The ferry runs about every thirty to fourty minutes to and from Alcatraz. In summer months and around holiday weekends Alcatraz sells out as early as a week in advance. See below for information on advance ticket sales. The weather on the island can be unpredictable and can change suddenly.
Fog is common in the summer, rain in the winter.
Some sections of Alcatraz are unsafe to visit. Areas closed to the public are well marked by fences or barricades. Collecting of any sort is prohibited. Plant and animal life are protected by law - DO NOT feed birds on Alcatraz. Visitors unable to make the climb up Alcatraz's steep road may take advantage of SEAT - Sustainable Easy Access Transport, an electric shuttle which runs once an hour from the dock to the cellhouse, and once an hour from the cellhouse to the dock.