Immigration Station Guided and Self Guided Tours
Getting to the U.S. Immigration Station (USIS)
California State Parks and the National Park Service offer a seasonal tour including both Angel Island State Park and Alcatraz Island. This combination tour is offered by Alcatraz Cruises and runs during the Spring and Summer of 2010 and will be available at alcatrazcruises.com in early 2010. For more information or group bookings for the Alcatraz/Angel Island Combination Tour please phone Alcatraz Cruises Group Services Department at (415) 438-8361. Information about regularly scheduled transportation to Angel Island State Park is below.
The ferry ride is the beginning of your journey to the USIS, once on the island visitors must travel about one mile to the grounds of the USIS. There are three different options described below.
Hiking
The shortest route is to walk up the Northridge Trail (trail head at Ayala Cove dock area), the trail starts off with 140 trail stairs, turn left when you reach the paved Perimeter Road and travel approximately one mile along the road to the USIS. The USIS is on the right side and there are signs to direct you down the hill into the site.
Approximate walking time: 30-40 minutes
To avoid the stairs walk towards the Visitor Center in Ayala Cove and follow the road up the hill, turning left when the road 'T's, the walk is approximately 1.5 miles.
Approximate walking time: 1 hour
Biking
Follow the green "Bike Route" signs from Ayala Cove up to the Perimeter Road, make a sharp left (u-turn) at the top of the bike trail and continue on the Perimeter Road until you reach the USIS. Visitors should expect to bike 1½ miles to the USIS, bicycles must be secured at the top of the hill into the site. Due to steep terrain and vehicle traffic, bicycles are not permitted on the USIS grounds.
Approximate biking time: 20 minutes
Immigration Shuttle
Immigration shuttle service is available for a fee, to and from Ayala Cove (ferry landing) and the USIS. Designed to get you there in time for scheduled tours and pick you up after the tour is completed.
Contact the Cove Café at www.angelisland.com or 415-435-3392 for cost and schedule.
(Don't confuse the shuttle with the tram! The tram is a one hour tour around the island, the shuttle is a ride to the USIS.)
Tours
A majority of the detention barracks museum are shown by guided tour only. The Visitor Center Room 105 on the first floor will be open for self-guided tours when staff is available (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). The US Immigration (USIS) Grounds are open to the public during park hours 8am-Sunset daily. Visitors are encouraged to view the interpretive displays on the Grounds.
Reservations
Weekend tour reservations are available for groups of 5 or more. Please see schedule below and email aitours@parks.ca.gov for reservations. Groups of less than five can purchase tour tickets on a first come, first served basis at the Cove Café on Angel Island. Tours are not recommended for children under 12. Tours begin at the Bell near the water at the USIS.
Ferry schedules are subject to change and not all ferry service can accommodate every tour time, check the tour time and ferry schedule carefully- contact the ferry company for details.
Reservations can be made up to seven months ahead and must be made at least two weeks in advance. Groups must have between 5 and 30 people to make a reservation. (K-12 school groups have a maximum of 40 people per tour.)
How to make it work: Ferries and USIS Tours
Make sure you choose a tour time that corresponds to your ferry schedule. The list below gives tour times that are available within the schedule of each ferry. (No guided tours available Monday or Tuesday.)
San Francisco Passengers
Wednesday-Friday
11am, 12:30pm, 2pm
(On weekdays the 2pm tour is 45 min. to accommodate ferry schedule, tour starts from bottom of covered staircase).
Saturday-Sunday
March-October: 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm
November-February: 12:30pm, 2pm
Oakland / Alameda Passengers
Saturday- Sunday
May-September only: 11am, 12:30pm
Tiburon Passengers
Wednesday-Friday
11am, 12:30pm, 2pm
(On weekdays the 2pm tour is 45 min. to accommodate ferry schedule, tour starts from bottom of covered staircase).
Saturday- Sunday
November-April: 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm
May-September: 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm
Ferry schedules and tour times are subject to change, the information above is provided with the schedules as they are available as of 9/10/2009.
Special Tour Date Information
2009
November 25, 26 - Site Closed No tours available.
December 21-31 - Site Closed No tours available.
2010
February 15 - Site will be open and tours available on a first come first serve basis.
May 31 - Site will be open and tours available on a first come first serve basis.
July 5 - Site will be open and tours available on a first come first serve basis.
September 6 - Site will be open and tours available on a first come first serve basis.
November 24, 25 - Site Closed No tours available.
December 20-31 - Site Closed No tours available.
Tour Fees with Reservations
Schools K-12
Tour maximum: 40 people (including chaperones)
Cost per person: $3 Tour
Tour Length: approx. 1 hour
All other groups
Tour maximum: 30 people
Cost per person: $7 adults, $5 children (5-11yrs.)
Tour Length: approx. 1 hour 20 minutes except for the weekday 2pm tour which is 40 minutes long and are $4 adults/$3 children (5 - 11yrs)
All first come first serve tour tickets are $7.00 each.
