because it served as the immigration station for both Asians and non Asians. I did visit the immigration building previously but that was many years ago. No recollection now. As a native San Franciscan you think you can visit anytime but in reality you don't. Like New Yorkers who have never been to the Statue of Liberty. I'm not going to say I'll return for another visit to Angel Island but never say never.

After trying for over a year, we got a camping spot! So my brother in law and I took a 10, two 8, and two 6 year olds backpacking to spots 7 and 8. This is the worst site areas since it's not covered and views the east bay. But wow so fun! We hiked the 1.5 miles to the site, set everything up then went down to the army base and beach. The next day we hiked over mt. Livermore, then back down to the ferry. The whole experience is so so fun and really age appropriate for our kids. It was the perfect last hooray before school!

Walt from Walt's Adventures here. I found myself on Angel Island! We took the tour and our guide was awesome. He stopped our tour now and again to further give us additional information on several locales around the island. We saw the old Civil War fort, the Immigration Processing Center and the old WWII fort. Each locale had its eerie energies from the past. The isle was beautiful and it was a great day. If given the chance... visit the isle.

First time here and I love it! Angel Island, a National Historic Landmark, is located in Angel Island State Park. The island is almost entirely in the city of Tiburon, in Marin County. You ride the ferry from Tiburon terminal to get there and it's just a 12 mins ride. Amazing views of the city of San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, city of Belvedere,Tiburon, Oakland, Alcatraz and Treasure Island.Overlooking the Marin County and San Francisco bay. Highest Point is Mount Caroline Livermore, 788 ft elevation. We started walking at 1030 am since first ferry ride is at 10. The traffic was still light both ways because we're the first batch and couldn't have asked for a better weather. It's considered an easy route but make sure to wear the right Took us around 13,000 steps for 5.2 miles and almost 3 hrs total. For my weight, pace, and age, my phone says I burned 558 calories. Not bad. However, feet and legs were a little sore after. I was dog-tired that night lol! There are a lot of picnic tables allover by the seashore and by the time we got done hiking, there were already a lot of people having picnic and people that just landed and starting their walk. We got done at around 130 pm and we still have ample time for the 220 ferry ride back to Tiburon. There's a cafe shop there that has a 2-man band playing guitars and next to ut has a small boith giving away free cocktails for promotion. What do you do? Of course taste them! Lol! Their toilet is clean but make sure that you go first before you start your hike. There is no portalet up there lol! I'd like to go back here and try again with biking instead then picnic afterwards.

Beautiful hidden gem in Northern California (near San Francisco) Lots of history located on this small island. Immigration Processing for the west coast for those wanting to immigrate to the United States, Nike Missile Base, Camp Reynolds, hiking, biking and more. Highly recommend the tram ride around the island as it gives a great overview of what has taken place and is currently happening on the island. Definitely tour the museum at the immigration processing. Then walk the last 1.2 miles back to where you started. Plan for about 3 hours to do it right.

This is a review for the Angel Island Company - they link to this Yelp page when they solicit a review. The Angel Island Tram had potential to be an excellent experience. Our driver was polite and informative; however, the tram makes a simple circuit of the island with a dated (25 year old) recording. A better experience would be a tram with on/offs permitted to explore the many beautiful and interesting sites on the island. This would be a very enjoyable way for those without the mobility to bike, hike, or walk, to see so much more than the tram's circuit permitted. Also, the Angel Island company does not pick up the phone or return calls.

Super fun day! Ferry ride is fun and Angel Island is beautiful and loved learning about the history.

