Unveiling The Magic: Visit The Walt Disney Museum In San Francisco

3 minute read | contains affiliate links

Welcome to the enchanting world of the Walt Disney Family Museum, nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Presidio.

Stepping through its doors is like embarking on a journey through the life and legacy of one of the greatest visionaries of our time. As you explore the exhibits, you'll be transported to a time where imagination knew no bounds.

From the earliest sketches of beloved characters to groundbreaking technological advancements in animation, this museum offers a truly immersive and multimodal experience that engages all your senses.

Join us as we delve into the magical realms created by Walt Disney and unravel the extraordinary story behind the man who forever changed the landscape of animation.

Get ready to be inspired, amazed and filled with childlike wonder as we embark on a tour of the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

I’m going to be somewhat vague in the descriptions of exhibits and the museum itself, as I highly encourage you to see it for yourself and I don’t want to spoil it.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting us!

Location, Parking & Admission Fees

The Walt Disney Family Museum is located in the historic Presidio in beautiful San Francisco, just a stone’s throw from the Golden Gate Bridge.

The museum’s address is:

• 104 Montgomery Street

Entering that address (or simply the museum’s name) into any GPS device will place you directly in front of the museum, where the closest available parking is.

If there’s no parking available there, you can try the Main Post Parking Lot (across the Main Post Lawn) or behind the museum in the Taylor Road Parking Lot.

Keep in mind that parking is metered credit/debit cards (as well as cash) is accepted.

Admission fees to the museum are as follows:

• Adults: $25

• Senior (65 and up): $20

• Student (w/ ID): $20

• Youth (6-17): $15

• Child (5 and under): Free

• Military (active, veteran, or retired): Free

• Military Spouse/Dependent: Free

These prices pertain to the main museum only. The museum features regular special exhibits on a rotating basis. If you want to tour those exhibits, add $5 to the prices above.

When buying your tickets, you’ll be asked to select an arrival date and entry window. This is to help the museum with over-crowding.

I had no issue getting tickets the day before and even though we arrived past our entry window, we were still able to get in. I can’t guarantee they’ll be lenient every time, though.

The Walt Disney Museum

When you walk inside you’ll be greeted, be asked to show your tickets and be given a quick breakdown of the museum and where everything is.

To the left of the entrance is the cafe and gift shop. To the right are some exhibits to see while you wait for your entry time if you arrive early.

At the podium, you’ll present your tickets and be given a quick explanation of the camera/filming policy before proceeding into the first room.

*I was told that pictures and video were fine, but that flash photography was prohibited. Most cameras, including those with detachable lenses, are good to go.

The first room you’ll enter is on the ground floor and details Walt’s early life. You’ll learn about where he was born, his earliest entry into the world of cartoons and his service in the Red Cross during World War One.

When you’re done looking around, head to the elevator in the next room and take it to the next floor where the remaining museum exhibits are located.

Coming out of the elevator, the next few rooms are a treasure trove of the early works of Disney animation and the equipment Walt and his animators used.

The first room heavily focuses on the musical animated classic series, Silly Symphonies. These musical shorts were the bread and butter for Disney at the time and would pave the way for musicals we all love such as, Beauty and the Beast and Frozen.

The next room details the beginning stages of the development of Disney’s first full-length animated move, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The walls are adorned with early sketches, rough drafts of the script, props, images and more. It’s a literal treasure trove of all things Snow White.

You’ll also see the multi-pane camera Walt and his animators invented in order to create the multi-dimensional look of their films.

This gave their movies depth rather than having that “flat” look that other animated features of the time had. Past that, you’ll see examples of how Disney began diversifying their character roster.

Next, you’ll learn about the Hollywood writer’s strike of 1941 and how it affected the relationship Walt had with his animators.

The exhibits also detail the events of World War Two and how Disney did his part to help keep the moral of the troops up.

From here, you’ll make your way into what I refer to as the, “transition room”. The walls are lined with screens where clips from some of Disney’s most beloved films play.

It’s a dark room with plush seating in the center, allowing you to rest and comfortably view the clips and images that rotate on the screens.

After the transition room, you enter a beautifully lit hallway with floor to ceiling windows allowing for a commanding view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

At the end of this hallway is one of the actual benches from Los Angelas’s Griffith Park. Walt brought his kids to this park numerous times and sat on this very bench (and others).

It is these benches where Walt’s idea for Disneyland first came about. He was watching his kids ride the carousel and thought to himself, “there outta be a place where kids and their parents could have fun together”.

As you move past the Griffith Park bench you’ll enter the final and perhaps most popular exhibit in the museum; the development of Disneyland.

As you work your way down the spiral ramp you’re surrounded with images and props used during creative sessions and the construction phase of Disneyland.

At the end of the ramp is a beautifully rendered model of Disneyland called, “The Disneyland of Walt’s Imagination”.

The model isn’t an exact representation of the park, but more of a, “fun map-style”, model. This allows for each of the park’s most popular aspects to be highlighted without regard to scale. Tony Baxter, a famed Disney Imagineer, is responsible for the idea.

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The model was easily the most popular exhibit. Not just in this room, but in the museum as a whole. After admiring the model, your visit to the museum concludes with a touching tribute to Walt.

The final room covers his final days and the impact his death had on not just the entertainment idustry, but the world. It’s easy to see how special Walt was and how we’ll never have another one quite like him.

I hope you’ll consider paying a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum. If you’re a Disney fan, particularly of its history, you’ll enjoy it immensely.

If you’re considering a vacation to Disneyland, doing proper research is imperative. Head over to our Disneyland section for many planning resources.

Recommended photography products (opens new link to Amazon)…

• Sony Alpha 7 IV Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

• Peak Design V3 Camera Clip

• K&F Concept Variable Fader

• Tarion Camera Bag

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Fort Point National Historic Site: Parking, History, Fees and More

3 minute read | contains affiliate links

Nestled at the entrance to Golden Gate Bay in San Francisco lies a hidden gem of American history - Fort Point National Historic Site.

Steeped in military heritage and offering breathtaking views, this site transports visitors back to the era of the Civil War.

In this post, we'll delve into the captivating history of Fort Point, exploring its significance and the unique experiences it offers to those who visit.

Topics such as parking, the fort’s history, fees, how to get there and more will be discussed. Let’s get into it!

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Fort Point History

Constructed between 1853 and 1861, Fort Point stands as a testament to the nation's military defense strategies during the mid-19th century.

Its primary purpose was to protect San Francisco Bay from potential attacks. Named after the rocky promontory on which it was built, Fort Point was initially armed with hundreds of cannons and a garrison of soldiers.

During the American Civil War, Fort Point played a vital role in safeguarding the Pacific Coast. Despite its strategic significance, it never saw direct combat during the conflict.

Its mere presence deterred Confederate vessels from venturing too close to the Bay Area, thereby safeguarding the Union's interests until 1886, when all troops were withdrawn.

In the mid-20th century, there were plans to demolish the fort in order to make way for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

However, due to the efforts of preservationists, the fort was spared and bridge was purposely built around it. In 1970, it was designated a National Historic Site, ensuring its protection.

Today, the fort serves as a tangible reminder of the nation's turbulent past and the enduring strength of the United States.

Parking at Fort Point

Fort Point National Historic Site, located underneath the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the city's rich history.

As you plan your visit, a key consideration is parking. As I’m sure you know, parking anywhere in San Francisco can be quite the task. Thankfully, at Fort Point, there are a few viable options.

On-Site Parking

Fort Point National Historic Site has dedicated on-site parking for visitors. There’s a handful of spaces directly adjacent to the fort.

Limited street parking is also available along Marine Drive, just outside the entrance. I suggest arriving early to secure a spot.

If you intend to park here and are utilizing GPS, be sure to punch in the exact address OR its full name (Fort Point National Historic Site). The address is:

• 201 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94129

If you only punch in, “Fort Point”, like I did, it’ll likely take you to the Battery East parking lot (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing).

By inputting the address or full name, it’ll take you to the parking spaces along Marine drive.

Crissy Field Parking Lot

Situated a short walk away from the fort, the Crissy Field parking lot offers ample space. It provides easy access to the site and is often a preferred choice due to its proximity.

Parking here is free on weekdays but there is a fee on weekends. They are:

• $1.20 per hour

• $7.00 for the day

The payment kiosks accept credit or debit cards, as well as coins.

From this parking lot, it’s 1.6-miles to the fort and takes roughly thirty minutes by foot.

While it isn’t the closest lot, it’s situated near many other attractions in the Presidio. If you’re visiting them as well, parking here may be the most strategic option.

Battery East Parking Lot

Located east of Fort Point, the Battery East parking lot is another viable option. Although it requires a short downhill hike to get to the fort.

If you feel up to hiking, I highly suggest parking here. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge from this trail are outstanding. Especially in the spring when local floral is in bloom.

There are parking fees at this location. They are:

• $3.00 per hour

• $10.00 for the day

There are two pay stations located at each end of the lot and they only accept credit or debit cards. Be sure to place your receipt on your dashboard.

It’s about 3/4’s of a mile (one-way) to the fort and takes roughly 15-minutes to get there.

Fort Point Fees & Hours of Operation

At Fort Point, there are no admission fees (or parking fees if you park along Marine drive).

That’s the good news. The bad news? The fort isn’t open every day of the week. The fort’s hours of operation are:

• Open Thursday - Monday, 10am - 5pm (roof access closes at 4:30)

• Closed Tuesday, Wednesday and on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day

These hours pertain to the interior of the fort. The exterior can be accessed seven days a week.

If you’ll be here on a day when the fort is closed, I still recommend going as the views of the bridge from here are amazing.

However, I highly suggest timing your visit to a day when the interior is open to get the most out of Fort Point.

The Interior of Fort Point

When you step through the iron gates of Fort Point, the first thing you’ll likely take notice of is the beautiful contrast of 1800’s and 1900’s architecture as the Golden Gate Bridge intersects with the fort nearly directly above you.

