Parks

Alcatraz Apps—Download the cellhouse audio tour

An audio tour, " Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour" is available for you when you are on the island!

A light dusting of snow on Mt. Tamalpais

We get more mild winters here in the Golden Gate National Parks then some of our friends at parks like Yosemite or Yellowstone—but we certainly do have subtle seasonal changes to enjoy.

The new Alcatraz experience: Now is the time to escape to Alcatraz Island!

In this article, we’ll get you set up with some tips to explore Alcatraz like a seasoned park ranger. Visit for those views, for the lush gardens, and the history that ties into present-day social justice movements. Here are some of our insider tips.

Marshall's Beach

San Francisco

While visiting the biodiverse shorelines of the Presidio, you can’t get much closer to the Golden Gate Bridge than at Marshall’s Beach. This rugged stretch of sand and rocks is a favorite destination for photographers. Even clothing-optional sunbathers are known to frequent on warm days.

Experience the Alcatraz Citadel Virtually

Two closed-off stairwells lead down from the first floor of the Alcatraz Cellhouse to a lower, blocked-off basement level called the Citadel, one of the earliest structures on Alcatraz. Through the digital resources on this page, this site and its history can be observed and interpreted virtually.

Touring Alcatraz

Learn more about the Alcatraz Behind the Scenes and Night Tours. You’ll get access to hidden areas of the island on small tours led by NPS rangers and historical experts from the Parks Conservancy. No two tours are ever the same.

Alcatraz History

Alcatraz, once an 1850s military fort, is the site of the West Coast’s first lighthouse (since replaced by the current lighthouse) and the birthplace of the Native American “Red Power” movement (sparked by an occupation of Alcatraz from 1969-1971). Gardens, tidepools, nesting birds, and stunning bay views are also among its many attractions.