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

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

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

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

Designed by
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

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
Angel Island State Park

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

Ridge Campground
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Itinerary

Day One

Angel Island State Park
Check out those views!

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

Sunset Trail to Mount Livermore
Sunset Trail to Mount Livermore. Credit: AllTrails

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

Check out Quarry Beach from Mount Livermore

  • Instead of returning to camp, take Ida Trail and continue hiking east towards Fort McDowell
  • Find a spot to hang out and relax for the afternoon

Return to camp and enjoy a sunset dinner

  • Cook up your last dinner on Angel Island!
2,000 years ago, the Coast Miwok tribe camped on Angel Island and used it as a hunting and fishing site

DAY THREE

Angel Island State Park
So long, Angel Island. Credit: The Travel

Pack up and pack out before noon

  • Sleep-in, cook a hot breakfast, and check for any litter around camp
  • Reserve an hour or so for hiking back to the ferry drop-off area.

Catch the afternoon ferry back to SF!

For a century, the U.S. Army designated Angel Island as a military base. It was decommissioned and turned over to State Parks in 1963.
June 1, 2024

Bewilder at LAist Super-Fun Saturday

Make wildflower seed bombs with Bezzi the Yeti at LAist's Super Fun Saturday

Event in 2 days

Bewilder Basecamp: Spooky Wonders

Join Bezzi the Yeti on her first spooky camping adventure!

Shop curated gear

Everything your family needs for a fun and easy campout

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Bezzi's Pick
$399.95

NEMO 4-person Aurora Highrise Tent

This colorful tent can fit 4 to 6 people, and is easy to set up and pack out!

Bezzi's Pick
$249.95

NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair

Lean back, and we mean all the way back, in this luxurious camp chair. You'll never want to sit up.

Bezzi's Pick
$249.95

NEMO Roamer Self-Inflating Mattress

These are the cushiest sleeping pads we've tried! They come in Extra Wide and Double (for extra cuddles).

Bezzi's Pick
$99.95

Big Mo Toddler Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag that's designed for toddlers from ages 18-36 months.

Bezzi's Pick
$139.95

Big Mo 20° Down Kids Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag designed for kiddos age 2-4 years old

Bezzi's Pick
$42

First Peak All-Season Sweatshirt

A cozy sweatshirt for ages 6 months to 4T designed for outdoor exploration.

Bezzi's Pick
$38

First Peak Flannel

A durable and soft flannel shirt that's kid-sized from 6 months to 4T

Bezzi's Pick
$59.95

NEMO Fillo Luxury Camping Pillow

Bring your own or splurge on this pillow that's designed for outdoor fun.

Bezzi's Pick
$100

GCI Outdoor Slim Fold Cook Station

Picnic tables don't always cut it for cooking outside. This one is easy to use and has plenty of counter space.

Bezzi's Pick
$89.99

Coleman Pack-Away Cot

Elevate your sleep system (literally) with this heavy-ish but easy to set up cot.

Bezzi's Pick
$69.95

Kelty Lowdown Chair

It's sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and a tad pricier than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.

Bezzi's Pick
$189.99

Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove

A popular and reliable dual-burner camp stove that stays hot in windy conditions.

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Meal & snack ideas

It turns out everything tastes better when we're outside

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Dessert

S'mores

Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Dinner

Mac n' cheese

Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Snack

Lorissa's Kitchen Korean BBQ Steak Strips

Gluten Free

Bezzi's Pick
Snack

Solely Pineapple Coconut Fruit Jerky

Gluten Free · Vegan

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