There are several levels to the fort, most of which (including the open top roof) are accessible to visitors.

Something to note is that only the bottom level is wheelchair accessible. The remaining levels must be accessed via the spiral staircase leading up to the guard towers.

There are many artifacts on display, such as canons and several images showing what the fort looked like prior to the construction of the bridge.

As you move up the levels, you’ll find several rooms that were once living quarters for the soldiers and officers with exhibits on display.

You’ll also notice dozens of look-out holes along the brick walls that once allowed soldiers to maintain surveillance of the bay and utilize artillery, if needed.

Make your way up to the roof and treat yourself to amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. Dotted along the roof are foundations that once housed artillery batteries.

If you can, try to picture the bay without the bridge and put yourself in the point of view of the soldiers as they wondered if that would be the day the Confederacy attacked.

When you’re finished exploring, simply make your way outside the fort and move on to your next adventure of the day.

If you’re interested in additional sites that detail the area’s rich military history, consider reading a few more of our posts to help map out your trip. They are:

• “Explore Sutro Baths and Hike The Lands End Trail”*

• “The Ultimate Guide To Visiting and Touring Alcatraz Island”*

• “San Francisco’s Embarcadero: Best Things To Do, Getting Around and More”*

• “Muir Beach Overlook: A Breathtaking View Of The Pacific Ocean”*

• “Kirby Cove: The Most Gorgeous View Of The Golden Gate Bridge”*

*Denotes a link to a separate post

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Explore Sutro Baths and Hike The Lands End Trail in San Francisco

7 minute read | Contains affiliate links

Located in the northwestern corner of the beautiful city of San Francisco, a coastal oasis awaits eager visitors and hikers alike; Lands End.

From the moment you leave your vehicle, you’re treated to near non-stop stunning views of the city’s coast, Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Ocean, and Marin Headlands.

If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get to check out many historic sights and subjects such as the USS San Francisco Memorial, Sutro Baths, Cliff House, and more!

You can spend your visit just exploring the ruins of the Sutro Baths or extend your visit by hiking this short, but beautiful stretch of California’s infamous, Coastal Trail.

So how do you get to Lands End? Is the trail dog friendly? How many miles is it? We’ll answer all these questions and more below. Let’s get into it!

Lands End Information

Lands End Lookout

The parking lot for Lands End is located in the Sutro Heights district of the city, just off of Point Lobos Ave.

Here, you can access the Visitor Center, Cliff House, Sutro Bath ruins, and the trailhead for the Lands End trail.

For GPS purposes, here is the address:

• 680 Point Lobos Ave. San Francisco, CA, 94121

Sutro Baths Ruins

From the parking lot, you’ll see a stairwell descending towards the ocean. This stairwell will take you down to the Sutro Baths ruins.

The Sutro Baths complex was a massive saltwater swimming pool owned by Adolph Sutro. They were built in 1894 and remained opened until 1964.

The complex was sold to real estate developers with the idea to build ocean-side condos, but a fire in 1966 put an end to that plan.

Now run by the National Park Service, all that remains of the baths are the concrete foundations, walls, and stairwells.

It may seem like nothing, but the ruins are fun to explore. You’re free to climb and walk on them but be careful! One misstep and you’re in the ocean.

To the right of the ruins is a tunnel carved into the rock. It isn’t long and there’s not much to see at the end, but it’s still a cool feature of the area.

Sutro Baths Upper Traill

On the concrete path to the ruins, you’ll notice a dirt path that spurs off up and to the right. This is the Upper Trail.

The view from above will give you an idea of just how massive the Sutro Baths complex really was.

Lands End Trail

Trailhead near Sutro Baths.

Trail Information

The trailhead on the lookout side of the trail is adjacent to the parking lot. If you’re facing Sutro Baths at the top, go right.

You can access the other side of the trail by parking near the Legion of Honor building and walking down the pathway along the road.

Trailhead near Legion of Honor off of Lincoln Highway.

The Lands End trail is a section of the infamous, Coastal Trail. A near 1200-mile trail stretching from Mexico up to Oregon.

The Lands End portion is 1.5-miles, one-way, along a mostly dirt path winding along beautiful coastal bluffs lined with Cypress trees.

The trail is easy-to-mild in difficulty, but does present a few moderately challenging stairwells at certain points.

The trail starts out (from the lookout side) on a wide path under Cypress trees, before opening up to an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

About halfway through, the path narrows and turns into a more traditional hiking trail. For the most part, the trail is very shaded.

*Bathroom Alert: In short, there are none. Not on the trail, anyway. There are bathrooms at the Lands End Lookout visitor center and occasionally, there’s a portable restroom near Fort Miley at the dead-end.

Trail Detours & Features

If you just want to go from one end to another, you can. However, along the way, you’ll encounter a few cool detours you should consider taking.

Lands End Point

At around the half-mile point (coming from the lookout side), you’ll see a sign pointing towards a set of steep steps (pictured below).

This stairwell will take you down to three great detours; Lands End Point, Mile Rock Beach, and Lands End Labyrinth.

Halfway down the stairwell, where it flattens, veer to right to Lands End Point. It features a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

It makes for an excellent spot to take a break and take some photos. You could also enjoy a picnic here with your partner.

You’ll see remnants of a foundation that held some kind of military artillery. To the left of that is the Lands End Labyrinth (our photo didn’t turn out well at all. Sorry).

*If you’re interested in more locations around the city with military history, check out our articles about Kirby Cove and the Muir Beach Overlook.

Mile Rock Beach

Taking the second set of stairs will take you to Mile Rock Beach. There’s also a short, but sketchy, path from Lands End Point you can take.

The beach is small, but beautiful. What it’s most known for are the seemingly hundreds of rock stacks along the cove.

These were left by many visitors over the years and the rocks used in the Labyrinth above the beach were taken from here.

Eagles Point

Eagles Point isn’t a detour as it’s directly off the trail, but it’s worth mentioning as it provides the closest view of the bridge on the trail.

If you’re starting on the Lincoln Highway side of the trail, you’ll see it right away as it’s just past the trailhead sign on your right.

Legion of Honor

Legion of Honor is a museum located near the trail in Lincoln Park. They display a collection of ancient and European artifacts from the last 4,000 years.

The Beaux-arts building was built in a way to commemorate Californian soldiers who were killed in battle during World War 1.

We would recommend visiting before or after your hike. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, go here.

USS San Francisco Memorial

This memorial was built to honor the memory of the men who died on the USS San Francisco during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

The memorial was built out of materials from the actual ship. You can see the holes made by enemy bullets all around it.

Coming from the Sutro Baths side of the trail, you’ll soon come to an opening on the trail with the Golden Gate Bridge on full display.

To the right of this viewing area, you’ll see a steep set of concrete steps on your right (you can’t miss them). Take these to the top and go right.

Additional Information

When To Go

The Lands End Trail and Sutro Baths are accessible throughout the year, so there’s no real bad time to go.

The summer months will obviously be the hottest and will have the heaviest crowds. Aside from that, it’s pretty much your preference.

It was late November when my Dad and I hiked this and we experienced minimal crowding and perfect weather.

Most of the crowds we saw were at the Sutro Baths and it was close to noon by the time we reached that point.

Cliff Warnings

Scattered throughout the trail and at Sutro Baths, you’ll likely notice signs such as the one pictured above. It’s best to heed these warnings.

Unfortunately, there have been many deaths along this trail. One being a 17-year-old girl who lost her life after falling over a cliff.

When my Dad and I were here, someone had fallen off a cliff after entering a restricted area near Sutro Baths.

Thankfully, he was recovered by Fire & Rescue Personnel and survived his injuries, but it could have been much, much worse.

Is The Trail Dog and Bike Friendly?

Dogs, leashed or not, are welcomed all along the trail and at Sutro Baths. Bikes, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated.

Bikes are allowed between Lands End Lookout and the cut-off for Mile Rock Beach. From there, there’s a bike trail that splits from the main one.

The new trail you’ll be on parallels Lands End Trail, but higher up and will eventually terminate near the Legion of Honor building.

A Quick Note…

We’re often asked about the equipment we use to capture the photos on our website. Below, you’ll find Amazon links to them.

If you decide to purchase, Amazon will give us a small commission. This helps us keep the site running and doesn’t cost you anything extra.

• Nikon D750

• Nikon 24mm to 70mm 2.8 Lens

• K&F Concept ND Filter

• Gopro Hero 10

• GoPro Media Mod

• Mosiso Camera Backpack

• “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson (this book is an excellent resource for anyone getting into photography)

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The Complete Guide to Muir Woods: Trails, Reservations, and More

Muir Woods National Monument is one of the most popular attractions in the Bay Area, bringing in hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. A trip to the area just wouldn’t be complete without a visit.

Enacted as a National Monument by Theodore Rosevelt in 1908, Muir Woods is 554 acres of tranquility. These giant coastal redwoods have an average age of 600-800 years old. The oldest clocking in at a whopping 1200 years!

Your first time walking amongst these ancient giants is a magical experience. Many of the trees in the monument are north of 200-feet tall and will undoubtedly leave you in awe as you gaze upon them.

While we encourage anyone and everyone to visit this amazing place, there are certain things you need to know and do before going to ensure a successful visit. Let’s get into it!

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Visitor Information

Parking Reservations

If you want to visit Muir Woods, before you do anything else, you need to check the park calendar and ensure there is an available parking reservation for the day(s) you want to go.

Reservations are required no matter the day or time of year. Parking lots at the monument are not large and parking isn’t allowed on the sides of the road. So this is needed in order to mitigate over-crowding.

How To Make a Reservation

To make a parking reservation, follow the steps below:

• Go to this website

• Click/Tap the reservation button and select the day you want.

• You’ll then select your vehicle type.

• Select your arrival time window (Arrival times are in 30-minute intervals).