COVID-19 Precautions. Admission to Angel Island State Park included with roundtrip ferry purchase. Scenic Bay Area Views. Hiking Paradise. Fun Day Trip For All. See below for more info: COVID-19 Precautions: Staff and visitors of the State Park wear masks. People keep a physical distance when exploring the island as well as when getting ready to board the ferry back to Tiburon. Admission to Angel Island State Park included with roundtrip ferry purchase: Admission to the Angel Island State Park is included with roundtrip purchase of the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry. Roundtrip tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors ages 65+, $13 for children ages 6-12, $5 for children ages 3-5, and free for passengers under the age of 2. There is a $1 additional fee for each bike. Scenic Bay Area Views: The scenic views of the Bay Area at Angel Island State Park are easily the best we have seen, and we are active hikers! Our favorite spot was about halfway of the perimeter loop as you can see iconic SF; there is a bench and table, ideal for a picnic. We the morning we went, Karl the fog was active, making the ferry ride to the island look straight out of Jurassic Park. Hiking Paradise: There are various hiking trails to choose from to explore. Two of the more popular trails are Mt. Livermore and the perimeter. We went for the latter and are happy we did as the views of the Bay Area were incredible. The perimeter loop is 5.9 miles and the easier of the two as the road is paved making the route popular among hikers, families, and bike riders. Mt. Livermore is a little longer at 6 miles but more of an elevation gain. There is more dirt on this road, but you get the highest views of the island with less people as many opt for the perimeter. Fun Day Trip For All: Angel Island State Park is a fun day trip for all. We saw a lot of duo hikers, like us, bikers, and families with small children to grammies. Activities whicg one can do at Angel Island State Park include walking, hiking, bike riding, photography, picnicking, and sightseeing to name a few. Overall, we had a lot of fun at the Angel Island State Park, and highly recommend y'all visit! :D

We love to hike. We started with just a small group with my cousin and her family more than a dozen or so years ago and we'd hike everywhere in the Bay Area. Heck, even when we go on vacation we look for places to hike. She even started a Facebook group and called it, "Oh, A Hiking We Would Go" which have grown in members over the years. I still go on my solo hikes a lot as I love the solitude and I can go on my own pace and go anywhere I want to go. However, hiking with a large group is fun, and there is safety in numbers. But you have to keep an eye for the newbies and "kids" who think they're invincible. That's why I always carry a medical kit in my backpack among other things just in case something happens. It's always better to have 'em and not need it than the other way around. Now hiking here at Angel Island is pretty unique since there's only one way to get here - which is on a boat. Ferry, boat, yacht, speedboat, sailboat, catamaran, dinghy, raft, canoe, kayak, paddleboat, cutter, fishing boat, you name it...it's still a boat. We've been here several times and we usually take the ferry from Tiburon. It's a short but pleasant and relaxing ride. I do recommend getting here early to get an early head start and the earlier the better. Angel Island is a State Park and the entrance fee is $5.00 (18 and over), $3.00 (6-17) and free for anyone 5 and under. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. Once on the island, there are more things to do than just hike and a lot of cyclists come here bringing their mountain bikes along. There are also bike rentals available seasonally. If you're into history, Angel Island is often referred to as the "Ellis Island of the West" as more than one million people from 80 countries passed through here during the early 1900's. Most did not receive a warm welcome, especially Chinese immigrants who were often detained on this island due to the 'Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882' as it restricted the numbers of immigrants based on their race, nationality and class. They were processed and held at the Angel Island Immigration Station, which is now designated as a National Historic Landmark. Well, the whole island is designated as California Historical Landmark administered by the California State Parks. At 1.2 square miles, there's plenty of areas to explore and sometimes one day is not enough to explore the entire area. Now if you want to go further down in history, the original inhabitants were the Coast Miwok Native Americans, who lived, thrived and fished along the Bay Area coasts. I could only imagine how life was back then and they certainly had some of the best views in the bay. And of course there is also military presence here as it was also used as a fort with batteries and garrison built on the island. During WWII some of the facilities were used as detention center for Japanese, German and Italian immigrants, an unfortunate and ugly history of that era. Later on during the war, Japanese and German prisoners of war were transferred here until after the war was over. During the cold war, a Nike Missile Site station was installed on the island until their removal in 1962. In the middle of the island is Mt. Livermore, the tallest peak at 788.86 feet above sea level. Here, you can get a 360 degree view of the Bay, and what a marvelous place to be, especially on a clear day. Just follow Fire Road Trail from the visitor's center and it'll eventually take you to the summit. There are also two different trails that you can explore like Sunset Trail and N. Ridge Road Trail that will take you around the rest of the island. Either trails you take, it's a nice challenge and scenic. Be sure to have enough water with you, and some snacks, too. However, there's a cafe at the boat dock in case you didn't bring any. If you're visiting here or if you live in the Bay, it's a nice excursion where you can easily spend an entire day. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 89

Perfect place for a day trip/hike! It's around a 6 mile loop around the island with beautiful bay views. You can get down to the beach as well which is around 2.7 miles from the starting point. I would recommend visiting the immigration museum as well, very informative, well organized, and eye opening. It costs around $5 per person for the self guided tour. People can bike on the island as well, though there are a few steep parts. Highly recommend for a nice outdoor day!

