How to Get a Env Sites Permit
Ten campsites on an island in San Francisco Bay you can only reach by ferry - then carry your gear up to two miles, some of it uphill.
Check Env Sites permit availability1-2 nights
Duration
2 miles
Distance
moderate
Difficulty
About Env Sites
Angel Island's environmental campsites are the only legal way to spend a night on the largest natural island in San Francisco Bay. There are four camping areas - East Bay (sites 1-3), Ridge (sites 4-6), Sunrise (sites 7-9), and the West Garrison side with site 10 and the Kayak Camp. Each campsite has a table, food locker, running water, pit toilet and barbecue. Getting there is the part people underestimate. Angel Island has no roads or bridges from the mainland - you arrive by public ferry from Tiburon or San Francisco, or by private boat. From the dock, campers carry their equipment 1.5 to 2 miles, some of it uphill. Charcoal grills or camp stoves are permitted; wood fires are not allowed anywhere on the island. Reservations open six months in advance through ReserveCalifornia and, in the park's own words, are booked quickly. Site 10 is the island's only ADA-accessible campsite. Only service animals are allowed on Angel Island - no pets. The island has 13 miles of trails and roadways for hikers and 9 miles open to cyclists, with foot trails and Mount Livermore closed to bikes.
There is nowhere else in the Bay Area where you can watch the lights of San Francisco come on from your own campsite. Angel Island has no roads or bridges to the mainland, so the last ferry leaves and the island belongs to ten campsites' worth of people. Ten sites for the entire Bay Area is why these go the day the six-month window opens.
The Experience
The ferry pulls away and the noise goes with it. You shoulder your pack at Ayala Cove and climb - a mile and a half to two miles depending on which camp you drew - and then the Golden Gate Bridge is right there across the water. Wind is the constant: the Ridge sites are exposed and get the view, the East Bay sites are tucked out of it. No wood fires are allowed anywhere on the island, so dinner is charcoal or a camp stove.
Everything starts at the ferry landing at Ayala Cove, from Tiburon or San Francisco. There are four environmental camping areas and the carry is 1.5 to 2 miles from the dock, some of it uphill. East Bay holds sites 1-3 on the island's east side, generally protected from wind. The Ridge sites, 4-6, are more exposed and pay for it with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Sunrise sites 7-9 sit on the east side too and can be booked individually or combined as a group camp for up to 24 people. Over on the west side near a small beach is the Kayak Camp, which takes groups up to 20 - and site 10, the island's only ADA-accessible campsite, near the Point Stuart Loop. Once you are set up, Mount Livermore at 788 feet is a 4-mile round trip with 140 trail stairs on the North Ridge Trail, and the historic sites - Camp Reynolds a mile west, the Immigration Station a mile north, Fort McDowell two miles - fill a day easily.
What to Expect
Four environmental camping areas totalling ten individual sites, plus a Kayak Camp for groups up to 20
A 1.5 to 2-mile carry from the ferry dock, some of it uphill
A table, food locker, running water, pit toilet and barbecue at each site
No wood fires anywhere on the island - charcoal or a camp stove only
Ridge sites exposed with Golden Gate views; East Bay sites generally protected from wind
Limited weekday ferry service in winter, so the return trip needs checking before you go
13 miles of trails and roadways for hikers; 9 miles open to cyclists
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Permit Requirements
Wood fires are not permitted anywhere on Angel Island; bring charcoal or a camp stove
Only service animals are allowed on Angel Island
Stay on designated trails to avoid ticks and poison oak
Do not feed raccoons or other wildlife
Roller skates, roller blades, scooters and skateboards are not allowed anywhere on the island
Foot trails and Mount Livermore are closed to cyclists; the road speed limit is 15 mph and cyclists under 18 must wear helmets
Kayak campers must secure their boats from high tidewaters
Park land is closed to entry after sunset except for registered campers
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A pack you can carry two miles uphill - there is no vehicle support on the island
- •Charcoal or camp stove fuel; wood fires are banned island-wide
- •Wind-blocking layers - park guidance is that wind and weather can change rapidly in all seasons, so dress in layers
- •A printed or offline ferry schedule for your return trip
- •A headlamp; the island has no lighting away from Ayala Cove
- •Cash or card for the ferry and for the $5 Detention Barracks Museum entry if you plan to visit
Hazards & Safety
Missing the last ferry - schedules are limited on winter weekdays and the ferries do not wait
Sustained wind on the Ridge sites, with no natural shelter
Ticks and poison oak off-trail
Steep, stepped trails - the North Ridge Trail alone has 140 trail stairs
Historic buildings are precarious and some are fenced off; the Cold War Nike missile site is closed to the public
Best Time to Visit
September and October are the Bay Area's clear months - the summer fog that hides the Golden Gate Bridge from the Ridge sites finally lifts. Summer looks appealing on paper and often delivers fog and hard wind. Winter has the best availability but the thinnest ferry service, so confirm the schedule before you commit.
Pro Tips
Book the Ridge sites if the Golden Gate view is the reason you are going, and the East Bay sites if the wind forecast looks bad.
Check the return ferry schedule before you book, not after. Winter weekday service is limited and the ferries will not wait.
No wood fires anywhere on the island - pack charcoal or a stove or you are eating cold.
Every site has running water, so you can carry gear instead of water. That is the one thing that makes a two-mile uphill carry reasonable.
Sunrise sites 7-9 can be combined into a group camp for up to 24 - if you are bringing a crowd, book them together rather than separately.
Set your alarm for the six-month mark. Ten sites for the whole Bay Area means the window opening is the only reliable shot.
Add the Immigration Station on your rest day: a 1-mile hike, $5 for the Detention Barracks Museum, and nearly 200 carved Chinese poems still on the walls.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Env Sites permit?
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Env Sites permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Env Sites?
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September and October are the Bay Area's clear months - the summer fog that hides the Golden Gate Bridge from the Ridge sites finally lifts. Summer looks appealing on paper and often delivers fog and hard wind. Winter has the best availability but the thinnest ferry service, so confirm the schedule before you commit.
How difficult is Env Sites?
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Campers who can carry everything they need up to two miles uphill and who like the idea of a ferry schedule as their only exit. The trails are well signed and short - the weight on your back is the whole challenge.
What gear do I need for Env Sites?
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Essential gear includes: A pack you can carry two miles uphill - there is no vehicle support on the island, Charcoal or camp stove fuel; wood fires are banned island-wide, Wind-blocking layers - park guidance is that wind and weather can change rapidly in all seasons, so dress in layers, A printed or offline ferry schedule for your return trip, A headlamp; the island has no lighting away from Ayala Cove. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
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