• You’ll then be given the option to pay for your park admission fees ahead of time (This fee is in addition to your reservation fee).

• Now you’ll enter your information and payment method.

• You’ll be emailed a QR code that will contain your reservation and admission fees (if you opted to pre-pay). Be sure to screen shot this and save it. When you arrive, pull it up on your phone and the parking attendant will scan it.

• You should also print it out a hard copy in case your phone dies.

Parking Reservation Fees

The following is a list of parking fees for your type of vehicle. These fees are mandatory and are paid at the time you make your reservation:

• Standard Vehicle - $9.00

• Handicap Accessible - $9.00

• Electric Vehicle - $13.00*

• Vehicle 17-22 feet - $30

• Vehicle 23-35 feet - $45

*The reason EV’s are more is because it includes charging. If you think you’ll be fine without it, just opt for the standard vehicle price. If you’re driving a Tesla, remember to bring your J1772 adaptor.

Shuttle

If you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday, the shuttle is another option. You’ll park at an offsite location at Pohono Park & Ride and take the 30-minute ride in.

If you go with this option, you will NOT need to make a parking reservation. Though you WILL need to select a 30-minute window of arrival at the Pohono lot.

The address for Pohono Park & Ride is as follows:

• 100 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Fees for the shuttle are:

• $3.50 (per person 16 years and up)

• Free (persons under 15 years)

The shuttles are ADA accessible with each one able to accommodate two wheelchairs. When making your reservation, be sure to select this option to ensure a spot.

Is Ride-Sharing an Option?

The short answer? Yes and no. You could get an Uber to take you into the monument but once there, you won’t have cell reception. So getting one to pick you up wouldn’t be possible.

Taking a Taxi would be your best bet if you don’t have your own vehicle or you’re visiting on a weekday. We would advise you to arrange a pick-up time with the driver or you can call them on the payphone behind the restrooms near the entrance.

Speaking of restrooms, there are two at the park:

• As mentioned above, there’s one just before the entrance near the parking lot.

• The other is located near the gift shop and cafe.

Beyond the gift shop, there are no other bathrooms in the monument.

Park Entrance Fees

In addition to paying for either the shuttle or a parking reservation, you will need to pay park entrance fees as well (unless you’re a holder of one of the various annual passes).

Muir Woods entrance fees are as follows:

• $15.00 (per person ages 16 and up)

• Free for persons 15 years and younger.

*Pro Tip: If you’re a family of 3- 4 and everyone is 16 years or older, consider purchasing the Muir Woods Annual Pass. It costs $45 (the total cost of three adults), is good for 12-months, and covers up to four people per visit! Just keep in mind that it will NOT cover parking or shuttle fees.

The easiest and most convenient way to pay for your entrance fee is online while making your shuttle or parking reservation. When you arrive, the attendant will scan your QR code and you’re done.

If you prefer to pay on arrival, you can. Current accepted forms of payment are cash, credit/debit card, or Apple Pay. Just keep in mind that shuttle or parking fees MUST be paid online, in advance.

Directions to Muir Woods

From San Francisco

Most don’t realize just how close Muir Woods is to San Francisco. How close? Only a mere 11-miles from the Golden Gate Bridge! To get there:

1. Go north on Highway 101 and cross the Golden Gate Bridge

2. Take the Highway 1 exit to Stinson Beach

3. Turn left to stay on Highway 1

4. Turn right on Panoramic Highway

5. Turn left on Muir Woods road and continue until you reach the parking lot

From the East Bay

1. Make your way to and get on Highway 101 South

2. Take the Highway 1 exit to Stinson Beach

3. Follow steps 3, 4, and 5 above

For GPS purposes, here is the official address for the monument:

• 1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Park Hours

Normally (as in, when we don’t have pandemics going on), Muir Woods is open all year long, including on major holidays. However, it is NOT open 24/7. The monument is open to the public:

• 8:00am to 5:00pm, daily.

The park facility hours vary slightly from normal park hours. They are:

• Visitor Center: 8:00am to 4:30pm. This is the building at the entrance to the monument.

• Gift Shop: 9:00am - 5:00pm. This building is roughly 50-60 yards or so behind the visitor center.

• Cafe: 10:00am - 4:00pm. The cafe is adjacent to the gift shop.

Best Time to Go

Busiest Time

Peak travel months for Muir Woods is May - October. Due to its proximity to San Francisco, it sees heavy visitation during these months. So much so, it can downright miserable.

If you must come during these months, we highly recommend a weekday and arrive as close to opening as possible. It’ll still be crowded, but it’ll at least be slightly easier than the weekend.

Off Season

In our opinion, the best time to visit is between the months of November and April. Yes, it does get cold and yes, it can be rainy, but the park also sees a major reduction in crowds.

The photos in this post were from our trip in November 2021 and as you can see, the crowds were minimal. If you can help it, we highly advise that you plan your trip for the off season.

Hiking Trails

Within the monument itself, there are 6-miles of trails. There are others that begin in Muir Woods but spur off to other locations such as Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, and neighboring Mount Tamalpias State Park.

All of the park trails begin and end at the visitor center at the entrance of the park. These include:

• Bridge 2 and back ( .5 miles): This is a short, peaceful walk along Redwood Creek. The boardwalk following this trail is both wheelchair and stroller friendly.

• Bridge 3 and back ( 1 mile): This also follows Redwood Creek (on both sides) but extends your excursion into old growth Redwoods.

• Bridge 4 and back (1.5 miles): We highly recommend doing this. This trail takes you all the way to the end of the park (any further and you’ll enter Mount Tamalpias State Park). From here, you can turn around and head back or…..

• Hillside Trail (2.0 miles): The first two miles includes the initial 1.5 miles to bridge 4. Instead of heading back the way you came, cross the bridge and head up the hill. This will loop you back and spit you back out at bridge 2. Going this way gives you a different perspective of the forest.

As mentioned above, there are other trails that spur off to other places outside park boundaries. A couple of these include:

• Muir Woods to Muir Beach (6 miles): This trail takes you to Muir Beach and back. It isn’t a long or difficult trail but depending on your level of fitness, we would definitely recommend allocating at least a few hours.

• Dipsea Trail (up to 10 miles): Dipsea is one of the most popular trails in the area. It begins at Muir Woods and ends at Stinson Beach. You can do the whole thing (about 10-miles, one-way) or you can shorten it to your desired milage.

To see more more trail options, go here.

Whether you intend to stay within the park or hike beyond it, we recommend picking up a park map at the visitor center. You’ll likely be handed one when you get there but if not, definitely ask.

What to Bring

Muir Woods is located almost directly off the coast of the Pacific Ocean. In the morning, that misty fog San Francisco is known for appears quite often. Temperatures rarely exceed 70 degrees and due to the height of the trees, there’s plenty of shade.

Due to this, there are certain things you’ll want to bring with you. Particularly if you’re visiting during the off season months. Here are a few of our suggestions:

• Backpack: For us, this is essential. I never go anywhere without my backpack. I use it for camera gear, carrying water, snacks, spare clothing, and other personal items.

• Camera: Nearly everyone has a camera on them these days. From DSLR’s to iPhones. Whichever you use, be sure to bring it to capture the memories you’re sure to make. Just don’t try to use a Drone here. They’re not allowed.

• Water: Beyond the gift shop, there are no water fountains. Make you to bring plenty of water with you.

• Dress in Layers: For the off season months, bring a waterproof jacket. As the day progresses, it’ll start warming up. So keep a long sleeve and short sleeve shirt with you.

• Proper Footwear: While the main trail along Redwood Creek is well maintained, you’re still in a wild place. There’s tree stumps, rocks, dirt, etc. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes with good grip would suffice.

• Snacks: You can pick some up at the Cafe or save some money/time by bringing them with you. Just be sure to pack out any empty wrappers, bags, etc.

Keep to the Trail

We don’t mean to be preachy, but it needs to be said. It’s important to remain on the trail and boardwalk in Muir Woods. As tempting as it may be to get closer, please don't.

Redwoods have shallow roots and stepping on the little ones can stunt growth. Trampling through the soil could also have devastating consequences for the insects and other wildlife that depend on it as their habitat.

Muir Woods Gift Shop & Cafe

About 20 yards behind the visitor center, you’ll find the gift shop and cafe. Both are housed in one building. The gift shop has all the usuals; shirts, framed pictures, pins, patches, coffee mugs, etc.

The cafe mostly serves a variety of hot and cold sandwiches and some grab & go options. I’ve had the gilled cheese with tomato soup and found it to be fine. Nothing out-of-this-world, but it did the job. You can see their full menu here.

Things to Do Nearby

While you could easily spend an entire day at Muir Woods, if you’re up to it, there are a few places nearby that are worth a visit in their own right.

• Muir Beach Overlook: This stunning overlook is located about 10-minutes from Muir Woods. From it, you have endless views of the Pacific Ocean, stunning views of the beach and coastline, and you’ll also learn some awesome military history on top of that. You can read all about it on our post here.

• Stinson Beach: About 20-minutes is all it takes to drive to Stinson Beach from Muir Woods.

• Kirby Cove Hiking Trail: About 13-miles from Muir Woods and on the Marin Headlands side of the Golden Gate Bridge, this short hiking trail takes you to a stunning cove with jaw an amazing view of the bridge and city. Read our guide on it here.

• Mount Tamalpais State Park: What the locals refer to as, “Mount Tam”, this stunning State Park has a huge network of hiking trails through amazing forests, waterfalls, the mountain’s summit, and more!

Conclusion

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Muir Woods and we have no doubt you will too. We’re so excited to finally add it to our website and help you put together a trip for yourself. Let us know in the comments if you have any further questions!

We hope you enjoyed this article and it was helpful to you. If so, please support our website by sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, Pinterest, or your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

The Ultimate Guide To Visiting and Touring Alcatraz Island

Jump To…..

