Angel Island State Park

This is by far one of the most worthwhile Bay Area hikes I’ve been on so far. If there’s any hike I’d take a visitor on, it would probably be this one.
The more difficult part is at the beginning when you climb the stairs, after that it’s an easy hike as it’s very flat, and there are gorgeous views starting from halfway up. It took us a bit over an hour to get to the top, though we spent a lot of our time taking photos. The trails were well paved and we didn’t need to rely too much on Google Maps — the signs were pretty clear. You can explore the island in under 4 hours — so taking the 12 or 1pm ferry from Fischerman’s Wharf is fine. The island is actually quite large, so there is quite a lot to explore if you want to do a day trip as well.

A bit of a trek just to get to, but it is worthwhile to check it out. Angel Island is a very cool state park with a variety of activities. To get here, you’ll need to take one of the ferries which go here. Some locations include the Ferry Building, Pier 41, or in Tiburon. I think there are other areas listed on their website. Keep in mind that some of these ferries do have limited schedules so plan accordingly too.
The most surprising thing to me once I got here was how big the island actually is. It was much larger than I expected. The dock on Angel Island is pretty cool offering activity rentals, a café/​restaurant, and a tram tour. There are options for any age group. There’s even camping available. My friends and I did the hike while we were here, it isn’t a very difficult hike, easier than Mission Peak (I’ll pick this comparison since most people in the Bay know of that hike). The hike is much nicer in my opinion though since you get a view of Tiburon and the Bay as you hike up. The trails can also be a bit confusing too so make sure you have a map handy (Google Maps actually worked pretty well for me here).
If you’re only planning a day trip, I wouldn’t plan on doing multiple activities given the ferry schedule. But this just gives you an excuse to revisit! I can’t wait to go here next summer!

I’ve never had the chance to visit Angel Island, until very recently. Very scenic and there are a few hiking trails that will take you up to the summit, known as Mt. Livermore, where you can see the East Bay, North Bay, and San Francisco all at the same time! How cool is that? And plenty of hills, trees, and of course, the bay itself!
It’s $ 15.00 to board the Tiburon ferry (cash only!) and a 20-​minute ride from the port to the island (or vice versa). I think it’s worth the price to check out Angel Island and I spent about 3 hours and still couldn’t quite see every single thing before having to go back to Tiburon. But in any case, there is quite a bit of history to see and learn! Perfect for a day trip! But if you’re not planning to camp overnight, don’t miss the last scheduled ferry from Angel Island back to Tiburon!

This place seems to be one of the less talked about state parks of beautiful California. Perhaps due to its limited accessibility: via ferry or your own boat… and the ferry is extremely limited during the off season. Either way, it makes for a great day trip or even an overnight hike-​in camping trip.
Angel Island is rich with history and beautiful views of the bay. Fort McDowell is fun to poke around, and Quarry Beach is a wonderful spot (although tiny).
Camping there was one of the best experiences, with a beautiful view of the city’s skyline at night and such peace in the middle of the bay.
Tip for campers: the eco toilets at the camp sites are rancid… you’re better off going behind some bushes.

I’m such a city creature, so getting out of the city for a day was a big move for me. I came here on a lovely Sunday with my roommate for a nature hike, bike rental and tram tour. I was no disappointed!
The island is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve lived in San Francisco for 5 years, and somehow this was my first time to the Island. As soon as you get off the boat, you’re greeted with trees, wildlife, and the gorgeous sun. We definitely got lucky with the weather!
First things first — we needed some food and liquor. The adorable cafes, although busy, were great. Me and my friend shared a bottle of sparkling wine. She had the cuban sandwich, and I had the fish tacos. The food was delicious, we finished all of our food. As soon was we finished our divine bubbly, we went straight for nature.
Very close to the cafes is the beginning that leads to the wilderness! We went to an abandoned patch of fallen trees, and after doing an instagram photoshoot, we began our exploration. It’s so refreshing getting the hell out of the city and being a part of nature, just for a few hours.
The tram tour was absolutely fabulous. We got to see some of the BEST views of the city we’d ever seen. Please, take a gander at my photos below and take in the gorgeousness that is San Francisco. Can you believe we live here!?!
The tour was very informative as well. Just a tad bit of historical facts sprinkled along a gorgeous ride through the hills of Angel Island. It was a dream.
I’m counting down the days that I can come back and enjoy these magnificent views (and delicious food).

