Ride Report - Angel Island Overnight

[Keith P.]

Part 1

Angel Island Allez
4.16.25
22 miles, 1300 ft elevation

After having our reservation rained out last fall, we finally got to take an Angel Island overnight during Easter break.
I know many of you are very familiar with this ideal S24O destination (It was even mentioned in a recent Riv email), but I love a good ride report. Always want to contribute when I have one to give.

The state park sits back in the mouth of San Francisco Bay, and is about 2 miles wide (1.2 Square miles, or roughly 20 acre large). No cars, hiking and biking only.

Last time I was out there it was as an 8 year old YMCA “Y-Westerner” (think Cub Scouts with sheriff badges), but the idea of the “bike island" has always loomed large in my memory.

This time the whole family was going.

These are the players:

“The Country Priest” - 2022 HiHo Hillborne

I tried out some new North St. Adventure Micro Panniers on a new Nitto Big Rack 32R
I think the 33R would be a better fit for my 54cm frame, but I like the look and hook points of the 32 better, and apparently like to live dangerously with low profile clearances.

The Adventure Micro bags are fantastic. I got this smaller size of the Adventure panniers, originally planning to mount them on my front tire under the basket. They are only 14 liter bags, but at no point did I find myself wanting for more room out of them.

I carried 5 people’s sleeping pads, tarps, a camp stove, bike lock & cable, spare tubes, and a few tools in them with room to spare. I like the expandable roll top and the secure clips at the attachment points. I’m a big fan.

“So Far Un-Named” - 2023 Platypus (My wife needs to get a move on christening this thing)

She runs an Australian born, Framework Designs “Local Tote” in her front basket.
Another bag I can wholeheartedly endorse. Very secure. Lots of useful pockets. Beautiful canvas colors and brass hardware.

“Cercle Orange” - 1986 Specialized Stumpjumper

I had a lot of fun fixing up this bike for my growth spurted son. This iteration has an under-mounted rear cantilever brake that I hadn’t seen before.

It is a persnickety pain to set up and service, but also pretty cool.

I’ve always liked the Deore XT Deerhead Derailleur logos too.

“Stumpy McBumpy” - 1984 17.5” Specialized Stumpjumper

This one still has a 1990 Minnesota Bike License on it. Lots of original Suntour parts. Feel lucky to have it.

“The Hand-Me-Down Champ” - 2019 Clearly 24” 5-Speed Meerkat

I was very sad to see Cleary Bike close their doors recently. We've gone through at least 5 bikes from their line over the years. High quality with excellent customer service. I expect they may become sought after on the resale market.

[Keith P.]

Part 2

People don’t talk about the trick it can be to transport bikes with wider bars of unique shapes. You need to have your Allen wrench ready to move seats and grips out of each other's way.

I was glad we decided to bypass the van on this leg, in favor of taking Caltrain to San Francisco and then the Ferry to the island.

A real “transportation trip.”

We assembled at a relaxed 8:30am - backpacks ready to head up to the city.

We rode a leisurely two miles to the station, getting there early enough to catch an express I hadn’t scheduled for. This most likely made for a more crowded bike car than it otherwise would have been, but I love seeing how many people commute with their bikes every day.

3 more miles from the Caltrains station to the Ferry building. Nice designated bike paths most of the way, and an always welcome opportunity to roll on the holy grounds of Pac Bell Park.

 

The Ferry is half the fun.
It's got to be the cheapest "Bay Tour" ticket around. You see all of San Francisco, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate, and Sausalito from the water.

[Keith P.]

Part 3

Once on the island, it is a steep little climb out of the harbor to the perimeter road. I may have underestimated and under-billed the amount of climbing from the cove to our campsite. We’re only talking a few hundred feet of elevation gain, but I deserved what few complaints were given.

I feel I atoned plenty however, as I ended up wearing several other people’s backpacks.

This is Campsite #1, as recommended by Bill Lindsay on another thread.

Bill, I think we found your climbing tree (just to the left of this photo?). It was completely choked with poison oak this year. An itchy temptation to have so close.

The view is outstanding however. Especially at night, as all the lights of the east bay sparkle across the water at you.

This feels like a very RBW photo to me for a number of reasons.

Finally got to test my Trangia out in the wild. 

