Angel Island, a California State Park, is known as the “Ellis Island of the West”. Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, immigrants that came to America’s West Coast were processed at Angel Island. They were detained for days, sometimes months or years, while waiting to enter the country. The United States Immigration Station (USIS) on Angel Island is now a renovated museum that offers visitors a chance to learn about this important part of U.S. history and offers both guided and self-guided tours within the Barracks Building.

Please note: United States Immigration Station, Angel Island is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays.

Ferry Services Information about regularly scheduled transportation to Angel Island State Park without visiting Alcatraz, is listed below: Ferry schedules are subject to change and not all ferry service can accommodate every tour time. Check the tour times and ferry schedule carefully, and contact the ferry company for more details. Tiburon: Angel Island Ferry Company

Tours
The Museum Visitor Center, Room #105 on the first floor of the Barracks Building, is open for self-guided tours between 11:00AM to 3:00PM, Wednesday-Sunday. A majority of the detention barracks museum is shown by guided tour only. Tour times are 11:00AM, 12:30PM, and 1:45PM. (The 1:45PM tour is available on weekends or for school groups with advanced reservations (Nov 1 – Mar 31). Tour times are subject to change without notice. Individual Tickets can be purchased at the admissions desk located inside the main entrance to the USIS Barracks the day of your visit on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission fee payment can be made in cash or check only. Current pricing is $5.00 for Adults 18 and over, $3.00 for juniors 6 to 17 years of age, and free for children 5 and under. Prices are subject to change without notice.

 

Contact the Angel Island Café at 415.435.3392 or Angel Island Immigration Station for cost and availability of tours.

The Grounds of the USIS are open to the public during park hours 8:00AM – Sunset daily. Visitors are encouraged to view the interpretive displays on the grounds.

Getting To The USIS
California State Parks and the National Park Service offer a seasonal tour including both Angel Island State Park and Alcatraz Island. The Alcatraz & Angel Island Combination Tour is offered by Alcatraz Cruises and is offered seasonally from March through October only. Information about regularly scheduled transportation to Angel Island State Park without visiting Alcatraz, is listed below under Ferry Services.

Please note: The Alcatraz and Angel Island combination tour does not include a tour of the USIS. There are three options to get to USIS:

Biking
Follow the green “Bike Route” signs from Ayala Cove up to the Perimeter Road, make a sharp left (U-turn) at the top of the bike trail and continue on the Perimeter Road until you reach the USIS. Visitors should expect to bike 1½ miles to the USIS. Bicycles must be secured at the top of the hill prior to entering the site. Due to steep terrain and vehicle traffic, bicycles are not permitted on the USIS grounds.

Approximate biking time: 20 minutes.

Immigration Shuttle
Immigration shuttle service to and from Ayala Cove (ferry landing) and the United States Immigration Station (USIS) is available for a fee of $5.00 per person. Children 5 and under are free if sitting on an adult’s lap. The shuttle is designed to get you there in time for scheduled tours and pick you up after the tour is completed. Prices are subject to change without notice.

The shuttle has a limited schedule from November thru February. If you have special accessibility needs getting to the USIS, please contact the Angel Island Company at least one week in advance.

Contact the Angel Island Company or call 415.435.3392 for accessibility needs, cost and schedule of the shuttle, segway rental and bike rental information.

(Do not confuse the shuttle with the tram! The tram is a one-hour tour around the Island; the shuttle is a ride to the USIS.)

Hiking
The shortest route is to walk up the Northridge Trail (trailhead is at the Ayala Cove ferry landing area). The trail starts off with 140 trail stairs. Turn left when you reach the paved Perimeter Road and travel approximately one mile along the road to the USIS. The USIS is on the right side and there are signs to direct you down the hill to the site.
Approximate walking time: 30-40 minutes.

To avoid the stairs, walk towards the Visitor Center in Ayala Cove and follow the road up the hill, turning left when the road ‘T’s, the walk is approximately 1.5 miles.
Approximate walking time: 1 hour.

Reservations
Tour Reservations are available for groups of 5 or more. Reservations can be made up to six months ahead and must be made at least three (3) weeks in advance. Groups must have between 5 and 30 people to make a reservation. (K-12 school groups have a maximum of 40 people per tour.)

For information on group tours, please call 415.435.5537 or e-mail [email protected].