Angel Island was very beautiful but the heat and numerous bugs prevented me from having a great time. I did the tram tour and got to hear the history behind the island. I really enjoyed seeing many of the buildings, especially the hospital. Our tour guide was very nice and would occasionally stop so we could take pictures.
This trip was a surprise sooooo had I known where I was going, I would of not worn heels (yes I did get some looks) Next time I go back I WILL be in tennis and workout clothes probably hiking or riding a bike

Loved everything about my hike here yesterday. I wish I took advantage of Angel Island more often but living so close by, I take it for granted.
Getting There:
We took the 920 Ferry from the Ferry Building. On the way to Angel Island, the ferry stopped at Pier 41 around 945. Price is $ 9 one way and you can buy tickets on board (they take credit cards).
Ferry:
The experience starts with a lovely ferry ride. Made sure to sit at the bow of the boat (the part facing the shore when docked). There were some fierce flies and interesting smells at the piers but both subsided as we got underway.
AMAZING views of the skyline, bay bridge, Oakland, treasure island, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Belvedere/​Tiburon.
Arriving at Angel Island:
The ferry can get crowded once it picks up passengers at pier 41 so make sure to start heading down as you approach Ayala Cove so you can leave the ferry before the throng.
Hike:
We used the Bay Area Hiker website for the Northridge to Sunset trail with a short climb up Mt Livermore. You can’t take bikes on this trail but there’s a 5 mile perimeter road that is good for biking.
The trail was beautiful and surprisingly sparse of other hikers. We saw about a dozen people over 2 – 3 hours. If you hike fairly often, you’ll probably find this hike pretty easy. I wore Tom’s and was totally fine. The people in full on hiking gear were «doing too much.» A pair of athletic shoes and comfortable pants will do you just fine. At best, the level is easy/​moderate.
Lots of spectacular views on the trail! I took so many pictures because it just kept getting better and better as we ascended to Mt. Livermore. On a clear/​sunny day, it’s one of the best views in the bay.
After our hike, we sat at one of the picnic tables in the group area (in front of the visitor’s center) and ate a packed lunch. I was surprisingly hungry so pack something more substantial than snacks (pb&j sandwiches never tasted to good!).
The visitor’s center was informative and the park ranger who was inside was really knowledgeable. She recommend we go to immigration station which is about a half hour walk from the visitor’s center on the perimeter road. Unfortunately we only had about 15 minutes at the station and just walked around a bit before heading back. There is a paid ($ 5) self guided tour. It also closes at 3 so if you’re trying to take the 320 ferry back, it’s a bit tight.
We thought we would be able to take the 1235 ferry back-​definitely not enough time if you do the Northridge/​sunset trails. The 320 ferry back was perfect timing for us since I was pretty tired at that point.
There’s a small beach in Ayala Cove near the restrooms. We didn’t get to explore all of the garrisons on the island but will return soon!
Fun fact: There are deer!!! We saw one at immigration station :)
Back to SF:
Ferry back was a lot more crowded and only stopped at pier 41.
Overall: Great day activity for out of towners and an easy/​moderate and scenic hike without having to drive to Marin.

We had nice, relaxing day on Angel Island with fantastic weather and gorgeous views from every vantage point. We didn’t do the hike to the top of Mount Livermore, but had a leisurely 5 mile stroll on Perimeter Road circling the island. Angel Island is a great day or couple hour trip to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can tour it by foot, bike, tram, or even segway, but there’s a lot to see and learn on the historic island. There’s a map on the website and usually a ranger to answer any questions or give directions as you get off the ferry.
Perimeter Road is accessible from any direction uphill out of Ayala Cove. It’s a paved road with mild inclines. There’s something to see or view at least every half mile. We had extended stops at Fort McDowell and the Immigration Station. The $ 5 tour of the museum was part of our stop at the Immigration Station and well worth it. Bring a lunch or snacks because the only place to eat is the café, but there are plenty of picnic tables to grab a seat along the road.
We’ll definitely be returning to hike up to the top Mt. Livermore and maybe bike on Fire Road. Have fun, enjoy the views, and remember not to miss the last ferry leaving at 3:20.

