Please contact the Ranger’s office for information not listed below: (415) 435-5390.
Baseball, the national pastime played a key role in the American war effort during World War II. American soldiers played baseball whenever, and wherever they could.
Bring your bat, ball and glove as the baseball field, once used by the troops at Ft. McDowell (aka East Garrison) is a unique and memorable spot for a game! And be sure to arrive early as the baseball diamond is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bikes can be brought by ferry or rented on the island. Rental services are provided weekends only in February, March and early to mid-November and daily April thru October. You may be able to locate other bike rental services in San Francisco or Tiburon and bring a bike with you. Basic biking skills are needed. Helmets are required for riders under 18 years of age, and recommended for everyone.
Large trail guides for bicycling are located on the railing in front of the Angel Island Conservancy Information Station located in Ayala Cove. The perimeter and fire roads are available to bikers. The 5 mile perimeter road is surfaced and can be gravelly in some spots. Mountain or hybrid bikes are recommended for the 3½ mile fire unimproved, dirt road. Expect some moderately steep but short uphill climbs. Some riders may choose to walk the short, more difficult stretches. Foot trails and the road to Mt. Livermore are closed to bicycles for safety and resource protection.
The island is a hub for bird life, including robins, scrub jays, sparrows, juncos, hummingbirds, flickers, hawks, owls, sea gulls, ducks, egrets, grebes, scooters, geese, and kingfishers. Toward the beginning of spring, Canada Geese, now year-round residents of the island: lay eggs, hatch and raise their broods near the water. Blue herons, pelicans (both brown and white), and many other waterfowl can be seen feeding offshore or flying over the island on their way to feeding grounds.
There are 11 environmental campsites, including an ADA site, 9 numbered sites (each site accommodating up to 8 people), and a kayak-accessible group site (holds up to 20 people).
Be prepared to carry and/or transport your equipment up to 2.5 miles. Some sections are uphill, total elevation gain may be over 300 feet. Tables, food-lockers, running water, pit-toilets, and a barbecue are located at each site. Wood fires are not allowed, bring a stove or charcoal, as these are not available for purchase on the island. Raccoons are active making food-locker storage very important. Travel on the island after sunset is prohibited in some areas for park security and public safety.
To reserve a campsite, call Reserve America at (800) 444-7275 or visit ReserveAmerica.com.
Explore Angel Island on the cool electric mountain scooters! Easier to ride than a bike and twice as much fun, the Diggler electric scooters will make you feel like a kid again. Cruise the island silently and effortlessly with electric power at your fingertips. Make it a truly memorable day, see the beauty of the Bay Area like you’ve never seen before with a guided tour!
Tours are provided weekends only in February, March, and early to mid-November and daily April thru October. For information and reservations call (415) 897-0715 or visit Angel Island Company.
Whether you want to fish from your own boat, from the beaches and/or pier on the island, the San Francisco Bay offers many salt water fishing opportunities including: Halibut, Ling Cod, Rockfish, Striped Bass and Sturgeon.
Normal fish and game laws apply. Bring bait and tackle, as these are not available for purchase on the island.
The perimeter road, foot trails, and fire roads, circle the entire island, providing access to 788-foot-high summit of Mount Caroline Livermore (aka Mt. Livermore).
Rated as an easy hike, the surfaced 5-mile perimeter road, which can be gravelly in some spots, offers a different view at every turn, including rocky coves, sandy beaches, grassy slopes, forested ridges and the occasional deer and/or raccoon. Hike time of approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.
Rated as moderate, hiking to the top, Mt. Livermore provides a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the Bay Area. During the spring, wildflower growth is varied and abundant. Hike time approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.
The main trails are well marked, and are designed to avoid most hazards, including the poison oak that is native to the region.
Ayala Cove (former location of the Quarantine Station)
Camp Reynolds (aka West Garrison)
Nike Site and Ft. McDowell (aka East Garrison)
United States Immigration Station (aka USIS and North Garrison)
Endicott Batteries (Drew, Ledyard and Wallace)
Mount Caroline Livermore (aka Mt. Livermore and formerly Mt. Ida)
Available on a first-come, first-served basis, picnic tables and charcoal barbecues are available for small groups, a short walk from the ferry dock, on the lawn in front of the Visitor Center in Ayala Cove and locations around the island. Wood fires are not allowed, bring a stove or charcoal, as these are not available for purchase on the island.
For groups of 35 to 200 people there are five picnic areas that can be reserved for a fee for day-use only. You may reserve one of these sites by calling Reserve America at (800) 444-7275 or visit ReserveAmerica.com
Hillsite is very shaded and located at the back of Ayala Cove on the hill to the left of the Visitors Center. There is an incline leading up to the site, but the site itself is flat and has 12 tables.
Drawsite is located below Hillsite, in a grove of eucalyptus trees. Guests booked into Drawsite have access to its adjacent volleyball court. Drawsite is flat, with a partial harbor view and 25 tables.
Platform site is located near the front right of Ayala Cove, overlooking the harbor. There is a slight incline into the site, but from there it is relatively flat. It is partially shaded, has a bay view from most of the site, and has 27 tables.
