Angel Island (or My Favorite Views of the Bay Area so far)

The plethora of outdoor adventures within driving distance of the Bay Area is pretty incredible...kind of mind-boggling, actually.  And for your sweat and toil, you are rewarded with views that are just plain stunning. At the end of my time here, I will have only scratched the surface.  Of the places I have explored thus far, Angel Island is definitely one of my favorites.

San Francisco Bay has a couple of islands in it. Alcatraz is the most famous- or infamous, but Angel Island has a pretty interesting history too.  Portions of the island have been used as a cattle ranch, a  military fort, a WWII POW camp, a Quarantine Station, and a Nike Missile Station. From 1910 to 1940, the island was used as an immigration station and was even referred to as "The Ellis Island of the West.' Approximately 1 million immigrants were funneled through here for processing and, because of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a number of Chinese immigrants were detained here for years while awaiting entry to the mainland. The entire island is now a state park and a California Historical Landmark.

The island is only accessible by boat, so I booked a campsite, packed my backpack, and boarded a ferry.

Ayala Cove, where the ferry moors, is a fantastic picnic spot.  I went on Mother's Day so the barbeques were roaring and the champagne was flowing. Just beyond the tree line is a paved 5-mile road around the island. Cars are prohibited but you can bring your bike over or take a little tram tour around.  If you walk up even higher, you hit the hiking trails.  One trail circles you around the island and the other takes you up and over the top.  I did both before heading over to my campsite and pitching my tent. The people at the campsite next to mine invited me over and we played cards until sunset- then headed up to the summit again.

The summit is only 788ft above sea level, but it offers spectacular 360 degree views of the Bay. My photos just don't do it justice. There are only 11 campsites on the island which makes it all the more magical- you feel like you have an entire island almost to yourself, and yet you are surrounded by a greater metropolitan area of 4.6 million people.

As I mentioned, there is some stiff competition for the Bay Area's best day-tripping destinations, but I think Angel Island would give any of them a run for their money.

                                                                 Looking one way...

Looking the other way.....

                                                   My campsite neighbors' view

                                                  (That tiny little island is Alcatraz)

                                                           ...then pan a little to the right...

                                                      ....and a little further to the right......

Apparently I lucked out- the sunset is often obscured by the notorious Bay Area fog- you can see it here just starting to roll in.