Stephen’s Mint Truffle Hot Chocolate is the only hot chocolate.
If you feel strongly otherwise… I will gladly try your other hot chocolate suggestions.

The mist rolled in thick in the night, and turned into an unexpected light rain toward morning.

Three of us were in a tent, and two outside.

Luckily, we bunked under a Quercus Agrifolia.
Its umbrella kept us from getting too wet, and listening to the falling drops while half asleep was quite lovely.

[Keith P.]

Part 4

After a breakfast of almond and chocolate croissants, and a lot of drying and repacking of gear, we set out to explore the rest of the circumference of the island.

The perimeter road rolls up and down through an immigration station, army base, nike missile installation, and incredible views of the Bay Area.

If you look close you can see Alcatraz Island there between us.
If you look really close you can just make out Nick Cage and Sean Connery.

After a night's rest everyone proved proper hill eaters. I couldn’t have been more impressed.

 • Olympus XA - AGFA 400

[Keith P.]

Part 5 

In Tableau.  • Olympus XA - AGFA 400

 • Olympus XA - AGFA 400

This is really a fun trip.
If anyone in or visiting Northern California hasn’t done it before, I highly recommend it.
Because it is so close and self-contained, it feels like a perfect beginner's bike overnight.

I figure we rode a total of 22 miles door-to-door, all said and done.
This is a fraction of what could be done as trails crisscross the island well beyond what the main loop offers.
Definitely would like to return and explore more of the upper parts of the hill.

[Kat]

Keith, this is a great write-up. I loved seeing your family of bikes! I also have a Framework Designs front bag, and concur it's beautifully made.

[Stephen Durfee]

Fantastic!  My son and I shared an S240 on Angel Island last year, a little later in the summer. Once the last boat left for the day, it felt like we had the entire island to ourselves...thanks for the write up!

[Todd G]

Keith P., great write up and thanks for sharing!

[Bob Ehrenbeck]

Loved the write-up and photos, Keith! Thanks for posting.

Bob E

Cranford, NJ

[Arvi]

Thanks so much for this great ride report and the nice photos. Great to see whole-family bike outings!

How far in advance did you have to book the campsite? I've looked a couple times and the sites are always booked.

-Arvi

Oakland, CA

[Toshi Takeuchi]

Thanks for the great writeup and pictures! That's a fun adventure that I'd also like to try with my family at some point. How much in advance do you need to reserve the campground?

Thanks,

Toshi

[Jim Willis]

Loved this, thank you. Reminds me of all the family cycling trips we did when our kids were younger. Always challenging for a variety of reasons but I love that we did them. Thanks.

[Jason Fuller]

Great writeup and love the driveside photos of the fleet. Good looking bikes! We have a similar sized, and also car-free, island up here in southwestern BC and it's such a treat to camp there. 

[Keith P.]

Thanks everyone!

Chef - Great shot. We should turn this conversation into a "post your Angel Island photos" thread.

Arvi & Toshi - I booked about 5 months in advance mainly because I was angling for specific campsites. I get the impression that if you don't need to go over a weekend you could snag reservations with much less lead time. Even last minute.

Jason - What's the name of the island?

k.

[Dwain Weary]

Great photos, very impressive getting everyone to go :)

[Eric Marth]

Keith — Great report, photos and trip! Looks like a blast

[Bill Lindsay]

Proper trip.  Well done.  I'm sad that the World's Greatest Climbing Tree is choked in poison oak, but it's a great trip anyway.

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Brendan Willard in SF]

Very thorough!  Love it!   Is that East Bay Site #1?

Brendan in SF

[Danny]

Great write-up and photos Keith, thanks for sharing!!

-Danny

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[Armand Kizirian]

Keith! This is epic. I couldn't understand if you guys took the train from LA, or were you already in the bay? So inspirational as I am around the corner from starting my own family!

[Keith P.]

Thanks all.

Brendon - Yeah, 5 "parts" is a little silly 😉. 

I need to figure out how to get google groups to accept longer (but smaller) posts.
It is indeed East Bay Site #1.

Armand - First, a hearty congratulations regardless of how far around the corner the family might be! That is exciting stuff!

We drove up from Los Angeles, and then took the local train from the south bay to the city.

k.