Angel Island State Park

A cool experience with 6 to 10 mile hikes

Trek into the wilderness and sleep in the backcountry

Ideal for first-timers

Summiting Mt. Livermore and reliving history at Angel Island State Park

Yvonne Leow

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Last updated

August 3, 2024

Trip · 3-day backpacking trip

For · Friends and first-time backpackers

Vibe · Moderate and fun

Distance · 10.4 miles with 1,270 feet of elevation gain

Permits · Yep, reserve a Ridge campsite

Drive · 20 minute ferry ride from SF

Ideal dates · April to October

Pets · Not allowed on the island

Spanish explorer Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala named Isla de Los Angeles (Angel Island) in 1775. It has since been a military base, immigration station, and now a state park. Angel Island is the largest natural island in the bay so you'll have sweeping views of the SF skyline. Reserve a campsite early and catch a ferry from SF to camp in one of the most unique places in the Bay Area.

Directions To SF Ferry Terminal

Official State Park Website

Main image credit: Steven Coffey

Prep Itinerary Gear Food

Stuff to know

Your ferry ticket includes the state park entrance fee
Check the ferry schedule because departure times vary each season
Raccoons can be rambunctious on the island so be sure to store food and scented items in your campsite's storage locker overnight and when you're away from camp
Charcoal grills and camp stoves are allowed, but campfires are not
You can bring your bike onto the island and make it a bikepacking trip! Roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, and scooters aren't allowed though.
Pack layers! The weather can get windy and cold, especially in the evenings
Due to strong currents and the lack of lifeguards, swimming in the Bay is discouraged

Resources

Check the weather

Where to camp

Ridge Campground

Each campsite comes with a:

Picnic table
Space for up to 8 people
Food storage locker

Angel Island has a total of 16 campsites, and hike-in Ridge campsites have some of the best views. Ridge campsite 4 and 5 are the ones to reserve, but they're fairly exposed to the sun and wind. Ridge sites 5 and 6 are more sheltered from the elements. Camping on Angel Island involves a one or two mile trek from the ferry drop-off area, which makes this a perfect trip for campers who want to try out backpacking. It's about a 40-minute walk from the ferry to Ridge campsites.

Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: 12 PM‍

View Campground Map‍

Nightly Rate: $30

Reserve your campsite

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Itinerary

Day One

Jump on the morning Golden Gate Ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Terminal

Golden Gate Ferry offers a daily ferry from SF to Angel Island
Round-trip tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for kids
It's only a 20-minute ferry ride!

Arrive at Angel Island hike to Ridge Campground

Perimeter Road is paved and wraps around the entire island
Trek along Perimeter Road (for less than 40 minutes) to your Ridge Campsite and set up camp!

Pack a lunch and walk to Perles Beach

From campsites 4 and 5, it's just a short walk down to a sandy beach with stunning views of the SF skyline. Enjoy a picnic lunch!

Check out Camp Reynolds (West Garrison)

Return to Perimeter Road, hike counter-clockwise, and check out Camp Reynolds, a historical landmark

If you're feeling ambitious, hike the Angel Island Perimeter Loop

Continue hiking counter-clockwise along Perimeter Road. This easy loop is 5.5 miles long, with 528 feet of elevation, takes you around the entire island
Stop by Angel Island Immigration Station overlooking China Cove, Fort McDowell (East Garrison) and Point Blunt Lighthouse along the way

Return to camp and cook up dinner

Soak up glorious views of the Bay!

Ferry to camp: 1.7 miles - 184 feet of elevation gain - 1 hour

From 1910 - 1940, Angel Island was an immigration station, processing nearly a million immigrants and detaining Chinese immigrants for weeks

Day Two

Make brekkie, pack a lunch and take Sunset Trail to Mount Livermore

Hike 0.5 miles from Ridge campground to Sunset Trail, which then takes you up Mount Livermore, the tallest peak on the island. It's about 656 feet of elevation gain and about 4 miles round trip.
Pack a daypack with lunch, sunscreen, sunhat, bug spray, and water
Have lunch at the top of Mount Livermore