Reservation9/10
Angel Island Environmental Campsites permit
Limited hike-in campsites requiring ferry + 2.5 mile hike....
Kayak-Accessible Group Campsite Permit
Angel Island State Park · California
One date at a time
Group campsite accessible by kayak.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Kayak Group were gone within 5 minutes.
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Kayak Group Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
CostCamping rates are set in ReserveCalifornia at booking. Ferry fares are charged separately by the ferry operator; paddlers arriving by kayak pay no fare.
Kayak Group Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Kayak Group in Angel Island State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Kayak Group is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Kayak Group runs year-round.
- Cancelled Kayak Group permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level8/10
LocationSan Francisco Bay, CA
Pro Tips
- •Check the park's current restrictions page before you launch. Water in the Camp Reynolds area has been shut off for system repairs, and that is exactly where this site is.
- •Carry all your drinking water anyway. Containers are a stopgap the park supplies during outages, not a guarantee.
- •Plan the crossing around tide and afternoon wind, not around your arrival time. The Bay picks up hard in the afternoon.
- •Book six months out through ReserveCalifornia. There is one site, so there is nothing to fall back to on the same night.
- •Pack everything in dry bags - you are loading and unloading on a beach.
- •Stay for sunset and blue hour. The city lights coming up across the water is the reason to sleep here rather than day-trip.
- •Leave the dog at home; the whole island is closed to them.
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •A single group tent campsite - one group has West Garrison on any given night
- •A maximum stay of seven nights
- •A crossing under your own power, which is what makes this site different from every other camp on the island
- •The San Francisco skyline directly across the water, and fog through the Golden Gate most evenings in summer
- •No dogs anywhere on the island
- •Water service that has been interrupted for repairs in this exact area - check the park's current restrictions before you go
Best Time to Visit
Late summer and autumn, when the Bay Area's clearest weather arrives and afternoon wind through the Gate is more predictable. Spring and early summer bring the strongest afternoon westerlies, which matter far more when you are crossing under paddle than when you are on a ferry. Book six months ahead, and re-check the park's current restrictions page for water and access advisories before you launch.
Hazards & Considerations
- !The crossing itself: San Francisco Bay has strong tidal currents, cold water, commercial shipping and afternoon wind
- !Fog through the Golden Gate, which can reduce visibility on the water quickly
- !Water availability. The park shut off water in the Camp Reynolds area for system repairs and supplied containers instead - do not assume a tap is running
- !Cold water year-round. Bay temperatures do not become forgiving in summer
- !Exposed west-shore camping with little shelter from wind
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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78°
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Sun
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66°
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Mon
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Wed
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Thu
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82°
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85°
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a ReserveCalifornia account
Sign up at ReserveCalifornia if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: June through OctoberShoulder: November through March
Conditions
Green island, clear days between systems, and the strongest afternoon wind of the year through the Gate.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Wildflowers on the island
- +Clear air between storms
- +Fewer visitors than summer
Challenges
- !Strong afternoon westerlies on the crossing
- !Cold water
- !Unsettled weather
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill4/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Experienced sea kayakers with Bay crossing experience, paddling as a group and comfortable with cold water, current and shipping traffic.
Recommended Experience
Open-water sea kayaking with tidal current and commercial traffic. This crossing is not a flat-water paddle.
Not Recommended For
Novice paddlers, anyone in a recreational sit-on-top, anyone bringing a dog, and anyone assuming there will be running water at camp.
About This Permit
The kayak-accessible group campsite at West Garrison is a single group tent site on the western shore of Angel Island State Park, the largest natural island in San Francisco Bay. ReserveCalifornia carries it as one unit with a maximum stay of seven nights, which means one group per night and no overflow.
Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia. California State Parks says visitors can reserve campsites six months in advance from the current date, and bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date based on availability and the park's maximum stay rules. Reserve online or on 1-800-444-7275 - this is a California State Park and Recreation.gov does not carry it.
Water on the island is not a given. As of 9 August 2026 the park had an active advisory: due to water system repairs, water was not available in the Camp Reynolds area or at water sources along Perimeter between Camp Reynolds and Four Corners through approximately 15 August, with affected campsites in the Camp Reynolds area supplied with water containers daily and portable restrooms placed next to both Camp Reynolds restroom buildings. Camp Reynolds is West Garrison. Check the park's current restrictions page before you launch and plan to carry your own water.
Dogs are not allowed anywhere on Angel Island, and the park is open sunrise to sunset for day use.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Angel Island has a handful of campsites and a ferry timetable wrapped around them. Every other camping option on the island puts you on someone else's schedule. The kayak group site at West Garrison is the one that does not: paddle across, land, camp, and leave when you choose. ReserveCalifornia carries it as a single unit, so exactly one group has it on any given night.
The Route
West Garrison sits on the island's western shore looking out toward the Golden Gate and the Marin Headlands. ReserveCalifornia books this as a single group tent campsite with a maximum stay of seven nights. The island's Perimeter Trail links the campsites, Ayala Cove where the ferries land, and the Immigration Station on the east side, and the road and trail system climbs to Mount Livermore in the middle. Angel Island is open sunrise to sunset for day use, and dogs are not allowed anywhere on the island.