We had such an amazing time camping on Angel Island! We seriously can't wait to go back. The group campsite that we reserved was so great, really secluded and spacious with running water, a sink, a large raccoon box, and an outhouse. It was a bit of a hike in, but it was all on relatively flat, paved roads so you could certainly bring a cooler on wheels or load up a cart with supplies for a longer trip. We'll be booking our spring camping trip on the island soon since the sites tend to go quickly!

It was a great experience of visiting angel island with friends. Everything was proper organized and ferry was on time . I will have one request for the small cafe please stay open till the last ferry. Because when we came back from our walk the cafe was closed and tbh we were super hungry at that time. Overall good experience

I love Angel Island, but my big regret is the last time I was here was 25 years ago! I like how COVID conscious the park is. The ferry is by reservation only and upon arriving, they enforce strict social distancing rules. I totally respect that and was very sanitized before I entered the park. The ferry ride is quick, but it's nice to have fresh air on the way to the island. We took a walk around the entire island and it took all day to get around. Let's just say we made it back in time for the last ferry ride to Tiburon. This time around, we took our time going through the buildings and checking out what's out there. I think if I did it again, I would like to take a shorter hike, but set up a picnic spot near the beach area. Definitely bring a picnic, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen if you go. This is definitely an all day trip. When you get back, you can check out the restaurants in Tiburon before you head home.

Had a lovely day on Angel Island! We took the boat to one of the slips here and went for a job around the island's perimeter. It was about 5 miles around with plenty of interesting landmarks to stop and see on the route. As you make your way around the island, you will see abandoned military buildings, a Nike missile site, batteries, and great views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge when it's not blocked by the fog. There are nature trails through the middle of the island that I am sure are beautiful! Definitely worth a day trip!

Beautiful park with a lot of history and a great option for a day trip. The island is generally well maintained and has bathrooms available. I first visited the welcome center which is a quick walk from the dock. Appreciated the 3D terrain map at the welcome center. The immigration barracks are slightly further away and requires a walk/hike up some stairs. The alternative would be to pay for one of those tram tours. Visiting the immigration barracks is unfortunately an additional $5 per person (credit cards accepted) but was worth the cost. Free and reliable WiFi in more populated areas of the park courtesy of California State Parks.

Great day trip from SF (or you can overnight camp too)! We took a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf (can also come from the Tiburon side) - $18 RT with Clipper card. Be sure to load up RT ferry fare because there are no machines to load up on the Angel Island side. We got there around 11am (ferry left wharf around 10:30am). We did the perimeter hike, stopped by the immigration museum (free), and spent a lot of time wandering into the smaller areas reading signages outside of the historical buildings. If we were more time efficient and caught the earliest ferry, we could've done both of the main hikes (perimeter + the hike up to Mt. Livermore) but we went about it on a more relaxed pace. Views dependent on luck - we encountered persistent fog so it wasn't super clear for us. The perimeter hike was mostly paved so don't need boots or poles. We brought our own lunch/snacks and water source but did see spigots around. The restrooms in the main area are clean but the cleanest/nicest restroom around is definitely in the immigration museum (hours vary - when we were there: they are open only Fri - Sun for self guided tour). There was a small fee for the barracks museum so we didn't bother. We took the last ferry back (around 4:30pm) and enjoyed an early dinner at the ferry building (Hog Island Oyster = no wait!). A pretty lovely way to spend a day in the bay area!

