The Lighthouse Circuit

Access, tours, hours, fees, and closures change often. Always verify with the official source before driving.

Tier 1 · Essential

Alcatraz Island Light

Alcatraz Island Light Station

San Francisco · San Francisco County · Bay Area

Active aidstandingPublic accessmoderateNational Park Service / U.S. Coast Guard
Alcatraz Island Light rising above the former federal prison
Photo: Jared Zimmerman· CC BY-SA 3.0· Wikimedia Commons

⚠ Verify before you drive

Ferry pricing changes annually. Book well in advance. Verify current ticket prices.

Year first lit

1854

Current structure built

1909

Tower height

84 ft

Focal plane

214 ft

Optic

Automated LED beacon; original Fresnel lens removed

Light characteristic

Fl W 4s (flashing white every 4 seconds)

Owner

National Park Service / U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

NPS – Golden Gate National Recreation Area / Alcatraz Cruises (concessionaire)

Coordinates

37.8267, -122.4233 Map

Current hours

Alcatraz Cruises: daily departures from Pier 33. Advance booking strongly recommended (often sold out weeks ahead).

Fees

Adult day tour: approximately $45–$50 (verify current pricing)

NRHP listed

Yes

History

The first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast (1854). Current tower dates to 1909. Located on the famous former federal penitentiary island. Active USCG aid to navigation. Visited by over 1.5 million people annually.

Why it matters

The first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. The Alcatraz connection makes it one of the most-visited lighthouse sites in the United States. The lighthouse is often overlooked by visitors focused on the prison — a compelling story angle.

The visit

Ferry from Pier 33 (book well in advance). Audio tour of prison and island. Lighthouse visible and accessible on island. Active light. Extraordinary views of San Francisco Bay.

Logistics

Recommended base

San Francisco

Nearby food / coffee

San Francisco Embarcadero restaurants, Ferry Building Marketplace

Nearby lodging

San Francisco hotels (wide range)

Accessibility

Ferry required. Alcatraz Island has significant elevation changes. Wheelchair accessible route available but limited. Audio tour included.

Tier 1 Bay Area site. The most-visited lighthouse in California by default (via Alcatraz tours). Pairs with Point Bonita and East Brother for a Bay circuit.

Nearby lighthouses

Point Bonita Lighthouse at the end of its suspension bridge in the Marin Headlands

Point Bonita Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

Sausalito, Bay Area

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

The guardian of the Golden Gate. One of the most dramatic lighthouse settings in the United States — perched on a rocky point, accessed by a suspension bridge over crashing surf. The very limited access (one Saturday per month) makes planning essential.

East Brother Island Light Station, operated as a working B&B

East Brother Island Light Station

Richmond, Bay Area

Tier 1Active aidPublic accessmoderate⚠ Verify

The only lighthouse B&B in the San Francisco Bay Area. Boat-only access. Victorian architecture intact. A unique overnight experience in the Bay.

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Sources

Image rights: NPS images generally public domain. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-05-13