Top 10 Tips for Visiting Alcatraz Island

NPS / Will Elder

Plan Like a Park Ranger:

1. Plan Ahead - Alcatraz Island is a incredibly popular destination. Reserve, relax & enjoy the island. Purchase tickets ahead of time to make the most of your visit. Tickets during the summer can sell out months in advance. If you cannot find tickets for your date, consider checking back. Cancellations can and do occur, and those tickets become available in real time.
2. Know Before You Go - Restrooms and food service are both limited on Alcatraz Island. Restrooms can be found at the dock and at the top of the island adjacent to the cellhouse. Lite snacks and bottled water can be purchased in the bookstores, but no other food service is available on island or on the ferries. Eating, drinking, and smoking, with the exception of bottled water, is only permitted at the dock.
3. Check the Weather - Summer weather on Alcatraz is unpredictable and liable to change unexpectedly, so be prepared by bringing along a light jacket or sweater no matter how nice the day starts out. Cold, foggy mornings may give way to sunny afternoons, which in turn can shift quickly back to more fog and blustery winds.
4. Dress Comfortably - The walk up to the cellhouse is a quarter mile in distance, involving an elevation gain equivalent to climbing a 13-story building. Wear comfortable shoes. An accessible tram is available for those with mobility needs.
5. Charge Up & Download - Consider downloading the National Park Service Mobile App before your visit. Charge up your cellphone and pack earbuds or headphones for listening to the Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour.
6. Ask a Ranger - Park Rangers love to talk and are happy to answer whatever questions you may have. Find a Park Ranger at the Dock Ranger Station, at the New Industries Building, or roving around the island.
7. Get Out & Explore - There is a lot to see on the island besides the Cellhouse. Make sure not to miss the Red Power on Alcatraz: Perspectives 50 Years Later exhibit found in the New Industries Building or take a stroll through the Alcatraz Gardens.
8. Go Bird Watching - Summer on Alcatraz is bird nesting season. While some parts of the island close for nesting waterbirds, this time of year provides great opportunities to see these birds and their young. Consider packing binoculars for the best viewing experience. Remember, please do not feed or disturb any of the wildlife.
9. Become a Junior Ranger - Want to learn even more about your parks and earn cool badges along the way? Ask for a Junior Ranger Book at at the Dock Ranger Station or print one out at home in.
10. Alcatraz is Not an Island - Alcatraz Island is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, an 80,000 acre national park site situated in an around San Francisco. Additionally, we are only a short walk or drive from San Francisco Maritime Naitonal Historical Park, Fort Point National Historic Park, Muir Woods National Monument, John Muir National Historic Site, Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and Point Reyes National Seashore.

While you're planning your summer vacation, consider taking some time to check out Top 10 Tips for these parks and so many more.

Recreate Responsibly:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees.

Some park sites have modified operations for facilities and programs, including potential closures, at areas that cannot adhere to this guidance. Where it is safe, outdoor spaces will remain open to the public.

The health and safety of people visiting and working in the park is our number one priority. We continue to urge visitors to do their part when visiting the park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.