Seriously amazing day! From the ferry ride to the tram tour to the hikes, I love this island! We did the tram tour just to get our bearings and hear the history. It was an hour ride (had to wear masks) with stops for pics and USIS. Museum at USIS is open! Sorry great G-ma and G-pa, we will come back to learn more about your struggles at the Chinese detention camp next time. We didn't attend this time as we were there to hike and thought it was "Covid-closed" as listed on their website the day before we went. We asked the tour guide about the hikes and he recommended North ridge trail. This is the one with the steps. I am not a hiker. I strive to workout 2-3x a week. I read a ton of the reviews on alltrails and random blogs and almost psyched myself out that I couldn't do this hike based on the way some people said it was really strenuous. This hike up to the top took about 77minutes and was 2.5ish miles up. It is unpaved, and rough terrain in some spots. Rough meaning a little rocky and uneven with knotty branches poking through areas of the path. It was narrow, single file throughout and we avoided the poison sumac/ivy/oak at times by raising our hands. A couple hairpin turns but nothing scary. Guardrails do exist when the cliff is close and my toes felt like they were coming out of my sneakers on the way down(harder than i thought even though it is downhill.) the view from the top was so worth it! Checkout the picnic tables on the small path beyond the point for the best views. There is one table at the summit but if you walk down the small path beyond, there is a platform with 2-3 tables and the views here were the reward! I was beat and sore afterwards and remember to apply sunscreen often if you sweat a lot. It was only 72degrees but the sun was beating down as it was a very clear day. Bring tons of water if hiking. 64oz per person or more if possible. I felt proud that I finished the hike in time to get the last ferry back at 4:15 but sunbaked and sore the day after. My 21yo niece of course had no problems at all on the hike and patiently waited for me to catch up at times (hi 144 step stairs) She even came home and went for a run afterwards as I hobbled to the bath! That's what a 30year age difference looks like! Great time, fun day, everyone should go at least once.

A great place to visit. I'd suggest you rent a bike or take the tram the walk it no joke!

I once did some volunteer cleanup at Angel Island many years ago with a bunch of coworkers. We were charged with removing brush and debris from culverts so that water can drain downwards. I never got the chance to hike or enjoy to awesome views here. Fast Forward to Labor Day 2019. Angel Island is an essential visit if you're in Tiburon. Just 10 minutes by ferry and $15/pp for a round-trip ticket and park entrance. They have lots of amenities here: helpful and friendly rangers, food, live music, and even free wifi in some areas. The park is well suited for hiking, biking, or BBQ or picnics. The hikes here are not too difficult, and the trails are wide and paved. You can see all the bridges, Alcatraz, and downtown SF on a clear day. The Park also offers up some history, with old military barracks, houses, a missile station and immigration station. Seeing all this can take 3-4 hours, and hiking around the perimeter of the park can take 3 hours. If you have limited time and prefer not to hike the entire island, you can commit to two stops. Starting from the ferry dock, hike in the counter-clockwise direction and check out Camp Reynolds and then the Batteries, which offer gorgeous view for pictures. This can easily be done in 1-2 hours.

hi everyone. today I rent a bike on angel land Ca. it cost $16 per hour you can take bike hole land under 45mims it depends. how fast go and look at scenery . they also have won touror bus land wonderful or hike nice the ferry info Timetable DEPART SAN FRANCISCO FERRY TERMINAL GATE B leave on Monday throw Friday at 9:20am or 10:25am or 1:55pm last leave at 3:35pm but can't stay land last one. Go ride back to San Francisco Saturday and Sunday/holiday 9:20am or 11:05am or 12:35pm or 3:15pm If you have any other questions let me know I want everyone to enjoy it have a wonderful day

I am a native California from Oakland, CA and in my 70's. I had never done the Angel Island tour so I took family and a friend and we took the Ferry from the Embarcadero and did the tour. We had a fantastic tour guide and a beautiful day on the Island. I can't believe I waited so long to do it. My husband who is from Buffalo, had never heard of Angel Island, even though he has lived in the Bay Area for many years and does tours with visitors of the Golden Gate, Muir Woods, Wine country, and even Alcatraz. He loved the tour.

Definitely worth a visit, but you want to do it right! Come prepared for the weather depending on the season. We just went this June on a week day. It was cool in the morning, was windy SO SO windy all day before getting in the high 70's early afternoon. Layers and lightweight windbreakers are your friends. The barracks at the immigration station are available to visit, but the hospital (now a museum) was closed and only open on the weekends. Boo. We packed lunches and snacks beforehand. Glad we did because the cafe there has limited options and if you have dietary restrictions it's not likely they'll be able to accommodate. The cafe is decent for snacks and popsicles though. We brought our own bikes to get there via Tiburon ferry and it's so much fun to do the Perimeter Road loop. I actually recommend being ready for some cardio because there were steep and hilly parts. If bringing your own bike make sure your brakes are good-to-go. There are so many scenic spots to stop, sit at a bench and enjoy a snack or drink of water. Can't wait to return on the weekend.

