Which Bay Area Landmarks Are Closed by the Government Shutdown — and Where Can You Go Instead?

Now entering its second week, the federal government shutdown has resulted in many San Francisco Bay Area landmarks and attractions closing their doors.

This includes Muir Woods National Monument, where visitors who came to see the giant redwoods on Oct. 1 were not able to enter the park. Alcatraz Island was also initially closed but re-opened on Oct. 3, and Fort Point will partially reopen on Friday.

Last year, San Francisco alone drew an estimated 23.3 million visitors. And for those who traveled across the country — or even the globe — to see these sites, it’s a dismaying, unexpected prospect.

But while several landmarks will remain closed for the duration of the shutdown, other Bay Area locations on the tourist trail remain open. Keep reading for which federally managed locations locally are closed to the public, and where visitors can go instead.

• Jump straight to: What Bay Area visitor attractions are closed during the shutdown

First off, which Bay Area tourist spots are unaffected by the shutdown?

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island was a particularly confusing case for tourists to San Francisco early in the shutdown. After posting a Oct. 1 closure that was described as temporary due to a “planned project,” NPS said that the site would be “reopening for its regular schedule on October 2 with all facilities OPEN” — and Alcatraz City Cruises, the ferry company that operates boat service to the island, was still selling tickets for Thursday onward.

But on Oct. 2, notices were posted on NPS.gov stating that Alcatraz Island was now in fact “closed due to lapse in federal appropriations,” offering no timeframe for the closure, and that any ticket purchases would be refunded.

On Oct. 3, Alcatraz City Cruises’ website said tours to the Island had resumed once more at 10:30 a.m.

Brendan David, owner of local tour company San Francisco Excursions told KQED that the NPS staffer responsible for tour groups on the Island informed him early on Oct. 3 that earlier tours that day had been canceled.

During the 2018 government shutdown, Alcatraz remained open, though night tours were canceled.

Fort Point National Historic Site (partially open starting Oct. 10)

The Presidio

The Presidio of San Francisco is under NPS jurisdiction but funded separately, so the former U.S.-Army-site-turned-national park will remain open and accessible. Take a look at our suggestions for four hikes to discover the Presidio.

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is not federal land and therefore is unaffected by the shutdown.

Almost all museums and galleries around the Bay Area

Unlike Washington, D.C., where museums and galleries are part of the federal Smithsonian group, Bay Area museums and galleries aren’t federally run and are unaffected by the shutdown. That includes the de Young Museum, the Legion of Honor, SFMOMA, the California Academy of Sciences and the Oakland Museum of California.

The only exception will be the museums that are part of NPS sites.

Point Reyes National Seashore 

No NPS closures have yet been posted for this 100-square-mile stretch of wilderness on the North Bay coast, though visitors should watch for bathroom closures.

And in case you were wondering … San Francisco cable cars

Run by SFMTA, the cable cars will continue to operate.

What Bay Area parks, landmarks and tourist attractions are affected by the shutdown?

Muir Woods National Monument: Closed with temporary re-opening Oct. 23-Nov 1

Many people come to the Bay Area hoping to visit Muir Woods’ famous, majestic redwoods, but this national park is one of the Bay Area NPS sites that closed straightaway at the start of the shutdown.

However, Muir Woods was temporarily re-opened for 10 days on Oct. 23 thanks to donations from several companies associated with the park. Nov. `1 will be the last day to visit Muir Woods during the shutdown before it closes again.

Both parking at Muir Woods itself and the shuttle to the park require timed reservations in advance via gomuirwoods.com.

If you’ve already bought reservations for a period when Muir Woods will be closed, they’ll be canceled and refunded. You can still make reservations, but since we don’t know how long the shutdown will last, be aware that “any reservations made for the near future may be automatically canceled and refunded if the shutdown continues,” according to the Go Muir Woods site.

Alternatives to Muir Woods? On Wednesday, park rangers turning away visitors recommended nearby hikes, including Roy’s Redwoods Preserve around 45 minutes north, and trails around Mt. Tamalpais — which, as a California State Park, remains open to the public.

KQED also has a guide to other forest spaces around the Bay Area that offer stunning redwoods, including Samuel P. Taylor State Park and Armstrong Redwoods State park in the North Bay. Read our full guide to Bay Area redwoods to visit as an alternative to Muir Woods.

You may hear that it’s possible to hike into Muir Woods from other areas, but while it’s technically true, the NPS has historically urged visitors to stay away from closed parks.

A full closure like this also means that if you get into trouble on the steep trails, there will be no park rangers or first responders in the vicinity to help you — and there’s little-to-no cellphone service.

China Beach: Closed

China Beach, a small but scenic San Francisco cove with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, is now closed.

Alternatives to China Beach: While nearby NPS site Baker Beach remains open and offers a similar vista, its parking lot has been closed — so you’ll need to find alternative parking in the Sea Cliff neighborhood. Baker Beach’s bathrooms, however, will remain open.

Point Bonita Lighthouse: Closed

This 1855 lighthouse in the Marin Headlands, with views over the Golden Gate, is also now closed.

Alternatives to Point Bonita Lighthouse: NPS has suggestions on how to drive the Headlands to access the most striking vantage points over the ocean and the Bay. If it’s lighthouses you’re looking for, consider heading south to visit Point Montara near Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point near Pescadero and Point Pinos near Monterey. There’s also the Point Reyes lighthouse, but as this is NPS land, you should stay vigilant for any updates around shutdown closures.

Finally: Going to the beach? Watch out for parking lot closures

Popular Bay Area beaches where parking lots are currently closed (but bathrooms remain open):

• Crissy Field East Beach, San Francisco
• Baker Beach, San Francisco
• Stinson Beach, Marin County
• Muir Beach and Muir Beach Overlook, Marin County.

See the full list of NPS closures and advisories for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.