Angel Island

Why go

Angel Island is defined by the immigration station, former batteries, coves, and ridge roads. Another layer comes from a full-circle view of San Francisco, Marin, and the East Bay. Plan Angel Island by remembering to coordinate ferry times before choosing a trail. After Angel Island, choose Tiburon or the northern waterfront; this keeps Angel Island geographically coherent and avoids forcing Angel Island into an unrelated crossing.

What to look for

• Look closely at the immigration station, former batteries, coves, and ridge roads.
• Notice a full-circle view of San Francisco, Marin, and the East Bay.

The full story

Angel Island is an island in San Francisco Bay offering expansive 360° views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin County Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. The entire island is included within Angel Island State Park and is administered by California State Parks. The island, a California Historical Landmark, has been used for a variety of purposes, including military forts, a US Public Health Service Quarantine Station, and a US Bureau of Immigration inspection and detention facility. The Angel Island Immigration Station on the northeast corner of the island, where officials detained, inspected, and examined approximately one million immigrants, has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1938, hearings concerning charges of membership in a proscribed political party against labor leader Harry Bridges were held on Angel Island before Dean James Landis of Harvard Law School. After eleven weeks of testimony that filled nearly 8,500 pages, Landis found in favor of Bridges. The decision was accepted by the United States Department of Labor and Bridges was freed.

Useful to know

• For Angel Island, coordinate ferry times before choosing a trail.
• Pair Angel Island with Tiburon or the northern waterfront when the route and opening conditions align.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.