The mid-term elections can't get here soon enough for me. My anxiety level ratchets up daily. Each piece of political news obliterates the last and by Tuesday night I can barely remember the news of Tuesday morning. I look forward to the good old days, when I didn't feel compelled to listen to NPR Politics, Hardball, The Beat, and All In every day. If you don't know what I'm talking about, lucky you. Tom Stienstra, outdoorsman and SF Chronicle columnist recently published an article on the joys of a mid-week trip to Angel Island at this time of year. Beautiful weather and, with kids back in school, the place feels like your own urban oasis. I'll go a little further by saying what I particularly enjoyed about a recent Wednesday spent here: I think it's virtually impossible to worry about anything once you set foot on the island. If you haven't been to Angel Island in a while you'll arrive wondering why it's taken you so long to return. If you've never been, what are you waiting for? It's a mind-clearing experience, a reset. Go. An 8-minute, $15 (round trip) ferry boat ride from Tiburon lands you at Ayala Cove and you'll exit the ferry to a place with few cars, no homeless encampments, and views about which I couldn't stop remarking "as good as the Amalfi coast". At this time of year, the earliest ferry from Tiburon departs at 10 a.m. and the last return ferry back to Tiburon is at 3:30 p.m. I could've enjoyed another 60 - 90 minutes but that's not a complaint. Who wouldn't want more time in paradise without a care in the world? On this visit I started by enjoying a latte at the cove cafe, then hiked to Mt. Livermore - the island's peak - and took a long way around the island, stopping for a picnic at the serene, empty Quarry Beach. Even taking my time there was plenty of time to see the ruins left here by the military following WWII (and to wonder why someone didn't work to maintain them before letting them fall into ruin). The island isn't just beautiful, it's interesting and historic as well. A Ranger in Ayala Cove can tell you how to see or do any or all of these things during your visit. On a regular basis it's good to spend a day in a way that causes you to leave every care in the world behind you. Head to Angel Island mid-week this fall and see for yourself what a little time on an island in the middle of one of Earth's most beautiful places does for your mental health.

Lovely daytime getaway. Beautiful lush trees and a nice hiking spot. Be sure to wear comfy shoes and come prepared to walk. Don't miss the ferry back!

There are definitely some great views from here and a lovely paved/gravel 5 mile hike, but to get here there's a pricey ferry ride and the building and structures could use an update. The old "residences" should be fenced in if they are in danger of collapse. You know some curious George is going to go wandering over if a building looks open and can be walked through. Bicyclists don't have a lane so it's dangerous if you're going uphill with a stroller and someone else is flying downhill on a bike. A small child lost control and crashed into a sign in front of us (no helmet) and his parents were nowhere to be seen for minutes after. Sigh - bad parenting. But also signage could be better at downhill junctions. The only restroom (after the docks) that we saw were at the 3.3 mile marker. And they ended up being completely blocked by a huge downed tree. The next one was at the 3.5 mile marker at the China camp immigration station. These restrooms were clean but there were only two individual unisex permanent porta-potty style rooms outside. The flushing toilets and running water were a plus, however.

I've been to Angel Island a few times but this last go round was a memorable one. We took the Angel Island-Tiburon ferry in, they offer several departure times (there and back). When arriving, stop by the visit center for a map if you need one. We had planned to visit Perles Beach and enjoy some quiet time, fresh air and lunch. We packed sandwiches in our cooler and trekked to the beach. From visitor center (there are also bathrooms there, tip: take the time to use it, it's fairly clean with sinks, soap and paper towels) take the perimeter road trail, past Camp Reynolds (or stop by if you have time), enjoy coastal views past Battery Ledyard. Just a few steps trekking down perimeter road, look for the "beach sign" and start your descend. The sign going to the beach can be a bit hidden but keep an eye out! If you don't want to go to the beach, you can hike Mt Livermore and also check out the other Forts and immigration station. Please keep this park clean and dispose your trash properly. This park is great for kids/families/couples/bike rides/solo hikes.