Super scenic easy hike that’s great for beginner hikers, tourists and guests visiting SF.
My friend visited for the weekend and only had 48 hours to spend in the city. This ended up being the perfect place to take her to get a elevated view of the Bay.
The island will take about 3 hours to get around (+/​-​a few minutes depending on how many stops you make to take pictures or just take in the views — and trust me… you’ll want to stop every 0.25 miles as there are so many great spots to take pics).
Be sure to hike to the pinnacle of the island as you can get a 360 view from up top. The trek here doesn’t take that long either.
We were fortunate enough to talk to a tour guide first who advised we hike the island counter clock-​wise as this would be less strenuous and steep. We’re sure glad we took her advice! We found a lot of folks on our descent down making their ascent while struggling to get up the hills.
Afterwards, there’s a restaurant and shop you can stop by to get some refreshing drinks to quench your thirst.
I highly recommend this hike especially if you’re a beginner hiker or have guests and want really scenic views without having to put yourself through a tough hike.

From what I understand you can take a ferry from San Francisco, Oakland or Tiburon.
Being it was a perfect Sunday afternoon and driving from San Mateo, we decided to skip the City and head to Tiburon because we knew Parkin would be easier and the crowds would be less.
On weekends the ferry leaves every hour and returns every 20 minutes past the hour with the last ferry returning to Tiburon at 5:20pm.
Pay as you board the Ferry and receive a return ticket.
Once arriving on Angel Island you can go straight to the café and grab food, beer and listen to live music, head to the beach and relax, hike, bike, pay for a tram to go around the island or explore the old building and camp grounds.
Plenty to do on this Island.
We made a Day of it and enjoyed it 100%. From the views to the solitude of being on and island in San Francisco Bay is well worth a trip to Angel Island!

Review #800
Ten Easy Steps to Happiness®
Solo summits and the Golden State: Mount Livermore
The stunning views of the Bay area from the summit of Mount Livermore rank it among the finest hikeable panoramic vistas in all of California. I’d put it in alongside the Cone Peak lookout in Big Sur, the fire road summit on Mount Saint Helena, in Napa Valley, Cerro Alto summit near Morro Bay, magnificent Gaylor Peak, in Yosemite high country near Tioga Pass, and Lassen Peak, in all its snow-​capped volcanic glory, as some of the most gorgeous spots for gaping at the natural beauty of the Golden State. This is far from a comprehensive list, of course, but it’s a pretty good start. These are all hikeable, no fancy equipment or training required. All you need is a little grit, a lot of love, and an unquenchable desire to experience nearly limitless open space.
But these places really come of their own when you have the summit to yourself, and that in a heavily populated state like California ain’t easy.
Not easy, but it is possible. You, too, can be the first of the day to summit Mount Livermore, to have that unobserved Sound of Music moment where you spin in circles and take it all in: the bridges, the islands, the skylines, the sailboats, the container ships, the ferries, the beautiful blues and whites of the bay — the whole bay, outstretched beneath your feet.
How to do it? Here are a few tips to maximize the magical realism of your very own Mount Livermore moment.
1. Pier 41 ferry stop, 9:15 am — get a round trip ticket to Angel Island ($ 9 each way). Leave on the 9:45 ferry.
2. As the ferry pulls into Ayala Cove, put on your pack, adjust your trekking poles (you have trekking poles, right?), position yourself near the exit.
3. Once you have disembarked, head directly to the trail to the left — no stopping, no adjusting, no applying sunscreen, no bathroom breaks. Take care of those things before leaving the ferry.
4. Do not stop to take pictures. Do not stop, period. Just maintain a steady pace, using your trekking poles to help propel you up the trail. Follow the signs to the summit of Mount Livermore. Do not frighten the deer on your ascent to the top.
5. If you are able to maintain this pace, you can reach the summit in under an hour. If that happens, you’ll likely have 5 – 10 minutes of solitude at the top, before the first of what will soon become hordes of fellow hikers will start to arrive.
6. Once the crowds start to gather, leave! The moment, it has passed. The most important rule of the solo summit is not to linger.
7. Return to Ayala Cove, descending on the Sunset Trail, completing your loop hike. Enjoy the views, sidestepping the crowds coming up the trail to the top.
8. Once you are back to the cove, consider leaving on the first ferry back — ca. 12:30 pm. There is no need to stay longer than that, unless you want to eat lunch at the island. Angel Island will only get more packed once the next ferry disgorges its contents. Leave before it feels to full.
9. Savor the ferry ride back. You earned it!
10. Depart Pier 41, then grab a coffee or good meal in San Francisco. You’ll always have Mount Livermore to yourself; that moment is etched in eternity, and it will never die.
Note: clear skies are best, of course. Fog will affect the experience, but it won’t ruin it.
Ten Easy Steps to Happiness®
Solo summits and the Golden State: Mount Livermore