• History of Alcatraz

• Visitor Information

• Cell House Tour

• Exploring the Island
  

Welcoming more than 1.4-million people annually since opening its doors to tourists in 1973, Alcatraz is one of the undisputed top rated attractions in San Francisco.

Its rich, yet complicated history makes it appealing to anyone with even a remote interest in the subject. While its gone through multiple stages of claims and ownership, what it’s most famous for is its service as a Federal Penitentiary.

From 1933 to its closing in 1963, Alcatraz, or simply, “The Rock”, housed some of the most notorious inmates in the United States, including; Al Capone, George “Machine-Gun” Kelly, Bob Stroud, and Roy G. Gardner.

Though many have tried, Alcatraz was considered inescapable. Most escape attempts ended in surrender or death of the escapee. Five inmates, however, were never found. Assumed to have drowned in the frigid waters of the bay.

These days, visitors are welcomed and tours of the cell house and island are offered daily. With the click of a mouse, you can visit this historic place for yourself.

This guide will cover everything you’ll need to know, including; making reservations, prices, tour types, and history. You’ll also get sneak peaks of what you’ll see during the tour of the cell house tour.

NOTE: This post is long. At the top of the page, you’ll find jump links to the four major sections of the post. While we encourage you to read the whole thing, if you’d rather skip to what you’re most interested in, just click or tap to go to that specific section.

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History of Alcatraz

Military Period (1850 - 1933)

Alcatraz’s notoriety started back in 1850 when, at the behest of a joint Navy and Army commission of implementing a “triangle of defense” to guard San Francisco Bay, President Fillmore signed an executive order to secure land around the bay for such use. This included Alcatraz.

Construction on the lighthouse was completed in 1854, beginning its service as the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. By 1859, 87 men of Company H, Third US Artillery took post on the island and by 1863 would take their first prisoners by seizing a confederate ship and imprisoning its crew.

The prison was heavily used during the Spanish-American War and by its conclusion in 1898, Alcatraz would be severely overcrowded. This resulted in the building of the upper prison on the parade ground at the turn of the century.

In 1912, the new cell house (the one you see today) was built. It was constructed using convict labor and finished in the same year. This would be the final cell house built under Military supervision.

By 1930, the Federal Government was in need of a tough prison that could house a criminal population that was either too dangerous, too difficult, or had a high potential for escape. So in 1933, Alcatraz was transferred to the Feds and began its service as a Federal Penitentiary.

Federal Penitentiary Period (1934 - 1963)

The whole goal of the Federal Government was to have a prison that criminals feared. ‘The Rock’, fit the bill and quickly earned a reputation of being tough, miserable, and impossible to escape from. The cells were small (even by prison standards) and frills were minimal.

A man by the name of James A. Johnston would be appointed as its first Warden and would go on to serve for 14-years, nearly half of its operating years. Warden Johnston implemented many rules and other security features such as fortified bars, strategically-placed guard towers, and a dozen inmate counts per day.

Though it had a reputation of being “escape-proof”, some inmates challenged this as several attempts were made, most of which resulted in surrender or death of those involved. There are two notable attempts we will briefly cover.

Battle of Alcatraz

In 1946, several inmates planned and executed an escape attempt that quickly went awry and resulted in the deaths of all inmates directly involved and two guards. Not to mention over a dozen additional guards getting severely injured.

The three main inmates never made it out of the cell house and, after refusing to surrender, died in a hail of gunfire in a small utility corridor by Guards and U.S Marines. If you would like to read about it from the point of view of an inmate who was there, read:

Inside Alcatraz: My Time on the Rock: by Jim Quillen (highly recommended)

Frank Morris & The Anglin Brothers

Probably the most famous escape attempt, due to a Clint Eastwood film being made about it, is the one by Frank Morris and brothers John & Clarence Anglin. The men spent several months chipping away at the deteriorating walls around the vent at the rear of their cells.

They also made dummy models of their heads out of paper, plaster, and real hair, placing them in their beds to fool guards into thinking they were asleep. Sometime after final count on June 11th, 1962, the three men made their move by squeezing through the vent and to the roof through the utility corridor.

They successfully made it to the island’s north shore without being detected, hastily constructed a raft made from 50 raincoats, and headed out into the frigid waters, never to be seen again.

The official conclusion from the Warden was the men drowned. In reality, no one knows for sure. The water temperatures in the Bay are notorious for being very cold with strong currents. Their fate remains a mystery to this day.

Book - Escaping Alcatraz: The Untold Story of the Greatest Prison Break in American History

While successful in building an image feared by criminals, Alcatraz would prove itself to be too costly. The salty ocean air was slowly deteriorating the prison. Rising maintenance costs and other ongoing expenses proved to be too much. By order of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Alcatraz was closed in 1963.

Tribal Occupation Period (1969 - 1971)

In 1969, an activist group called, “Indians of All Tribes”, landed on Alcatraz with the intent of reclaiming it as Native-American land. They did so in the name of an 1868 treaty that allowed for Indians to reclaim unused federal land. They wanted to redevelop the island into an Indian cultural center and school.

As is often the case, the federal government didn’t agree with their interpretation of the treaty and swiftly began negotiating with the group. It soon became clear that the group would settle for nothing less than complete ownership of the island. Soon, the group of activists on the island would swell to over 300 people.

When negotiations went nowhere, the Feds cut power to the island and used other tactics in an effort to remove the activists. In 1970, after the death of his young Daughter on the island, the leader of the group, Richard Oakes, left the island.

Eventually, more activists would leave and by 1971, just a handful of men, women, and children remained. At this point, the Feds moved onto the island and removed them. While technically defeated, the actions here inspired many Indian related protests at locations across the country, including Mount Rushmore and Plymouth Rock.

If you want to read about the Indian occupation in greater detail (and we suggest you do), read this article. They give a great account of what happened, why it happened, and the end result.

National Park Period (1973 - Present)

During Alcatraz’s operational years, there were only a few ways you could go to the island; you were either working there, incarcerated there, or visiting an inmate. That changed in 1973 when Alcatraz was transferred to the National Park Service and began offering public tours.

The NPS has done a wonderful job maintaining the island and keeping the facilities as authentic as possible while allowing the public to get up close and personal to what was once described as, “hell on earth”.

You, too, can visit and tour Alcatraz for yourself. However, there is a lot to know and you’ll need to be prepared. Now that we’ve gone over the general history of the island, lets get to the information you’ll need to know in order to go.

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Visitor Information

Buying Tickets

Much like anything else, there is a fee to tour the island. The fee you’ll pay includes your entrance to Alcatraz, the cell house tour, and the round-trip ferry ride. Prices for the day tour are as follows (subject to change):

• $41.00 - Adult (12 years old and up)

• $38.65 - Senior (62 years old and up)

• $25.00 - Child (5 - 11 years old)

• $119.60 - Family Pack (Two adult & two child tickets)

As far as purchasing tickets go, you have two options:

• Online: This is the preferable and easiest way. Often times, it’s the ONLY way. Tickets are known to sell out months in advance. So purchasing your tickets right when you decide on a date is the only sure-fire way. Alcatraz City Cruises is the official concessioner for Alcatraz tickets. You’ll see many others but they’re middle-men and you’ll end up paying more.

• Purchase Day-Of: As stated above, tickets have been known to sell out far in advance. We’re not saying it’s impossible to get day-of tickets, but it’s not worth risking the disappointment. If you decide to go this route, head to Pier 33, scan the QR code at the entrance with your phone, see if there’s availability and if there is, make your purchase.

After you make your purchase, you’ll be emailed a receipt with a QR code (your tickets are contained within it). Simply screenshot it with your phone and present it to the ticket booth upon arrival. They’ll scan it and send you on your way. As always, be sure to print a copy just in case your phone dies.

Types of Tours

While the day tour is the most popular, there are two other types of tour you should be aware of:

• Night Tour: Limited to just a few hundred visitors per night, the night tour gives you the opportunity to see a sure-to-be spectacular sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge and experience the island in the dark. Prices are similar to that of the day tour but cost just a bit more.

• Behind the Scenes Tour: Ever walk by a spot on the tour with the dreaded, “closed to the public”, sign? Here’s your chance to go to THOSE areas. While pricey, you and a group of no more than twenty are taken to areas of Alcatraz seldom seen by the public. Areas such as special gardens, the underground jail, and the tunnel that stretches from one end of the island to the other.

Best Time to Go

There’s really no bad time to visit San Francisco but in our opinions, September - November is best. Temperatures are warm but not unbearable and crowds are minimal.

Winter is when you’ll get the best deal on hotels but you’ll also be contending with regularly occurring rain showers. Spring is good due to mild temps and rain is nearly non-existent.

Summer, as you guessed, would be our least desirable time of year to go. It’s hot, crowded, and everything is pricier than usual. If you can help it, try either spring or fall.

Pier 33 - Alcatraz Landing

Location

Your journey to Alcatraz begins and ends at Pier 33 on the Embarcadero. The simplest and best ways to get there is by either walking, taking public transit, or a ride sharing option.

If you need to drive, parking can be found at Pier 29.5 (adjacent to Pier 33), across the street from the Exploratorium, a parking garage across from Pier 39, behind the ferry building, and other locations nearby. They all charge their own fees.

The boarding area contains multiple informative displays and a scaled model of what the island looked like when the prison was operational. There’s plenty of seating scattered about and portable restrooms.

You’ll see the boarding queue up front and at the entrance will be a sign indicating which group is boarding (your group is the time you selected during your ticket purchase).

You can arrive as early or as close to your departure time as you like. However, it is recommended to arrive one hour prior as the vessel is loaded on a first come-first serve basis. You could end up having to wait for the next one if it’s full.

*Side Note: It is here where you can request a Braille and American Sign Language transcript of the cell house tour.

