Island & destination guide
Angel Island State Park (Ayala Cove)
Tiburon, Marin County, CA
Overview
Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay and a California State Park, reachable only by ferry or private boat. For boaters the destination is Ayala Cove on the island's north side, across Raccoon Strait from Tiburon. The cove has a State Parks dock with day-use slips, a field of overnight mooring buoys and the ferry landing, and it is a popular overnight stop for boats from Sausalito, Tiburon, San Francisco and the East Bay.
Docks and moorings
The dock's day-use slips are open 8 a.m. to sunset. State Parks lists 16 slips open and announced the dock's reopening after repairs on January 7, 2026. The slip fee is $15 for all or any part of the day. For overnight stays there are 27 mooring buoys in the cove, listed for boats of about 15 to 50 feet. A mooring is $30, which includes the night with check-out at noon the next day. A second boat rafted to the same buoys pays $15, and no more than two boats may share a set of buoys.
Overnight rules
Pay before you tie up; a self-pay station is near the head of the dock. Tie off at both bow and stern, bow northeast and stern southwest. Dinghy access from the moorings runs until 10 p.m., and State Parks warns that travel on parts of the island after sunset is not allowed. Dogs are not allowed except service animals. Fees cover park entry for up to 8 people on the vessel, and there is no fuel at Ayala Cove.
Good to know
All the island ferries land at Ayala Cove, so expect ferry traffic, especially May through September. State Parks cautions about shallow water at low tide in the mooring area, so check tide and draft. Boaters also anchor along the island's east side, protected in typical westerly weather but subject to wakes from passing ships.
Getting there & access
By water
Ayala Cove sits on the island's north side facing Tiburon across Raccoon Strait. The dock, ferry landing and mooring field are all in the cove. Expect commercial and public ferries coming and going, and keep clear of the ferry landing. State Parks warns that the mooring area is shallow at low tide.
Mooring procedure
Pay before you tie up, using the self-pay station near the head of the dock. Pick up a buoy, tie at bow and stern with the bow pointing northeast and the stern southwest, and raft no more than two boats to one set of buoys. Overnight check-out is 12 p.m. the next day.
Dock slips and dinghies
Day-use slips are first come, first served within the open slips. The dock also has a 15-minute loading zone and a slip for dinghies and small craft to land and pay. Dinghy access from the moorings runs until 10 p.m.
Other anchorages
Boaters report overnight anchorages along the island's east side that are protected in typical westerly weather but subject to periodic wakes from passing ships. Check the chart and current marine forecast before choosing one, and note that day-use fees apply for landing a dinghy ashore.
By ferry and land
Without a boat, you can reach the island on the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry, (415) 435-2131, or Golden Gate Ferry from San Francisco, (415) 455-2000.
Amenities
- Day-use dock slips — 16 slips open, $15, 8 a.m. to sunset
- Mooring buoys — 27 buoys in Ayala Cove, overnight, $30
- Self-pay station — Near the head of the boat dock
- Restrooms — Available at Ayala Cove
- Cafe, snack bar and picnic area — Listed among the facilities at Ayala Cove; seasonal hours vary
- Camping — 11 environmental campsites, reserved through ReserveCalifornia
- Ferry landing — Tiburon, San Francisco and other ferry connections
Rules & official resources
- Day-use dock slips are open 8 a.m. to sunset; $15 for all or any part of that time
- Mooring fee is $30 and covers the night; overnight check-out is noon; a second rafted boat pays $15
- Pay before tying up to a mooring buoy
- Tie off at bow and stern (bow northeast, stern southwest); no more than two boats on one set of buoys
- Night travel after sunset on parts of the island is not allowed; dinghy access from the moorings is until 10 p.m.
- Dogs are not allowed on the island, except service animals
- California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025
Common boat service needs here
Mooring and dock-line gear checks
Overnight mooring means tying at bow and stern in a cove with ferry wakes and tide changes. Chafe gear, fenders and ground tackle in good order are worth a pre-trip inspection by a rigger or mechanic.
Find Marine Mechanics & Engine Service providers →Electrical and batteries
There is no shore power or fuel at Ayala Cove, so overnight boaters depend on house batteries, solar and charging systems. Battery and electronics service is a common prep job.
Find Marine Electrical & Electronics providers →Bottom cleaning
Boats that make regular Bay trips pick up growth in slips. A clean bottom helps speed and fuel economy on the crossing.
Find Bottom Cleaning, Hull Cleaning & Dive Services providers →Canvas and covers
Overnight stays at anchor or on a buoy rely on bimini, dodger and cockpit enclosures for wind and sun, and the Bay's summer wind wears fabric and stitching.
Find Canvas, Covers & Upholstery providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
Last verified October 2, 2026