Hill's Angels

Segway Around Angel Island

04.22.2015

Admit it, you've always wanted to try a Segway. They're fun and goofy … kinda like the Hall & Oates of outdoor recreation. And the best place to give it a try? Where no cars go and the views are beautiful! Strap on a helmet and Segway around Angel Island State Park. Learn about the island's history on a 2-hour guided tour featuring incredible vistas of San Francisco, Tiburon, and the bay's bridges. But first, learn how to balance, speed forward, stop, and go in reverse on a crash course (well, hopefully not a crash course). Then, fall into line with a troop of other riders and embark on a 5.2-mile loop around the island's perimeter. Launch in turtle mode (maximum 5 mph), and eventually you'll graduate to rabbit mode, which tops out at a whopping 12.5 mph (the Segway's maximum speed). With 295 feet of elevation gain past old military barracks and lush eucalyptus and oak groves, you'll learn to master the lifts and dips of the island's rolling hills. Highlights include seeing the beach where remnants of a raft from a 1962 Alcatraz prison break washed ashore, and Camp Reynolds, the largest collection of Civil War–era buildings in the country. Then there's the knockout panoramic viewpoint above Battery Ledyard. Hill, yeah!

Angel Island Company's Segway Tours launch from Angel Island near the ferry dock. You must be 16 years of age or older to ride the vehicle and pass a brief skills test before leaving for the tour. Closed-toed shoes and long pants required. $68 per person; doesn't operate on rainy days. No dogs.

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