Angel Island State Park

About Angel Island State Park

In the middle of San Francisco Bay lies Angel Island State Park, which offers views of Mount Diablo, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. The island is also steeped in history: three thousand years ago it was the scene of a great battle between the Spanish and the Indians in the Battle of Los Angeles. Later, during World War II, the US army and its allies fought for control of the city.

Japanese and German prisoners of war were held on the island, which also served as a springboard for American soldiers returning from the Pacific. In the 1910s and 1940s, the islands welcomed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, most of them from China. In the 1950s and 1960s it was home to a Nike missile base, but the area is taboo. Today, it is home to Angel Island State Park, one of the largest state parks in the United States.

The move to turn the island into a public park began after the federal government declared it surplus land. In 1954, a number of civic groups succeeded in persuading the state parks commission to purchase about 37 hectares in Ayala Bay. The National Park Service conducted a thorough investigation of the islands "historical background and in 1954 Angel Island became a state park.

The summit itself was christened Mount Caroline Livermore, after a committed conservationist from Marin County who led the effort to create Angel Island State Park. Meanwhile, the US Army chose the island as a base for the US Navy's Pacific Fleet. After the partial occupation of the islands by the army in 1958, the state acquired additional areas in the bay and the entire island was handed over to the state of California for use as a state park, which is still active today. The army left the island and in 1962 it was closed, but only when the park was reopened to visitors.
Quarry Beach is particularly pleasant for sunbathing, but there are no lifeguards and swimming is dangerous as the current surrounding the island with the tide change is very strong.

Pearl Beach is a nice place for hiking and beach ribs, but the water at Pearl Beach is much rougher and the beach is more exposed to wind and weather, but the views are spectacular. There are no lifeguards and swimming is dangerous as a very strong current surrounds the island with the tide changing.

The entire island is surrounded by footpaths and fire brigade trails, which lead to a variety of hiking trails as well as a number of picnic areas, picnic tables and other amenities.

The main road is well signposted and is intended to avoid most hazards, including the local poisonous pond. Special care is required on the steep walls, which easily erode and provide unreliable grip.

Bicycles can be taken on the ferry to the island or used at the roundabout with the main road. Footpaths and roads to and from Mount Livermore are closed to bicycles for safety and to protect resources.

Special arrangements apply to concessionaires in the summer and the rest of the year. Volunteers from the State Park offer programs for the island's historic sites, and volunteers also offer a variety of activities for children and adults, including hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, camping and other activities.

Cafes, tram rides and bike rentals are seasonal, and the park's concessionaire Angel Island Company will offer Segway tours of the island throughout the year. For tour plans and reservations, call the parks at (888) 762-5555 or (800) 855-4357.

The café also offers a variety of outdoor activities, including live music and barbecues. The tour is limited to one person 16 years and older and is $10 per person, or $15 for adults and $5 for children.

The tram offers a one-hour guided tour with audio program that also includes information about the history of the island. Segway rental is only available for guided tours, and Segway rental is free for the first two hours of the tour. Personal segways are not allowed, but are used as a tool for the disabled.

Private boats can use the slide and mooring buoys in Ayala Cove, but these can be used overnight and there are no daily or overnight fees. Those who pay for an overnight boat may use this island only for their own use, not for the use of the park.

Groups can book picnic areas and other campsites on the island by calling 1 - 800 - 444 - 7275 or by e-mail. Private boats can anchor in the harbour area and at the moorings, but these are closed after sunset.