This is a truly beautiful island to visit.
When visiting, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, light jacket, and backpack filled with water and food.
There is a café reasonable price, friendly staff, and GREAT BBQ sandwich.
The views from this island is wonderful, bring your camera.
There is a picnic area and more to come, construction was going on, even in the light rain.
I hope you enjoy your visit here as much as I did.

I was here for a few hours and will be back. Just got short overview. If it’s your first time on island I suggest taking tram tour. There is a road going around outside of island. It has great views of the bay and coast line of the water. We even saw one of the deer on island. The tram stops at a few spot to take pictures and gives history of island and buildings on island. There are also a few stops where you can get out and walk around. It eventually ends up back at your starting point on Ayala cove
There are camp grounds and many bike and hiking trails. I didn’t get to experience these but saw many people biking around. They had a few guys in wwii gear with a tent set up and they explained what it was like for soldiers on base and in pacific theater.
Angel island is Ellis island of west and they are expanding and renovating museums currently to expand on that history

Came to Angel Island for a day trip to hike with friends and was well worth it.
THE JOURNEY TO GET TO ANGEL ISLAND:
*Take the ferry for $ 15 – 18 RT from one of three locations: SF Pier 39, Sausalito, or Tiburon. You should factor in commute time and parking. We commuted with public transit (BART) and walked to Pier 39 to avoid the parking costs.
*Ferry ride was smooth and beautiful.
ANGEL ISLAND HIKE:
We took the Perimeter Rd that was approximately 5 miles. It was easy and laid back. I even hauled some beers in my backpack. My friends finished it all by by the half way point. (We of course disposed the beer bottles properly, b/​c I’m a big stickler on keeping nature clean.)
There’s a beach and many abandoned houses. A bunch of great history in what went on in these buildings.
EXPERIENCE THE 360 VIEW:
Go onto Mt. Livermore to see the 360 view of the Bay Area. It’s the best part and worth your time.
THE FOOD ON ANGEL ISLAND:
There is only one food spot here. CASH ONLY.
Everyone in my group said they would come back again.
TIPS:
*Bring sunscreen
*Bring your lunch, snacks, and water
*Bring a warm sweater. It can get windy on the ferry and the island.
*Bring a camera
*If you depart from SF, be ready to stay there the whole day b/​c the ferry doesn’t come back until 4 pm. Only 1 ferry going there and 1 coming back to SF (in February).