Arriving at Alcatraz

The Ferry Ride

The ride to Alcatraz is scenic and short, maybe 12-15 minutes. In fact, you’ll spend more time embarking and disembarking. If you’re going on a particularly busy day, be prepared for a cramped ride.

*Side Note: As of December 2021, masks are required in all boarding areas, on the vessel (ferry), and in all interior areas on the island. Vaccination status is NOT being checked.

Building 64 will likely be the first thing you’ll notice as you pull into the dock. The upper section was where the military barracks were. Soldiers protecting the bay and guarding the prisoners slept here.

The lower section was part of the fortification protecting the bay. Looking closely, you’ll notice large square holes around the lower section. Those were canon ports.

Before taking off, stop and listen to the Ranger presentation held in front of the bookstore. In it, the Ranger discusses the Indian occupation that took place on the island. You’re asked to take part in this but it isn’t required.

The small building across from the bookstore is the first of three restrooms on the island. There’s another adjacent to the entrance of the cell house and one more across from the administration building.

*Side Note: Take note of the sign displaying ferry return times. They vary according to day and the type of tour you’re on. Unless you grabbed a brochure, it would be a good idea to take a picture of this so you’ll know the next available ferry.

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Cell House Tour

Getting There

To start the tour, walk parallel to Building 64 on East Road towards the guard tower. Before the tunnel (Sally Port), you’ll see a door on your left. This is the theater exhibit room. It wasn’t in operation when we were here, but we’ve seen it before and it’s worth checking out.

Here’s a few important details about the pathway to the cell house:

• The walk from the dock to the cell house is a quarter-mile.

• During this, you’ll have 130-feet of elevation gain.

• This is the equivalent to climbing a 13-story building (spread out over a quarter-mile).

It does get a bit steep in some places but honestly, it isn’t difficult to get up there. I only mention this because most people don’t realize how the walk to the cell house is.

On the way up, the pathway spurs off in different directions. At these crossroads, you’ll see signage indicating the correct way to the audio tour. Just follow those.

If you have mobility issues of any kind, you can utilize the shuttle. It picks up at the dock and drops you off right at the cell house entrance (and vice versa). Oh, and it’s free.

Cell House Entrance

Audio Choices

When you see rotted bars with a sign stating, “Main Prison”, you’ve reached the beginning of the tour. Before heading in, you’ll need to make a decision on how you’ll plan to take the tour. You have two options:

1. Utilize their audio device.

2. Download the app and use your phone.

Each comes with they’re own negatives and positives. The audio device is small, but it’s in a thick plastic sleeve and due to covid, they no longer include headphones. So you’ll continuously need to hold it against your ear.

Downloading the app means you won’t have to worry about hearing the narrator through a sleeve as you'll able to use your headphones. The downsides are that it’s known to be buggy and the connection gets lost in some spots.

Neither is perfect but in order to hear the tour, you’ll need to do one or the other. We opted to use the audio device as we didn’t know about the app ahead of time and already drained the batteries on our AirPods.

Alcatraz Showers

After walking through the entrance, you will enter the shower room. The queue wraps around the showers to the other side, where you will pick up your audio device. Each person in your group will be given one.

When you reach the front of the queue, inform the attendant if you’ll be using the app or the device. If you choose the app, you’ll go right through.

If you want the device, inform the attendant of your language preference. You can choose between:

• English

• Spanish

• Mandarin

• Japanese

• Italian

• German

• French

• Dutch

Once you’re set, head up the stairs to the cell house (there’s an elevator for those with mobility issues). At the top of the stairwell, go left and look for a red sign (pictured below). Do not start the device/app until you reach this point.

Michigan Ave

When you reach this point, the tour officially begins. After you hit the green button, you’ll be introduced to the narrators, four former inmates of Alcatraz. They are:

• Leon “Whitey” Thompson (Weapons charge, 1960 - 1962)

• John Banner (Bank Robbery, 1954 - 1958)

• James Quillen (Kidnapping, 1942 - 1952)

• Darwin Coon (Bank Robbery, 1959 - 1963)

You’ll also hear from a couple former guards as well (unfortunately, we didn’t catch their names). Also, park officials swap narrators from time to time. So they may be different when you go.

The cell block you’ll see in front of you is B Block. Behind you is A Block, which was seldom used during the island’s run as a federal prison. Unfortunately, it is not part of the regular tour. To see A Block, you’ll need to book the “Behind the Scenes” tour.

The tour narrators will tell you when to stop, what to look at it, describe what you’re looking at, and which direction to go in next. This is why it’s imperative to pay close attention.

You will have the ability to pause the tour and rewind in case you get turned around, missed something, or want to linger in one spot for a while longer.

To the left of the sign with the narrators on it is the, “cut-off”, a passageway through the middle of B Block. You’ll go through here and turn right coming out.

Broadway

After going through the cut-off, you’ll turn onto, “Broadway”. This is the aisle between B and C Blocks. Your narrator will guide you to a few different cells with notable occupants.

Each cell on B and C Blocks are some of the smallest you’ll ever see. Grown men lived in cells that were 5 feet by 9 feet and 7 feet high. Most inmates could stretch their arms and easily touch each side of their cells.

You’ll work your way up Broadway towards what is known as, “Times Square”. When you reach this point, you’ll turn left and head towards the doorway leading to the Recreation Yard.

Recreation Yard

The Recreation Yard (or simply, “Rec Yard”), is where most inmates would spend a portion of their days. Some would play cards while others played handball. Some, simply, would sit and stare at the impressive views of the city and Golden Gate Bridge.

You will want to pause the tour and spend some time looking around the yard. If you look towards the back wall, you’ll notice an open, rusted door leading to a steep stairwell.

This is the door where inmates would march through to go to whichever job they held. They would have to go up and down these stairs on a near daily basis.

Feel free to spend all the time you want exploring the yard. Once you’re ready to resume the tour, simply head back the same way you came in. When you reach the doorway, hit start on your device and head straight to D Block.

D Block & Prison Library

Inmates who proved to be problematic for guards, i.e, got into fights, assaulted guards, or just didn't follow a specific rule, were sent to D Block. It was quickly given the nickname of, “Punishment Block”.

These cells were much bigger than the ones in the other blocks, but inmates were confined to them 24 hours a day (with the exception of their twice weekly showers).

Since they were completely confined to their cells, everything was brought to them by other inmates or guards. On top of that, the only two activities allowed here were reading and quietly talking to the inmate next to you.

The other feature of D Block, specifically on the upper tiers, was the view of the city. Inmates, however, said this was the worst part because when the wind blew towards Alcatraz, it carried sounds of people talking and laughing from the city, reminding them of how isolated they were.

Further down D Block is where you’ll find the infamous solitary confinement cells, also known as the, “prison within a prison”.

These cells were solid concrete with nothing but a toilet, sink, and a bed inside. No light source was provided so when the solid door was closed, inmates were in total darkness and could hear nothing.

If you want a small taste of what it was like, go to the cell at the very end. Both doors are left open and you are allowed to step inside. Although you cannot shut the door behind you, it will give you a sense of what the inmates experienced.

After D Block, your next step will be the prison library. It’s another example of a, ‘prison within the prison”, as you feel like you’re walking into a cage.

On arrival at Alcatraz, inmates were given a library card and were allowed three books at a time. This was in addition to a bible, text books, and approved magazine subscriptions (newspapers were prohibited).

Inmates weren’t allowed to come and go as they pleased, though. If they wanted to check out a book, they would fill out a slip and turn it in. The Librarian would find the book(s) and deliver them to that inmate’s cell.

There are benches in the library that you’re free to use if you need to sit-down for a bit. When you’re ready to move on, exit the Library and go right on “Park Ave.”

Park Ave., Good-Time Cells, & Visitation

Coming out of the library, the narrator will have you view a few of the cells on C Block on what is known as, “Park Ave.” These cells are referred to as, “Good-Time Cells”, as inmates in these cells were allowed paint supplies and other privileges.

From here, you’ll round the corner to view the visitation area, also known as, “Peek’n Place”. Here, inmates would visit their loved ones by talking to them through a phone and thick, glass barriers. Under most circumstances, inmates were allowed only one visit per month.

Head to the opposite side of the wall to see it from the visitor’s perspective. There would be a guard stationed here listening to all conversations. Among other topics, discussing current events was prohibited and could’ve resulted in privileges.

The area behind the visitation is where the administrative offices are. You can come back here after the conclusion of the tour. For now, head back down broadway.

Broadway & Dining Hall

Before arriving at the Dining Hall (the final room of the tour), you’ll take one last stroll down Broadway. On the way, you’ll stop to see the cells of Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers. They took part in the greatest escape attempt in the history of Alcatraz.

You’ll see the vent in the back of their cells where they squeezed through to gain access to the corridor. They took advantage of Alcatraz’s deteriorating state by chipping away at the wall around the vent.

You’ll also see the plaster molds of their heads they constructed. They placed them in their beds at night to fool the guards into thinking they were asleep. In reality, they were in the corridor behind the cells working on the next phase of the escape.

The final section of the cell house tour is the Dining Hall. Here, hundreds of men would gather together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, everyday. The guards would tell you that this was always the most tense part of the day as fights or riots could break out at any time.

To deter this, tear gas canisters were positioned in the rafters throughout the room that could be set off remotely. There was also an abundant of armed guards present. Despite these security features, a few riots have broken out here.

Inmates were given 20-minutes to eat and were not limited in how much food they could consume. The only caveat to this was no matter how much they took they had to eat it all, leaving no waste. If they made a habit out of doing that, it could result in the removal of privileges.

Hanging above the entrance to the kitchen is the menu of the final breakfast served at Alcatraz. Inmates reported the food here to be the best of any Federal Penitentiary they’ve been to.

By now, the narrator has concluded the tour and from this point forward, you’re free to explore the island at your leisure. Turn in your device to the booth in the middle of the room and head back down the stairs.