East Garrison is a large site located on the opposite side of the Island from Ayala Cove, with views of San Francisco and the Oakland / Bay Bridge. Walking time to East Garrison is approximately 30 minutes. Tram transportation is available for an additional charge. This site is very sunny with a large field perfect for softball or soccer. It also has volleyball court, and Quarry beach is a short distance away. This site has 32 tables.
Angel Island is truly one of the Bay Area’s most precious natural gems. The beautiful wildflowers, historic buildings, and spectacular views make it a popular subject for photographers.
Be sure to have fresh batteries in your camera as they are not available for purchase on the island!
A unique way to take in the natural wonders of the Island and spectacular views of the Bay – explore while riding on a Segway.
Learn to ride the Segway, an electric, self-balancing, personal-transportation device designed to travel miles on a single electrical charge. It is one of the most noticed methods of movement in the 21st Century. Professionally guided Segway tours are available during the season. This is the first such tour to operate in a California State Park.
Tours are provided weekends only in February, March, and early to mid-November and daily April thru October. For information and reservations call (415) 897-0715 or visit Angel Island Company.
Sponsored by The Ranch (formerly known as Belvedere-Tiburon Recreation), Angel Island Camp is one of Marin 
CountyÂ’s best known and oldest summer day camps operating since 1977. Each session offers a new theme with different activities, so kids can attend all summer long. Discover the island through games, crafts, science and explore its many trails & historic hideaways.
For information and registration call (415) 435-4355 or visit The Ranch.
Looking for a completely different teambuilding activity for your team?
Experience the thrill of “Amazing Race” and “Survivor” games offered by Angel Island Company. For further information visit Angel Island Company.
Angel Island State Park offers the following guided tours when staff and volunteers are available.
Camp Reynolds – Take a guided tour of Camp Reynolds (aka West Garrison), see some of the oldest buildings on Angel Island and learn about the life of a soldier during the late 1800s! Tour includes the Civil War era Bake House and Quarters 10, a Victorian era Officer’s home (with an optional cannon firing!). Tour capacity is 5-40 people, length is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Appropriate for 4th grade and up. It is about a 40 minute walk one way (2 miles) to this site from Ayala Cove.
Ft. McDowell (aka East Garrison) – Tour the Ft. McDowell Chapel and Guard House (aka Visitor Center) of this WWI and WWII Army base, and learn about the varied military history of Angel Island. Tour capacity is 5-40 people. Tour length is about 1 hour. Appropriate for 4th grade and up. It is about a 45-50 minute walk one way (2 ½ miles) to this site from Ayala Cove.
Hike – Take a guided hike to Mt. Livermore, the top of Angel Island, or explore the trails. Learn about the natural and cultural history of the Island and the Bay Area. Tour capacity, length, and appropriateness depend on the trail and the ability of the group and hike leader. If you have a specific area of interest, please note at the time you make your reservation.
Bike – Visit a historical site, or bike all the way around the Park with a guide! Learn about the natural and cultural history of the island and the Bay Area. Tour capacity, length, and appropriateness depend on the route and the ability of the group and bike leader. If you have a specific area of interest, please note at the time you make your reservation.
U.S. Immigration Station – Today the U.S. Immigration Station serves as a house museum dedicated to interpreting and making connections between the experiences of those who made the journey to America over 100 years ago and the continuing story of immigration in America today. In operation from 1910-1940, the Station served as the main immigration processing center for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from all over the world looking to start a new life in America. Visit the U.S. Immigration Station tour page for details.
Explorer’s Tour – Learn how Angel Island got its name, and about the first Spanish explorers to enter the San Francisco Bay. Each student will get to draw their own map of the island. Tour capacity is 5-40 people. Tour length is about 45 minutes. Appropriate for K-4th graders. This tour is offered in Ayala Cove.
Please contact the Angel Island State Park Tour Coordinator via email or call (415) 435-5537 for additional information. Note: school groups (K-12) may be eligible for a reduced rate for ferry tickets and guided tours.
Take a fascinating journey into the island’s historic and cultural past on a captivating, audio-enhanced TramTour.
Visit the United States Immigration Station as well as other historic sites, while enjoying breathtaking views of the Bay, San Francisco skyline, Sausalito, Tiburon and Golden Gate Bridge from the comfort of our open-air trams. The tour includes stops at several scenic spots on the Island, including a brief stop at the grounds of the United States Immigration Station. Length of tour is 1 hour.
Tours are provided weekends only in February, March, and early to mid-November and daily April thru October. For information and reservations call (415) 897-0715 or visit Angel Island Company.
Located in Ayala Cove, one-hundred yards from the ferry dock, the Visitor Center, which once served as a bachelor officers’ quarters, provides a self-guided overview of the Island and it’s history.
The Visitor Center also has a viewing room which shows two twenty-minute films. One film covering the history and natural beauty of the island, the other, Carved in Silence, tells the story of the island’s part in immigration history.
A net is set up in Ayala Cove in the group day-use picnic site called the Draw Site, which must be reserved for the volleyball nets to be used. There are also volleyball nets at Ft. McDowell (aka East Garrison), which are not included with the group day use picnic site reservation, however, the park is unable to guarantee the nets will be usable.
To reserve a day-use site, call Reserve America at (800) 444-7275 or visit ReserveAmerica.com.
Our Community. Our Island. Our Legacy.
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