Before I head off to bed, I owe Angel Island a review for such a memorable weekend. This review is only for camping. We did a 1-​night overnight backpacking trip, so we didn’t have enough time to explore everything on the island. But it’s ok, because this just gives me an excuse to come back soon!
Book 6 months in advance. I’m not even kidding. The campsites fill up quickly, so unless you can afford to take time off from work to camp on the weekdays, you need to be on your computer 6 months in advance to reserve your campsite for the weekend you want to go.
Tips:
— Campsite is ~$ 38/​night, 8 people max per site, via Reserve America
— Cross the bridge and go over to Tiburon to get to Angel Island. Parking by the Chase bank is ~$ 4 – 5 for 24 hours, and it’s only about a half mile walk to the ferry.
— Ferry is $ 12 round trip. You can pay by cash or credit card as you board the ferry. Don’t lose your ticket stub because you’ll need it to get back on the ferry for your return trip!
— Once you get off the ferry, there is a ranger to greet everyone and check-​in campers.
— If you’re planning on camping, I’m sure you’ve done your research and know you need to backpack everything in. Yes, you do so keep it minimal unless you want to bring and lug giant coolers to your campsite (1 – 2.5 miles from the visitor center where the ferry drops you off). Since we did an overnight trip, we decided to just freeze various marinated meats and carried it in our packs.
— There is a food café on the island to accommodate day visitors (also serves BEER!). But it’s also a good lunch alternative for campers and then you’ll have one less meal to pack and carry onto the island.
— Bathrooms are NOT outhouses! LOL. That was one of our biggest concerns. Each campsite had a relatively nice, clean, and fully stocked single bathroom; raccoon box; trash can; picnic tables; charcoal BBQ; and drinking water/​faucet.
We didn’t have enough time to hike the entire island, but once the last ferry left the island, it was extremely quiet and peaceful. After 4pm, the only people remaining on the island are the rangers and campers. It’s a great opportunity to hike up to the top of Mt. Livermore and catch the sunset. GORGEOUS VIEWS. *insert touchdown emoji*
We spent the majority of our time eating, drinking, chilling, and soaking in all the views. Hoping to go back soon for a day trip because there’s still a lot we didn’t do: Immigration Station ($ 5 admission), audio-​guided tram tour, oyster bar, bike riding (you can bring your own bike onto the ferry for free btw). I definitely recommend camping on Angel Island, and on a weekday if possible.

Best place to do scenic adventures. I’ve gone hiking and biking here a few times. We always take the the blue & gold fleet ferry to the island. You can see the whole city view as well as the bridges!
When you take the ferry, the view is already amazing! You pass by Alcatraz and see Tiburon from Saulsilito.
The hike itself was pretty easy most people run. There are some inclines so if you ride the bikes and it’s your first time it might be a little difficult. You can rent the bikes near the Piers! We usually rent for the whole day must cheaper :)
People also go backpacking and have picnics here. There is a restaurant there as well as a band.

My friends and I have been coming here most every Memorial Day for the past 12 years and there is still stuff for us to do.
We’ve bbq’d, jumped in the water, hiked multiple trails up and down the island, bike ride and toured the many museums.
It’s a lot of fun just hang around and take in the beautiful Bay Area.

This will be a long post but I’m really excited about this place and hopefully this will be chock-​full of useful information for you.
I ferried over from SF at 9:45am on a chilly morning. The ferry process was straight-​forward, $ 18 RT, and you can buy your tickets at Pier 41 or just on board the boat. 25 minutes later, you’ve arrived at this beautiful little pocket of pristine nature /​sunshine just outside of SF and Tiburon.
If you’re up for a little bit of adventure, I highly recommend the «Natural History» hike up to the top of Mt. Livermore. The estimated trail is 2.5 hours for the 4.5 mile loop, but I’d allocate 3 – 4 hours for a picnic up top with amazing views and some time to get lost /​stop for passing deer (we saw a whole family!).
If you want to take it chill and just enjoy nature in its unadulterated form, there’s a 5 mile perimeter trail without the elevation change. Plenty of picnic tables around as well.
If you have the time, I’d recommend stopping by the immigration internment center. It’s a sobering place, but you’ll really appreciate the history of the place. For me, it was worth worth the $ 5 and the ~1 mile walk from the dock.
Excited to have found such a quiet pocket of peacefulness just 20 minutes outside of SF. Highly recommended!

Came here on the ferry from Pier 41. Can get a little hectic getting there and parking is very expensive around the pier, however Angel Island is well worth it. I absolutely loved this place! We did the hike to the top and views were phenomenal. You could see literally everything-​SF, Berkley, Oakland, Alcatraz, East Bay, etc. Afterwards walked around a bit. It was INCREDIBLE! Weather was picture perfect and it was a peaceful, relatively easy hike to the top. Very doable for the novice hiker like myself. Also have tram options if have physical limitations.
Main negative to this place is how expensive the food can be, thus would recommend bringing own food for a picnic. Also, have limited ferry times, so need to plan accordingly. Other then this would HIGHLY recommend. Would come on a weekday, as heard it can get very crowded on weekends.