Golden Gate National Recreation Area        

Contact Information:
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Fort Mason, Building 201
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-561-4700
http://www.nps.gov/goga/

Alcatraz Island (a unit of Golden Gate NRA)

Size: 74,816 acres

Location: Park's land and water area encompass the shoreline of San Francisco and extend north of the Golden Gate Bridge to Tomales Bay in Marin County and south to San Mateo County, encompassing 59 miles of bay and ocean shoreline. Accessible by Highways 1, 101, 880, and 280. 

Description: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the largest urban national parks in the world. These lands represent one of the nation’s largest coastal preserves and attract 16 million visitors each year, making it one of the National Park Service's most highly visited units. Featuring 28 miles of coastline, it includes ocean beaches, redwood forest, lagoons, and marshes. 

It also contains numerous historical and cultural resources, including Alcatraz, Marin Headlands, Nike Missile Site, Fort Mason, as well as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, and the Presidio of San Francisco. These sites contain a variety of archeological sites, military forts and other historic structures which present a rich chronicle of two hundred years of history, including Native American culture, the Spanish Empire frontier, the Mexican Republic, evolution of American coastal fortifications, maritime history, 18th century and early 20th century agriculture, military history, California Gold Rush, Buffalo Soldiers, and the growth of urban San Francisco.

Activities: The national recreation area offers visitors a number of activities to choose from, including hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, auto touring, and a variety of interpretive programs. Facilities include two hike-in and two walk-in campgrounds in the Marin Headlands; and one group camp located in the Presidio of San Francisco. Reservations are required at all campgrounds. See Park News Online for a schedule of current park programs. 

Alcatraz: Visitors can join ranger-led programs, use self-guiding brochures, and take an audio tour of the cellhouse to learn about this historic island. A captioned video program of Alcatraz history is shown every 30 minutes in the museum. Phone 415-561-4900, 9am to 4pm, for program information. Daily ferry service for Alcatraz originates at Pier 41, Fisherman’s Wharf. Note: Alcatraz tickets frequently sell out as much as one week in advance.

Operating Hours: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes a number of visitor centers, which are listed below:

    Crissy Field Center - Open all year, Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm. 

    Alcatraz Island Visitor Center - Open all year.  

    Fort Point Bookstore - Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10am to 5pm.

    Marin Headlands Visitor Center - Open all Year, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

    Muir Woods Visitor Center - Open all year, 8am to sunset.

    Pacific West Regional Information Center - Open all year, Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 4:30pm.


History: Established on October 27, 1972. Designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1988. 

See other National Recreation Areas
See other California National Parks