Angel Island State Park

Want a proper outdoor adventure, where you can get away from the city, pitch a tent, and sleep under the stars? We recommend taking a Blue & Gold ferry from San Francisco (or better yet, renting a kayak), and heading the three miles out to Angel Island State Park.

The largest island in the San Francisco bay, Angel Island offers great hiking trails, biking trails, bird-watching, and 20 campsites. Stunning panoramic views of San Francisco await the adventurous, with the best views found at the end of the hike to the top of Mt. Livermore.
The 20 campsites can be booked online (11 environmental campsites, 9 numbered sites), and are spread around the main hiking trail that winds around the island. Be prepared to carry all your gear in and out. Most sites will involve hiking for more than 30 minutes after you get off the ferry, but the upside of that is that you will be away from all the day tourists. If you are camping, bring a good wind-proof cooker and extra tent pegs, it can get windy out on the bay.

The Angel Island Company, on the south side of the island, operates a cafe, and you can also rent bicycles to ride around the island here.