After 18 years in SF, spending the day on Angel Island is one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco, and one you can do without a car! Somehow it still flies under the radar for many visitors, despite offering one of the best combinations of ferry rides, hiking, and panoramic views of the Bay.
My favorite way to spend the day is hiking to the summit of Mount Livermore for a picnic overlooking San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Marin Headlands. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to plan the perfect day trip to Angel Island from San Francisco.
Know Before You Go – A Few Logistics
Time needed on the island: 3 hours for the hike and picnic, more if you want a leisurely pace and more exploring
Trail Map: My favorite hike is the North Ridge Trail to the top of Mount Livermore and back down along the Sunset Trail. Here is the All-Trails link for the map.
Hike difficulty: Moderate, a few stairs at the beginning and mostly gentle switchbacks. There are some narrow sections.
Hike Distance: 5.1 Miles
Elevation gain: 790 feet
Ferry Access: Unless you have your own sailboat, a ferry is the only way to get to the island. Make sure to check the ferry schedules, they are limited. And don’t miss the boat, they leave on time and will not wait for you.
Limited Services: Make sure to pack your own food and drinks for the visit, services are limited on Angel Island.
Solo Female Travel Approved! I have done this hike solo and felt perfectly safe and found it easy to navigate. You are on an island after all.
No Dogs: No dogs are allowed on Angel Island. It is a State Park that does not allow dogs to protect the local deer and coyotes that live on the island.
What to Wear: Check the weather and pack layers. It can be chilly on the ferry, cold in San Francisco and warm on Angel Island.
Start at the Ferry Building
There are a few ferries that go to Angel Island, but for this post I will be focusing on how to visit from San Francisco. Prior to Covid, there were more ferry stop options. As of May 2026, the only ferry from SF that goes directly to Angel Island is from the Ferry Building. It’s convenient, because you can gather anything you need for your day trip while you’re there.
Inside the Ferry Building are a variety of small shops and restaurants, many of them have locations in other neighborhoods in San Francisco. There are plenty of options for coffee or snacks before you go but make sure to get supplies for a picnic lunch. Angel Island is lovely, but very limited for food and drink options. Note, the options at the Ferry Building will be more expensive than what you can get at a grocery store, but they will be fancy and delicious.
Some of my favorite places inside the Ferry Building to build your picnic lunch include Acme Bread for their olive loaf, Epicurean Trader for miscellaneous fancy grocery items and cheeses, Fatted Calf for charcuterie, and Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant for wine, or Fort Point for beers.
How to Take the Ferry to Angel Island
Make sure to check the ferry schedule online. It is different for weekdays and weekends. I recommend planning your trip to have at least 3 hours on Angel Island. For this itinerary, 3 hours is just enough time to complete the hike at a decent pace with a picnic at the top and a little time to sit and rest before your departing ferry arrives. If you want to do more activities or go at a more leisurely pace, plan on more time. Beware, there are limited ferries and most days the last ferry leaves the island around 5pm.
Now that you have a schedule, getting a ticket is easy. You used to have to wait in line and purchase a ticket prior to boarding. In 2026, you can just get in line to board the ferry without any reservations and tap your Clipper Card (locals) or just a contactless credit card to buy a ticket as you board. Plan to be in line at least 10 minutes before your ferry departure.
As of May 2026, the only company operating a ferry from SF to Angel Island is Golden Gate Ferry and they have bathrooms, drinking fountains, and a small snack bar on board. Sometimes the snack bar is closed.
Arriving on Angel Island
When you get off the ferry, you will be able to see pretty much all the services available on the island, which is not many. There is a small visitor center that has maps for sale, a place to rent bikes, bathrooms, and a small café with outdoor seating. That is about it.
To start your hike, you can take a picture of the map at the visitor center if you want, then go to the left of the services you see to find the trailhead for the North Ridge Trail to Mount Livermore.
Hike to the Top of Mount Livermore
For the Mount Livermore hike, just go to the left of the visitor center and you will see the start of the North Ridge Trail. Start heading uphill. The trail starts with stairs, but this is the most stairs there will be on this hike.
There are some places along the trail that you will cross the paved perimeter road, and higher up a dirt fire road. On each occasion, there is a small sign where the trail continues across the road. Follow the signs for North Ridge Trail and Mount Livermore to the top.
One of my favorite things about this hike is that since you are on an island and essentially hiking a trail that winds up to the top, there are bay views almost the entire way on this trail. You will see some of the best views in the Bay.
When I last visited in May 2026, the trails were less maintained than I remembered. There were many areas where the grass was high and I was happy to be wearing pants.
Mount Livermore Summit
Before you reach the summit, there will be a sign to go up to Mount Livermore or to continue to the Sunset Trail. Remember this intersection because you will return to it. Head up to the Mount Livermore summit.
At the top of Mount Livermore, you will get 360-degree views of the bay, it is incredible! Just beyond this, my favorite picnic tables overlook San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. It is the most picturesque place for a picnic lunch. Enjoy the views and the picnic you brought.
Heading Down the Sunset Trail
After lunch, retrace your steps to the intersection of the Sunset Trail. Take a right to head down the Sunset Trail. The south side of the island is mostly grass and brush with no trees, so there will be no shade. Enjoy the views of Alcatraz and San Francisco as you make your way around the island.
Back in 2008, there was a fire on this part of the island. It has now mostly grown back so there is little evidence of the fire, but you can still spot a few charred tree trunks along the way.
As you get back to the north side of the island, it becomes more wooded and there will be more shade. This part of the trail has some places that are narrow with tall grass next to the trail. Again, I was glad to be wearing pants.
Once you reach the bottom, there are plenty of picnic tables and a small beach. There are also some benches closer to the ferry terminal and a small café that has some food and beverages if you need anything else while you wait for your ferry.
Other Things to Do on Angel Island
There are other activities to do at Angel Island if hiking is not your thing. You can rent bikes at Angel Island to ride on the perimeter road, find beaches you can hike down to, and even visit an immigration museum where immigrants used to enter the Bay Area.
I went to the immigration museum years ago and incorporated it into the hike to the summit. There is an entrance fee to the museum if you choose to visit. Plan on having a little more time if you add this to your itinerary.
There are also a few small beaches around the island. I need to make a trip just to walk the perimeter road and check out the beaches. I love the summit views so much that I always end up hiking to the top when I visit.
Back to San Francisco
Enjoy the ferry ride back. You can just tag your Clipper Card or contactless credit card when you board, no need to have a ticket ahead of time. Just make sure not to miss the boat! I love the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz views on the ferry ride back to San Francisco.
You will arrive back at the Ferry Building, where you started. If you need more treats on your arrival, I have some recommendations. I love the empanadas from El Porteno. If you need something sweet, grab a scoop at Humphry Slocombe. They are known for their unique flavors like Secret Breakfast with bourbon and cornflake cookies. If you want a full meal, Hog Island Oyster is a famous spot in San Francisco, and Gott’s is great for burgers. I also love the burritos from Senor Sisig. For a casual drink, Fort Point is a great local brewery, and they have some small bites. Honestly, you can’t go wrong eating at the Ferry Building!
Enjoy Your Day Trip to Angel Island from San Francisco
Angel Island is one of my favorite escapes from San Francisco. This day trip combines a scenic ferry ride, rewarding hike, and some of the best views in the Bay Area. If you’re looking for an active day outdoors without needing a car, this is hard to beat. I still can’t believe it isn’t more popular! If you’ve visited Angel Island or have questions about planning the trip, let me know in the comments!
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