The Feeling
You are two miles from downtown San Francisco and the skyline is right there across the water, lit up, while you are sitting on a dark island in the middle of the Bay. Container ships pass. The fog comes through the Golden Gate in the evening and takes the city away, then gives it back in the morning.
Trailhead Information
Ayala Cove ferry landing
The land arrival point — ferries land at Ayala Cove, and campers carry their equipment up to two miles to the Kayak Camp in the Camp Reynolds (West Garrison) area.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
No private vehicles — access to the island is by private boat or public ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon.
Getting There
Access to the island is by private boat or public ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon. Winter weekday service is limited: Golden Gate Ferry runs from San Francisco, and the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry serves weekdays in winter on a charter-only basis.
Nearest Services
Seasonally available café, bike rentals and tram tours on the island.
Kayak Camp beach landing
The Kayak Camp sits on the island's west side near a small beach — the landing point for paddlers. Kayak campers must secure their boats from high tidewaters.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
Kayak campers must secure their boats from high tidewaters. The camp accommodates groups up to 20.
Getting There
Reached by paddle across San Francisco Bay, or on foot from Ayala Cove — campers must carry their equipment up to two miles.
Nearest Services
Camp Reynolds (West Garrison) area; seasonal café and bike rentals on the island.
Rules & Regulations
- •Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia, six months in advance from the current date, online or on 1-800-444-7275
- •Dogs are not allowed anywhere on Angel Island State Park
- •The park is open sunrise to sunset for day use; campers hold the site overnight
- •ReserveCalifornia sets a maximum stay of seven nights on this site
- •Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date based on availability and the park's maximum stay rules
Gear Checklist
Required
- Your own drinking water, and enough of it. The park has had water shut off in the Camp Reynolds area for system repairs, and supplies containers only when it does
- A sea kayak and the skills to use it - this is an open-water Bay crossing with commercial traffic, tide and wind
- Dry bags for everything, because gear gets loaded and unloaded on a beach
- A wind-worthy tent. The west shore takes weather straight through the Golden Gate
- Layers for fog and evening chill, even in July
- Navigation lights and a whistle if there is any chance of paddling near dusk
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Kayak Group
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
West Garrison (Camp Reynolds)
The historic garrison on the island's west shore, where the kayak group campsite sits
Ayala Cove
The ferry landing and visitor centre on the north side of the island
Perimeter Trail
The loop road and trail that links the campsites, Ayala Cove and the east-side sites
Immigration Station
The historic station on the island's east side, the reason Angel Island is sometimes called the Ellis Island of the West
Kayak Group FAQ
How do I reserve the kayak group campsite on Angel Island?
Through ReserveCalifornia, online or on 1-800-444-7275. California State Parks says visitors can reserve campsites six months in advance from the current date. Angel Island is a California State Park, so it is not on Recreation.gov.
How many kayak group campsites are there on Angel Island?
One. ReserveCalifornia carries the West Garrison kayak site as a single group tent campsite, so one group has it per night.
Is there drinking water at the Angel Island kayak campsite?
Do not count on it. As of 9 August 2026 the park had water shut off in the Camp Reynolds area and at water sources along Perimeter between Camp Reynolds and Four Corners for system repairs, with affected campsites supplied by water containers daily. Camp Reynolds is West Garrison. Check the park's current restrictions page before you launch and carry your own supply.
How long can I stay at the Angel Island kayak campsite?
ReserveCalifornia sets a maximum stay of seven nights.
Can I bring a dog to the Angel Island campsites?
No. California State Parks does not allow dogs on Angel Island.
Do I have to arrive by kayak to use this Angel Island campsite?
The site is the island's kayak-accessible group campsite at West Garrison, which is what distinguishes it from the ferry-served environmental sites. Ferries land at Ayala Cove on the north side and run to a published timetable; paddling across removes that constraint.
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset from the west shore, straight into the Golden Gate, with the bridge and the Marin Headlands in the frame.
Best Light
Blue hour, when the San Francisco skyline lights come up across the water and the island stays dark.
Beat the Crowds
One group site means there is no crowd at all here. The island empties completely when the last ferry leaves, which is the whole point of camping on it.
Classic Shots
- 📍The city skyline from a dark island shoreline after sunset
- 📍Fog pouring through the Golden Gate in the evening
- 📍The historic Camp Reynolds buildings on the west shore
- 📍Kayaks pulled up on the beach with the Bay behind them
Can't Get a Kayak Group Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Angel Island Environmental Campsites
Same AreaThe island's hike-in environmental sites, spread across East Bay, Ridge, Sunrise and West Garrison.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Reached by ferry and a hike rather than by paddle, which means the ferry timetable decides your day.
Steep Ravine Environmental Camp
Similar ExperienceWalk-in sites on an ocean terrace at Mount Tamalpais State Park, an hour north.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Drive-to rather than paddle-to, on open Pacific instead of the Bay, and six sites instead of one.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Kayak Group trip
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