From there, you’ll come down the stairs and back into the showers. You’ll be directed to exit through the gift shop and when you do that, you’ll be right back where it all began at the cell house entrance.

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Exploring the Island

Your visit to Alcatraz doesn’t end with the cell house tour. You’re free to spend as little or as much time here as you please as long as you’re off the island by the final ferry departure time.

At the conclusion of the tour, simply head back down the path and go from there. Having a map of the island would come in handy here but if you don’t have one, just follow the signage.

Southwest & Northwest Side

On the southwest side of the island (facing the Bay Bridge) is the administration building, the remains of the Warden’s house, the historic Lighthouse, and the ruins of, ‘Officer’s Row’ (where housing for the guards and their families used to be).

In the admin building, you’ll see the Warden’s office, control room, and other offices. You can also access the cell house from here if you want to see it again.

Outside the admin building is the former home of the Warden. As you can see in the image above, the elements and nature have taken over. As you’ll see when you’re here, though, the Warden once had an amazing view of the bridge and city.

Take the west road (pictured above) to see the Northwest side of the island. Here you’ll find a beautiful garden that was once maintained by the inmates.

The west road eventually terminates near the stairwell that leads back to the Recreation Yard. If you like, you’re welcomed to go back up there. If not, you’ll need to turn back and go the way you came in.

Southeast and Northeast Side

These are on the opposite side of the island. To get there, you have two options:

• Go up the stairs through the recreation yard and cut through the cell house to the other side. You’ll go back down the stairs in the Dining Hall and out through the gift shop. Or….

• Take the west road back to the Warden’s house and loop back to the other side on east road.

There are multiple historic buildings on this side of the island. Building 64, the Sally Port, the old Boat Dock, and (pictured above) the remains of the Officer’s Club.

Continuing straight away from the Officer’s Club is where you’ll find the Powerhouse, Model Industries Building, and Water Tower. A bit further up the road (going towards the cell house) you’ll find the Morgue.

The Model Industries Building is fenced off so you’re not able to go in and see it. We did see a lot of construction material nearby so that may possibly change in the future.

At this point, you have no other recourse but to turn around. From here, it’s completely up to you where to go.

As stated above, you can remain on Alcatraz for as long as you wish. You can explore the island some more, do the cell house tour again, you can hike the Agave Trail (starts near the ferry dock), or head back to the city.

*We’re often asked about the kind of camera equipment we use to capture the photos used on our website. Below are Amazon links to what we use. If you decide to purchase, Amazon pays us a small commission and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.

• Nikon D750 Body

• Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 Lens

• Nikon 50mm 1.8 Lens

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Conclusion

Phew! That was a long one. If you read that entire thing, you rock! If you skimmed through it, you still rock! We’ve been wanting to add Alcatraz to our website for a long time and we’re excited for you to read it. Be sure to let us know in the comment section if you’ve been to Alcatraz or are now wanting to go.

We hope you’ve found this post helpful in planning your next adventure. If so, please support our site by sharing it with your family and friends on Pinterest or Facebook. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

San Francisco's Embarcadero: Best Things to Do, Getting Around, and More!

3 minute read | contains affiliate links

In San Francisco, there’s an endless amount of things to do, sights to see, and food to eat. You would have to spend at least a week just to see the main highlights.

There’s one street in particular that runs along the eastern shoreline of the city and in just 1.5-miles, contains multiple attractions, restaurants, and historic sites - that street is Embarcadero.

We spent a few days going in and out of the Embarcadero and since there’s so much to see, we thought it would be a good idea to put this guide together to help you navigate it.

We’ll show you many of the main attractions along and throw in some some ideas on where to eat, where to park, and the best way to get around. Let’s get into it!

Exciting news for our readers!

We’re excited to Introduce the all-new "Inked with Wanderlust" online store!

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The Embarcadero

Where to Start

There’s no real official beginning or end and where you start is completely up to you. For simplicity sake, this guide will cover where we began and ended.

The vast majority of the attractions are directly on the street between the historic San Francisco Ferry Building and Pier 39. This stretch is roughly 1.5-miles in length and without stopping, takes around 25-30 minutes to walk.

We were staying in Vallejo so instead of driving in, we opted to take the Blue and Gold Fleet Ferry into the city. This is an excellent option to start your day on the Embarcadero.

The ferry leaves from multiple cities around the Bay Area including Vallejo, Richmond, Oakland, and more. If you plan to utilize the ferry or other modes of transportation in the area, consider getting a Clipper card.

Embarcadero Attractions

Pier 14

Pier 14 is a pedestrian pier that stretches over the ocean and offers fantastic views of the city, the bay bridge, and Yerba Buena Island.

If you arrive at or close to sunrise, it’s an excellent spot to catch sunrise photos. We arrived just before 6:00am and managed to get quite a few beautiful shots of the bridge with the sun rising.

It’s also a great spot to watch the multiple cargo ships and ferries coming in and out. Since it’s a public pier, you can fish from here without needing a license as well.

Along the pier you’ll see metal plates from the poem, “The Sea and the Hills”, by Rudyard Kipling. Near the pier, at the base of the bay bridge, there’s a cupid’s bow and arrow sculpture. We didn’t take the time to check that out, though.

Historic Ferry Building

If you do nothing else on Embarcadero, be sure to stop by the ferry building and head inside. All of the ferry terminals are located outside, to the right of the building. The inside, however, is where it’s at.

It’s been transformed into a gourmet hot spot for the city. It features numerous local restaurants and shops offering up delicious food, local wines, handcrafted soaps, deserts, coffee, and more!

What it’s most known for is its weekly Farmer’s Market. They set it all up right on the street outside the building. This occurs on the following days:

• Tuesdays & Thursdays - 10am - 2pm

• Saturdays - 8am - 2pm

Simply admiring the beautiful architecture was enough for us. The shops and restaurants inside were just icing on the cake.

*Pro Tip: Go to Blue Bottle Coffee inside and order the New Orleans style cold brew. You’ll thank us later.

Pier 7 Walkway

Much like Pier 14, Pier 7 is another beautiful pier that also offers amazing views. Unlike Pier 14, though, this one is dotted with antique looking light poles all the way to the end.

Our first time here, it was packed with Instagramers all jockeying for position to get that perfectly lined shot. Our second visit was shortly after sunrise so I managed to get a shot without anyone in it.

To the right, you’ll have more amazing views of the bay bridge with a couple historic boats in the foreground. One of them hosted Kisha’s senior prom back in the day so that was cool to see.

The Exploratorium

The Exploratorium has been a mainstay in San Francisco for a long, long time. Not to age ourselves, but we can remember going on school field trips here as kids.

It moved to the Embarcadero in 2013 from its original location in the Palace of Fine Arts (another wonderful attraction, by the way). You can find it split between Piers 15 and 17.

The Exploratorium is an interactive museum filled to the brim with participatory exhibits allowing kids and adults alike to learn more about topics such as physics, science, weather, and more.

This is perhaps the best attraction on the Embarcadero for families. We remember having a blast here and have no doubt you will to.

Alcatraz Tours - Pier 33

Touring Alcatraz isn't just the most popular attraction on the Embarcadero, but it’s one of the biggest in the entire city (in our opinions, it’s behind only the Golden Gate Bridge).

Alcatraz first served as a military prison and then - most famously - a federal penitentiary that housed some of the most notorious criminals in the United States, such as Al Capone, George “Machine-Gun” Kelly, Alvin Karpis, and Bob Stroud.

Due to significant erosion and expense, Alcatraz ceased operations in 1963. Ten years later, it would once again open its doors, this time to tourists. The National Park Service has operated daily tours to the island ever since.

We have toured Alcatraz multiple times. The island is surprisingly extensive and each time we’ve gone, we’ve discovered something new (to us). We cannot recommend it enough.

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay sits at the entrance to famed Pier 39 and is home to more than 20,000 marine animals including Sting-Rays, Sharks, River Otters, Octopus, and multiple species of fish.

While technically part of Pier 39, we decided to give it its own listing as it’s easily the biggest attraction on this pier (aside from the seals). If interested, you can read more and purchase tickets here.

Pier 39

Pier 39 is the dining, shopping, and entertainment meca of San Francisco and has been the city’s most visited tourist attraction for nine years in a row as of 2021.

Sea Lions ( or “Sea-Lebrities”) have become permanent residents at the west marina (K-Dock). There is a dedicated viewing deck where you take pictures and watch them play.

While a handful stay year around here, the majority migrate to the Channel Islands for mating season. During winter months, you can find as many as 900 Sea Lions here.

Where to Go From Here

Some will disagree, but we consider Pier 39 to be the unofficial end (or beginning) of Embarcadero. Going west, there’s a few historic sites offering close up views of WW2 era vessels. These are Piers 43 and 45.

Past that, you start entering Fisherman’s Wharf and we consider that to be its own thing entirely. We’re eyeing that for a future post. Next, we’re going to give some suggestions on where to eat and how to get around.

Where to Eat

Fog Harbor Fish House

If you ’re into clam chowder, then you need to head to Fog Harbor. They’re located inside Pier 39 and normally, I wouldn’t recommend restaurants in touristy attractions like that. Reason being is they typically rest on their laurels.

Don’t fret though, because that isn’t the case here. Their service is outstanding, the clam chowder is delicious, and views of the bay and Alcatraz are amazing.

Their entrees are on the higher side of the pricing scale but you can get a heaping sized bowl of their award winning clam chowder for less than $10 bucks. Add in a freshly baked piece of sourdough for a few bucks more.

Pier 23 Cafe

Pier 23 cafe is a family owned and operated restaurant directly on historic - you guessed it - Pier 23. They serve up fresh seafood and you can choose between indoor or outdoor dining.

The views of the bay from their beer garden and waterside patio are unmatched. There’s a reason why they’ve been in business, successfully, for 35 years. The food is great as is the service.

Other Restaurants

We can’t personally vouch for these restaurants but based on their reviews, they seem to be great options:

• Hog Island Oyster Co.

