Destination: Angel Island
Ferry To Angel Island, Hike Around The Island To The Immigration Station, Summit Angel Island, And Explore The Visitor Center
This is part of a series of family-oriented day trip outings around the San Francisco Bay Area I look forward to enjoying with my kids once social distancing and shelter in place isn’t the norm any longer.
Photo by Cedric Letsch on Unsplash
Social Isolation — Day 20
The Governor confirmed yesterday that school campuses will remain closed through the end of the school year. It was hinted at and expected, but it’s a surreal reality to adjust to. Still, overall, the kids are doing well with distance learning so far, even when attitudes flare-up.
Today they announced that some kind of mask is recommended when we leave the house. The mask thing seems to be ripe with well-intentioned people pointing out how everyone’s approach is wrong. We should donate any N-95 respirator masks to hospitals, because (they are in desperate need) and only they know how to wear them properly. We should now wear some kind of homemade mask. There are many tutorials online, trying to find the right one should be interesting — this will be tomorrow’s project.
For how early the Bay Area and California were to have everyone shelter in place, this mask request really feels late.
Today I imagined escape. With how crowded the Bay Area is, spots like Angel Island are delightful departures. Remarkably close to everything, yet an isolated world away. We had a wonderful backpacking trip here about three years back, one I look forward to repeating soon.
Destination: Angel Island
Ferry to Angel Island
Hike around the island to the Immigration Station
Summit Angel Island
Explore the Visitor Center
Angel Island is one of those spots like Alcatraz that locals don’t seem to visit unless someone sets out to see it. My first time there was about 3 years ago after my brother-in-law told me about a camping trip he took there. From his guidance, I set out to do the same with my kids, 2 nights and 3 days on Angel Island.
You must carry everything with you, so we set ourselves up for a backpacking trip. After riding Caltrain to downtown San Francisco and taking the F-Line around to Pier 41, we caught the Blue and Gold Fleet ferry to Angel Island. Arriving on the island, we hiked around on the paved fire road, past the immigration station, and over to our campsite.
There were some moments where it got a bit windy, and there were a couple of raccoons, but overall it was a wonderful trip. I wish we made it up to the summit of Angel Island (I mention it below), but it’s on my to-visit list for next time. I’d also like to spend some time at the immigration station too. We hiked around the island one day, saw the Bay Bridge light show, watched the sunrise over the bay, we even saw some whales from the ferry ride back to the city.
Ferry to Angel Island
Photo by Sergio Casillas on Unsplash
Depending on where you depart from, you may take one of two ferry services.
The Blue and Gold Fleet departs from Pier 41 in San Francisco, with the trip to Angel Island taking about half an hour, and the return trip from Angel Island to Pier 41 taking 50–70 minutes (after a stop in Tiburon or Sausalito).
The Angel Island Ferry makes a round-trip between Angel Island and Tiburon (no credit cards accepted).
Hike around the island to the Immigration Station
By North, Hart Hyatt, 1871- — U.S. Immigration Station, Angel Island, San Francisco Bay; http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/flipomatic/cic/images@ViewImage?img=brk00001187_16a, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1328062
Known as Ellis Island of the west, the Immigration Station at Angel Island ran from 1910 to 1940. Immigrants from over 80 countries were processed here. Staff worked to ensure that immigrants were healthy and self-sufficient, but efforts here were lopsided as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 excluded Chinese from immigration. European’s and first-class immigrants were quickly checked aboard their ships and allowed to pass while Chinese detained at the station anywhere from a few weeks up to two years while their applications were considered. You can see their anxiety and despair in their writing carved into the walls of the barracks. Most immigrants detained here eventually were granted entry to America.
The administration building burned down in 1940, and the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943 in recognition of their wartime partner in efforts during WWII. (Note: the use capped immigration from China to 105 people per year until 1965).
During WWII, the Immigration Station became a processing center for Prisoners of War.
Summit Angel Island
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/468/files/AngelIslandSPFinalWeb070618.pdf (see map on page 4)
Mount Livermore stands at 788 feet, so it’s a bit of a climb to get to the top. There are three trails you can take to the summit from the fire road that rings the island; North Ridge Trail, Ida Trail, and Sunset Trail. I still haven’t made it up here, but it should be a fantastic view of the bay.
Explore the Visitor Center
Located a short walk south of the ferry docks and the cafe, the Visitor Center is a great place to get some history and information about Angel Island, and find out what events might be happening. You might also consider asking for a Junior Ranger workbook while you are here.
I couldn’t find a good online reference for the visitor center or its hours, but have a look for it on your visit.
Cody Tolmasoff is an author and publisher for Adventuring.in. He is a recovering programmer and a San Francisco native, raising two daughters, and regularly finding new adventures around the SF Bay Area. This article is an excerpt from an upcoming book, 52 San Francisco Bay Area Weekend Adventures, Day Trips With Your Kids!
Find him on Twitter @codyo, and read his most recent title Adventures in Getting Out on Amazon, filled with advice on successfully getting your family out for day trip adventures.
Originally published on Medium on 2 April 2020