Such a great place to visit and explore! I came here on a company day trip and was immediately impressed with this beautiful island! Started the morning taking a ferry at around 10am from Pier 41 in San Francisco (one way is $8.50). My company booked an event here where we played a scavenger hunt game, drank beers/wine, ate BBQ chicken, potato salad, salad, cookies and macaroons. Fun filled day all organized by the people working on the island (but of course paid for by my company). After the food and games, we were able to choose what we wanted to do. Whether it was hike up to Mt Livermore, play sports (badminton, volleyball, football, etc), ride bikes around the island ($15/hour), or take the tram tour ($16.50). I decided to go on the hike with my coworkers and it was absolutely amazing! Of course we had a lot of wine left over so we brought that along to our hike and drank while hiking! Not a treacherous hike at all but there is some incline. We didn't go all the way up to the top of the summit because we were afraid of missing the last ferry at 4:10pm but the views along the way were beautiful and worthwhile! I would definitely want to bring my bike back here and go around the island! I also want to visit the immigration center next time I come here as well because I know this island has tons of history behind it. I hear it's the Ellis island of the west coast!

Took the ferry over at 945am I packed a Lunch an plenty of water the hike up . This was an easy hike once got to the top the most amazing views of the bay area . San had lunch went right down by the time I got down the ferry back to San Francisco is already gone so I had to wait an hour for the next ferry which was super Disappointing because then that fairy stopped in Sausalito Tiburon and then San Francisco so it added an extra 15 minutes on to the normal 30 minute ride it was a great trip I would suggest families to go and take that hike have a great picnic afterwards there's a place to barbecue as well and you can bring your bikes over and just ride on the road just beautiful

Enjoyed the tram ride around the island and the docent tour. Angle island is heaven, and the park and ancillary staff do a great job helping visitors get the most from their excursion. I plan on returning many times to this island paradise.

a beautiful escape from the city into nature! only a short, fun ferry ride away to see these breathtaking views. Fun to hike and explore

Hiked to the top of this park in October 2020 during covid season and it was so fun. So glad we were able to do this, even with toddler in tow. The trail is manageable and steady incline to the top. We were lucky enough to make it to the top to see 360 degree views of the bay and even see the Golden Gate Bridge. Right after we arrived at the top, and saw everything for about 20 minutes or so - the fog came in and engulfed the bridge! Haha good thing we got our photos in before the fog took away all the sites. This is likely to happen when you hike to the top in the morning. Definitely recommend this state park if you want something different when visiting the Bay Area, the museum was closed though. Amazing views and fun way up exercise!

It's a Gorgeous day on Angel Island. It's very peaceful here and therapeutic. Hikers, Bikers, Joggers, Campers, and Photographers will love this place. There's a lot of history that comes with this island. Must wear comfortable shoes and bring camera to capture the moment. It can get very hot as well as very cold here. Weather can be very tricky, dress in layers. If you're not planning to buy the tour on the island, be ready to walk a lot.....I mean a lot and must be in good shape. Otherwise, it's a gorgeous place to be doing outdoor activities. Next time we come here, we are seriously considering bringing a bike. We're not able to tour the whole island on foot today, but we got very far. Also,. Depends how far you want to walk, you might miss the last ferry back to Pier 41.......Then you'll be stuck on the island overnight. Plan ahead or this trip might not be worth it. I would suggest bringing food and drinks If you're planning to stay more than 3 hours. There's plenty to see. For those who have little ones, an island tour might be wise to purchase. Happy exploring!!!

Angel Island is fantastic! If you're a history buff, then you're aware that Angel Island is known as the "Ellis Island of the west." During the first half of the 20th Century, Angel Island was the primary immigration inspection station for individuals and families immigrating from Asia. Prior to that, the island was home to a United States military presence since 1850. After World War 2, the island became a California state park. Over the years, the island has become a relatively low-key park with picnic areas, hiking trails and wonderful views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Sausalito, Tiburon and Berkeley. Throughout the year, there are several events held on the island. From half-marathons to Civil War reenactments (the island was fortified for fear of a Confederate invasion of the Bay Area during the Civil War), there are many things going on most of the year. If you take the ferry, you'll arrive in Ayala Cove. The cove is home to some picnic areas, restaurants and many parked boats. From there, you can explore the island along many of the wonderful trails. There is quite a bit to see and experience. However, it is very important that you keep track of time. The ferries run on schedules -- and you don't want to miss the last ferry off the island! We usually take the Blue & Gold ferry from Pier 41 in San Francisco or Tiburon. TIPS: Bring a camera, snacks and water! This is a big island. Despite the year-round cool weather, you'll need to stay hydrated as you hike up and down the trails.