• Delancey Street Restaurant

• Coqueta

• Kirimachi Ramen

• Angler

• The Slanted Door (Temp. Closed)

Getting Around

Walking

For most people, walking is going to be the easiest and most efficient way to get around to the piers of the Embarcadero. The distance to Pie 39 from the ferry building is only 1.5-miles on a flat surface.

Driving to and from each individual attraction just wouldn’t be feasible given how scarce parking can be and of what you can find, you’ll have to pay for it.

If you’re driving in, you can find parking behind the ferry building, across the street from The Exploratorium, a parking garage across from Pier 39, and in multiple pier buildings such as Pier 29.5.

Electric Scooters & Bikes

While walking is the main mode of transportation on the Embarcadero, we did see a lot of people utilizing electric scooter and bicycles as well.

The only electric bicycles we saw were from Lyft. They have a check out station just outside of the ferry building’s west side that you can access if you have the app.

While we saw multiple scooters, the brand we saw more of was, “Scoot”. Much like the others, you’ll need to use their app in order to use them.

Quick Note……….

We’re often asked about the equipment we use to capture the photos used on our website. Below, you’ll find Amazon links to that equipment. If you decide to purchase, we’ll get a small percentage of that sale that’ll go towards keeping the site running and will cost you nothing additional.

• Nikon D750

• Nikon 24-70mm f28

• USA Gear DSLR Backpack

• Victiv Camera Tripod

Conclusion

The Embarcadero is a great way to spend the day in San Francisco and we hope you decide to make it part of your vacation plans. If you've been there or are planning, let us know in the comments what your favorite part of it was.

We hope this article was helpful to you. If so, please support our site by sharing it with your family and friends on Facebook, Pinterest, or your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

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Coit Tower: How To Tour This San Francisco Icon

In San Francisco, there’s no shortage of historic sites to visit. Fort Point, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge are just a few examples of these.

One more, though, is not only one of the city’s more popular historic sites, but it’s also been an iconic part of San Francisco’s skyline since its construction in 1933; Coit Tower.

Coit Tower was named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy patron of the city’s firefighters. Upon her passing in 1929, plans were set in motion to erect the tower as a monument to the firefighters she loved so much.

Despite us growing up less than an hour from the city, we have NEVER taken a tour here. During our most recent visit to SF, we decided to change that and do it.

Read along while we give some factual tidbits of this amazing place and get all the information you’ll need to put together a trip for yourself. Let’s get into it!

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Visitor Information

How To Get There

There are numerous ways to reach Coit Tower and is highly dependent on your travel style.

Walking

Coit Tower is a fairly short distance from many neighborhoods and tourist areas of the city. The easiest thing to do is to type Coit Tower into Google or Apple Maps and select the walking option.

Be warned, though. The maps will fail to mention the steep hill you will have to negotiate to get there. Not to mention the other steep hilly streets found throughout the city. Just something to keep in mind.

Driving

If you’ve driven your car here or have rented one, the address to the tower is as follows:

• 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94133

Simply plug it into your GPS and follow the directions. Just be aware that parking can be scarce. The parking lot is very small and most people will need to park down the street and walk up.

*Note:

• No EV charging stations on site.

• The closest is a ChargePoint station in a parking garage on Sansome street about a 10-minute walk away. You could park there and walk up the Greenwich Steps until you reach the tower.

Uber, Lyft, or Taxi

This is by and large the easiest (but admittedly not cheapest) option and is what we did. For clarity, we spent $10.82 plus tip for an Uber Comfort from Pier 39.

Our driver was able to get us there quick and dropped us off right at the entrance. Lyft will probably have similar fares but we have no idea what a traditional Taxi would cost.

Here’s a list of some of San Francisco’s Taxi companies. Tap/click on their name for their contact number:

• American Taxicab

• Yellow Cab of San Francisco

• Airport Taxi Cab

Bus #39 from Fisherman’s Wharf

If you’d like an affordable transportation option, the best to go would be to take the #39 bus from Fisherman’s Wharf. You can get the detailed schedule here.

The only downfall to this is the bus doesn’t make change. One-way fare is $2.25 per person. So either make sure you have exact change on you or you can pay with a Clipper card.

You can either get a physical card or keep the digital version in your phone’s wallet. If you’re planning on utilizing Bay Area transportation options like buses, ferries, etc, this is the way to go as it’ll save you money.

Hours and Fees

Coit Tower is open to the public daily (except for major holidays) between the hours of 10am - 5pm. If you plan on visiting during a holiday, it would be best to call ahead to make sure they’ll be open.

Fees vary depend on the type of tour you want to do and other variables. If you just want to go to the top floor, it’s $5 per person. If you want the full tour, prices are as follows:

• Adult: $10 (non-resident) / $7 (resident)

• Senior (62+): $7 (non-resident) / $4 (resident)

• Youth (12-17): $7 (non-resident) / $4 (resident)

• Child (5-11): $3 (non-resident / $2 (resident)

• Child (4 & under): Free

The full tour includes access to the second level and a docent-led tour of the murals on the main floor. That part of the tour is 30-40 minutes in length and you’ll learn about the tower’s inception as well as the 26-Artists who painted the murals.

Coit Tower Cafe

Located outside the tower near the parking lot is the Coit Tower Cafe. It is open daily from 9:30am - 6:00pm. They serve a variety of foods like pizza, burgers, pastries, etc.

Keep in mind that food is not allowed inside the tower. So you will need to finish whatever you have before starting your tour.

To pass the time, take in the views surrounding the tower via the viewing scopes. They cost a quarter and you’ll get a few minutes for each use.

The Tour

To begin your tour, head up the stairs and go through the entrance. There, an employee will greet you and send direct you to the ticket window.

• Many of the same rules you’ll find at other historic sites apply here. Most of it being common sense. They have one rule, though, that I haven’t encountered anywhere else and that’s if you’re carrying a backpack or any other kind of bag, it needs to be worn on the front of your body. Just something to be mindful of.

If all you want to do is check out the murals on your own and you DON’T want to go up to the top, you won’t have to pay anything.

If you want to take the docent-led tour of the murals, they’ll only do so if it’s a group of at least 4 and no more than 6. So you may end up having to wait a bit if it’s just 2-3 in your group.

The murals are stunning. Be sure to take the time to really at them. They were painted by 26 Artists a year after the towers opening in 1934 and depict daily life for Californians during the Depression.

Once you’re finished checking out the murals, simply circle back around and get into the left side of the queue line near where you first entered. The employee will direct you to the elevator once they’re ready for you.

The elevator is old and tiny. The door is manually closed and locked by an Operator (via a gate) and rides up to the upper level with you. Once up there, you’ll walk up two sets of spiral staircases to reach the viewing deck.

The viewing deck is completely open. As in, there’s no roof. There’s a raised, yellow step at the top of the red stairwell so be sure to watch your footing. This was done to prevent rain from flooding the lower part of the tower.

From here, you’ll have a commanding 360-degree view of the city. The windows were originally unobstructed but as a precaution, glass has been installed to act as safety barriers.

Some highlights you’ll be able to see from here are the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, nearly the entire Embarcadero, Nob Hill, and many other well known attractions.

If it’s a particularly busy day, I can see how it could get uncomfortable and cramped up there. There was maybe 10 other people in there with us and it was slightly difficult moving around.

Back Down the Elevator

Once you’ve gotten your fill of the views, simply head back down the spiral stairwell and wait for the elevator to come back up. They make regular trips up and down so no need to call for them.

After leaving the tower, you’re free to stay and explore the grounds more. Behind the tower is a nice grassy area that’s not only good for a break area, but also provides a killer view of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island (pictured above).

Conclusion

We hope this article has inspired you to visit this amazing place for yourself. If so, please support our website by sharing it with your friends and family on Pinterest, Facebook, or your favorite social media site. You can further support us by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

Muir Beach Overlook: A Breathtaking View of The Pacific Ocean

If you’re looking for an epic view of the Pacific Ocean, look no further than the Muir Beach overlook. If you’re coming from San Francisco, it’s only around 20-minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s even better if you’re at Muir Woods National Monument, it’s less than 10-minutes!

The epic ocean view isn’t the only reason to come here. The shoreline was once used by the U.S Navy as a lookout station and quite a few of the original structures still remain (they’re not fully intact but there’s still plenty of it to see).

We were just going to stop, take in the views, and leave. After discovering its history, however, we knew we had to give it its own post. So continue reading and we’ll give you all the information you’ll need to check it out for yourself.

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Directions

From San Francisco

From the area of the Golden Gate Bridge, its only about 20-minutes or so to the overlook. To reach the overlook from there:

• Get on US-101 North crossing the GGB. You’ll travel this freeway for about 5.5 miles.

• Take exit 445B for CA-1 to Mill Valley/Stinson Beach and stay left for around 7 miles.

• After traveling up the winding road, you’ll see a sign for Muir Beach Overlook on your right.

• Turn left shortly after the sign and you’ll turn right into the parking lot almost immediately.

From Muir Woods National Monument

It’s even easier if you’re coming from Muir Woods and in fact, the overlook makes for a perfect pit stop after visiting the monument and before continuing on to to other attractions. From Muir Woods:

• Turn right out of the parking lot (you should see signs pointing the way to Muir Beach).

• You’ll travel this road for about 3-miles or so.

• You’ll come to a stop sign. You’ll want to turn right here (the sign points the way to Stinson Beach but rest assured, you’re going the right way).

• After about a mile, you’ll see that sign on your right with the left-hand coming up shortly after it.

Parking

Parking is free and plentiful. The lot could easily accommodate a couple dozen vehicles or so but it is known to fill up quickly and often during the summer months. There’s a restroom at the rear of the lot but there aren’t any other facilities or services.

Additional Info

• No EV charging stations available.

