Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach

Located in the eastern part of Angel Island, Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach is a beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This beach is situated in a cove below oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park named Angel Island State Park. It is important to note that the state park currently manages almost the entire Angel Island. 

Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities. However, the area above this beach has restrooms and hiking trails. Dogs are not allowed in Angel Island. 

Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach offers many fun activities including boating, sunbathing, beachcombing, hiking, biking, wildlife watching, picnicking, and camping. While the water near this beach is milder than the nearby Angel Island State Park - Perles Beach due to its position within a cove, aquatic activities are still unsafe here due to the frequent presence of extremely dangerous rip currents. However, boating is possible in the water near this beach during favorable conditions. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals and sea lions.

Angel Island State Park has interesting hiking and biking trails that offer a unique way to explore Angel Island’s vibrant landscape. In addition, you can also view raccoons and deer while hiking around Angel Island State Park. If you are looking for another interesting way to explore Angel Island, Angel Island Company is a private organization that organizes interesting Segway tours and Tram rides across Angel Island. The state park also has many natural and historical landmarks including Mount Livermore, whose peak is situated more than 780 feet above sea level. Hikers often visit this summit as it offers amazing panoramic views of the town of Tiburon, the San Francisco waterfront, and the Pacific Ocean. Fort McDowell is a military installation dating back to the late 19th century. While much of this fort is now in a derelict state and closed to the public, you can still visit Fort McDowell’s guardhouse and chapel, which offer a unique insight into Angel Island’s history. However, the most popular historical landmark on this island is the former United States Immigration Station facility, which was opened in the early 20th century and processed nearly a million visitors from around 80 countries before being shut down in 1940. This center processed mostly Asian immigrants trying to migrate to the United States. Visitors can still explore the immigration center’s premises, which offer an emotional and moving insight into the hardships faced by these immigrants while trying to migrate to the United States

Getting to Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach is easy - ferry services for Angel Island State Park are available from the nearby town of Tiburon via the Tiburon - Angel Island Ferry Service. From San Francisco, Blue & Gold Ferry Service offers ferry services to Angel Island State Park. From the ferry landing at Angel Island State Park, the access trail to Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach has situated one-third of a mile south of the historic United States Immigration Station facility and is easily accessible via the Perimeter Road (which encircles Angel Island). You can reach this access trail by either hiking or biking along Perimeter Road from the ferry landing.  

There are many attractions near Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach. Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve has a restored 19th-century church that exhibits Carpenter Gothic architecture. The John Thomas Howell Wildflower Preserve is also present near this church and is home to many rare plants including Tiburon buckwheat, Tiburon paintbrush, and the Marin dwarf flax. In addition, another extremely rare plant known as the black jewel flower is also found here - this plant only grows in the serpentine soil present around Tiburon. The Tiburon Railroad and Ferry Depot Museum is located in a former station house/depot, which was built in the 19th century. This museum is a part of the National Register of Historic Places and offers a unique insight into the history of Northern California. If you are looking for another attraction near Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach, Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary are spread over 900 acres. This sanctuary is an excellent bird-watching spot and you can see many kinds of amazing birds around this beach including double-crested cormorants, American coots, and Wilson’s warblers.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach. Scoma’s of Sausalito is situated in the nearby town of Sausalito. This upscale restaurant serves amazing seafood, sandwiches, salads, steaks, burgers, and steaks. Angel Island Cantina offers a wonderful oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing burgers and Mexican dishes including tacos and ceviches. The restaurant also hosts live music performances during afternoons on weekends between June and October. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Angel Island State Park - Quarry Beach, The Angel Island Café has a dining area that offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Ayala Cove and the Tiburon coastline. In addition, the restaurant serves amazing salads, sandwiches, and wraps. This restaurant is famous for serving its signature pork sandwich known as "The Way Down South" sandwich.