• The upper viewing deck is stroller and wheelchair friendly but the path down to the lower viewing platform isn't .

• You can expect to spend an hour or less here.

• We would rate the trail down to the main platform as easy.

• This is an excellent spot to watch the sunset

Viewing Levels

Upper Viewing Deck

The upper viewing platform is accessible to everyone and offers beautiful ocean views all its own. So don’t fret if you’re unable to make it down to the lower platform.

There’s informational boards detailing the coastline’s formation over millions of years and how the Navy used this shoreline as a lookout station (more on this later). You’ll also see an example of a “dugout” used by the Navy.

Main Viewing Platform

If you want to go further out and get a totally unobstructed view of the ocean, you’ll want to head down the pathway leading to the partially-shaped, hexagon platform. There are small stairs carved into the pathway making it easier to go up and down.

On the way down you’ll get expansive views of the beaches below and the beautiful coastline on either side of you. We found the views on the right side (going down) to be the best. Views of Muir Beach can be found on your left (again, going down).

At the end, you’ll reach the platform. When we say the views from here are endless, we mean it. We were fortunate to have it all to ourselves for quite a bit but during the peak tourist season, you may be sharing it with more than a few others. I would estimate about 6-8 adults could fit here comfortably.

If you’re here between November and June, it is possible to spot migrating Blue Whales from either lookout. If that’s what you’re wanting to see, bringing binoculars with you would be beneficial. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any during our visit.

Once you’ve gotten your fill of the views and snapped a few photos, you’ll simply head back up the same way you came. Just be sure to be mindful of others coming down the path. It’s wide enough for two people to pass eachother but still narrow enough to make it easy to bump into one another accidentally.

Military History

Dugouts

For history buffs, this is the best part about visiting the overlook. Scattered throughout the overlook you’ll see these dugouts buried halfway into the ground. Prior to 1941, these were used by Soldiers to view incoming ships and triangulate their distance, directions, and speed.

During World War II after the Pearl Harbor attack, these gained particular importance as many feared an attack on San Francisco was imminent. Soldiers would use these to watch for any incoming enemy ships. If one would be spotted, they would then advise the Batteries further down the coastline (such as Kirby and Spencer) to prepare for engagement.

Layout & Locations

As you can see in the illustration above, Soldiers would climb down a latter through a roof hatch to access these dugouts. They used to be nearly fully covered, leaving only a slight opening to look through. In the event of an attack, this opening could be closed for protection.

Soldiers would often spend days in these dugouts, leaving only to go to the bathroom. They kept radios, a calendar, food, water, and other personal items with them. They even had bunkbeds installed on the back wall.

There are four that we saw scattered throughout the overlook. Their locations are:

• One at the upper viewing deck behind the informational boards.

• Two of them (one on top of the other) at the start of the pathway leading to the lower viewing platform.

• Another to the left of the aforementioned ones.

Unfortunately, they’ve been tagged with graffiti but despite this, they’re still an awesome part of our history and will hopefully be further preserved. In case you’re wondering, yes, you are allowed to get inside them. Just be careful getting in and out as there isn’t a ladder anymore.

Conclusion

We have no doubt that you will thoroughly enjoy your visit to this breathtaking overlook. The sheer amount of history contained here makes it even more appealing. Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you’re planning on going!

We hope this article has inspired you to visit this great place. If so, please support our website by sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, Pinterest, or your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading some of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

Kirby Cove: The Most Gorgeous View of The Golden Gate Bridge

There are countless vantage points one could view the Golden Gate Bridge from. You could see it from the plazas on either side, Battery Spencer, or Fort Point to name a few. Additionally, you could even walk or bike across it.

An estimated 10 million people, in one or another, visit the bridge every year. It is one of, if not THE most significant and recognizable landmarks in not just California, but the entire world. I could write an entire article on the countless view points. There’s one, however, I feel deserves the most praise.

I’m referring to Kirby Cove. A small enclave on the Marin Headlands side of the bridge. It’s accessible via a 1.5-mile trail that leaves from Conzelman road (just up the way from Battery Spencer). You may not get a close view, but seeing the bridge span across the bay with waves crashing against the rocky shoreline is a stunning sight.

So how do you get there? Where do you park? Can you just drive down there? All of these questions and more will be addressed in this article. If you weren’t planning on making a trip out to San Francisco this year, you very well may change your mind after seeing what this magical spot looks like. Here we go…

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Trail Information

Kirby Cove trailhead. San Francisco, California.

Directions

As stated above, Kirby Cove is located on the Marin Headlands side of the bridge (opposite of the city). So if you’re already in the city, you’ll need to cross the bridge. If you’re coming into the city from the other side, the exit you’ll take is just before getting onto the bridge (or just coming off from the other side).

• Take exit 442 to Alexander ave (We’re not kidding when we say it sneaks up on you. Be sure you’re paying attention or you’ll end up on the bridge and will have to pay toll)

• Take a right on Alexander and shortly after, take a left on Bunker road

• You’ll come to the single lane, “Bunker-Berry Tunnel”. Since it’s one lane, traffic is regulated via signal lights. You will likely have to wait a bit here

• You’ll travel along Bunker road for a few miles before coming to McCullough road. Turn left here

• When you come to the round-a-bout near Hawk Hill, you will take the Conzelman road exit and continue straight until you reach the signed trailhead

Parking

During our first visit in 2016, you essentially had to get lucky finding a spot at one of the 2-3 tiny pullouts along the road. Battery Spencer would’ve been your best bet as it’s the largest. Sometime between then and our most recent visit in December 2020, though, things have changed.

By altering the route people take to get here and making it a one-way road, they’ve increased the available parking tenfold via setting up parking spots along the side of the road in addition to the pull-outs. Regardless of this, parking still fills fast.

Our advice? Just pull into the first spot you see. Whether it’s the side of the road or in a pull-out, just take it. If you decide to roll the dice on getting a spot further down the road, you risk there being nothing available and you’ll be forced to drive around again (remember the single lane tunnel?)

The Trail

Trail to Kirby Cove. San Francisco, California.

The trail begins just up the way from the Battery Spencer parking lot. If you’ve managed to snag a parking spot here, congratulations! If you had to park further up, no worries. Simply walk down the road (on the dirt side) until you reach the signed trailhead.

Most people ask if they can just drive down there. The short answer is yes and no. The only real way to drive down is if you have a campground or event reservation (family reunion, birthday, etc.). Otherwise, you’re walking. If you want information on how to make a campground reservation, go here.

The trail is relatively smooth (if you're used to mountain trails this one will feel like a breeze). It’s a steep-ish, 1.5-mile hike to the bottom and is mostly sun exposed until you reach the campground. Just keep in mind that it can be a slog going back up so please stay hydrated.

Kirby Cove Campground

Kirby Cove campground.

Once the trail flattens out and you’re under tree cover, you’ll hook a left into the campground. Here, bathrooms are available if you’re in need of relief. If you feel like you’ve lost the trail, look for the logs positioned on the ground just as you enter the campground (pictured above).

Kirby Cove campground.

The campground is lush with cypress, eucalyptus, and pine trees providing plenty of shade. In the center of camp you’ll find a cluster of picnic tables and grills. We’re assuming this is where events are held. Shortly past this area is where you’ll see the bridge pictured above.

Battery Kirby

Battery Kirby.

After crossing the bridge, you’ll come across an old military artillery battery named, “Kirby Battery”. After construction in 1898, it was originally named, “Gravelly Beach Battery”, before being re-named to honor Lieutenant Edmund Kirby who died in 1853 during the Civil War.

Battery Kirby

This battery was built with concrete and had two M1895 mounted guns for defense. It was built in such a way where soldiers would have a commanding view of the bay while at the same time, making it nearly impossible for the enemy to see it from the water. If you'd like more information on the batteries around San Francisco Bay, go here.

Kirby Beach

Kirby Cove and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Just beyond Battery Kirby is the overlook that provides some of the best views you’ll ever see. To your right, waves crash against a rocky shoreline with endless ocean views. To your left is where you’ll get more rocky shorelines with the city of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge providing the most amazing backdrop.

Kirby Cove and the Golden Gate Bridge.

You’ll find stairwells on either side of you leading down to the beach. When we were here, there were quite a few fishermen here so if that’s your thing, bring your gear along. Most of the fishing seemed to take place on the right side of the beach but we did see one of the other end.

The Cave

Sea cave at Kirby Cove. San Francisco, California.

On the left side of the beach (facing the bridge) you’ll find a small sea cave cut into the rock wall. It isn’t much to look at but still cool, nonetheless. Access to it will depend on what the tide is doing. On our first visit, it wasn’t accessible but during our second visit, it was. If it looks sketchy, don’t risk it. As stated, it’s not much and isn’t worth being swept out to sea over.

Kirby Cove Swing

Kirby Cove swing. Now cut down.

Believe it or not, the expansive view of the ocean and bridge wasn’t always what Kirby Cove was known for. Around 2015 or so, images of people on a swing with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background began to spread through Instagram like wildfire and Kirby Cove became an overnight sensation.

When we came here in 2016, the swing was there. At that time, I was just getting into photography and all I had to work with was a cell phone (and not a good one), but my wife did manage to get a decent picture of me on it.

Kirby Cove. San Francisco, California.

Sometime between then and December 2020, the swing was taken down. NPS officials have taken it down a couple times before but a new one always managed to take its place. Now, though, the tree itself has been cut down entirely. Eliminating any possibility of a return.

We don’t know the exact reason(s) why the NPS is so against that swing being there but we have our suspicions. Either someone was injured to the point a lawsuit was filed or the NPS just wanted to avoid it all together. It’s understandable, but also unfortunate because that swing was pretty cool.

I don’t see how it could ever return but if it ever does, we will update this.

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Conclusion

We hope this article about Kirby Cove has inspired you to visit this wonderful place. If so, please support our website by sharing it with your friends and family on social media. You can further show your support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!