Alcatraz Behind The Scenes Tour

For the ultimate Alcatraz enthusiast, the Behind The Scenes Tour is a premium option that combines an in-depth guided adventure to the island with the evening program. 

It’s essentially two tours in one: a special small-group tour that takes you into hidden areas of Alcatraz, and then access to the regular Alcatraz Night Tour. 

Small Group & Exclusive Access

The Behind The Scenes (BTS) Tour is limited to about 30 people per departure, ensuring an intimate experience. 

A National Park Service ranger (or an expert guide) will lead your group on a ~2-hour trek into areas off-limits to general visitors. 

You’ll venture into “backstage” parts of the prison – think underground tunnels, subterranean jail cells, rarely seen chambers, and perhaps the prison’s chapel or hospital ward. 

Past participants report exploring hidden passageways and echoing halls that day visitors don’t see. 

You’ll hear lesser-known stories and lore, getting a deeper understanding of Alcatraz’s secrets. 

If you’re fascinated by Alcatraz history and want more than the standard audio narration, this is a dream come true.

Combines with Night Tour

The Behind The Scenes Tour starts in the late afternoon and ends in the evening. After completing the guided portion, you’ll join up with the regular Night Tour folks for the remainder of the night program. 

This means you also get the cellhouse audio tour, evening ranger talks, and the nighttime ferry ride back.

The last night ferry departs Alcatraz at 9:30 PM in summer, earlier in winter.

In total, you’ll be on the island for about 4 to 5 hours, out of which the Night Tour lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours. 

It’s a comprehensive exploration – you truly experience Alcatraz from the bowels of the island to the cellhouse at night.

Timing of the BTS Tour

The Behind the Scenes Tour is offered once or twice daily, usually five days a week. 

In the spring/summer (Mar–Oct), departures are typically around 4:20 PM and 4:50 PM (Tuesday through Saturday). 

In the winter season (Nov–Feb), since it gets dark early, the BTS tour shifts earlier – often around 2:15 PM or 2:45 PM departures (and may run only on certain weekdays). 

No BTS tours run on Sunday/Monday, and none on major holidays. 

Remember, this tour extends into the Night Tour, so you’ll return on one of the last ferries of the evening. In summer, the last ferry leaves Alcatraz Island at around 8:45 or 9:30 PM and in winter, at 6:30 or 7:30 PM.

Important Details

• This tour has an age minimum of 12 – kids under 12 are not allowed, for safety and due to the long duration. 
• Wear comfortable shoes and layers (some tunnels can be chilly). 
• The guided portion is only in English.
• Since it involves climbing stairs and navigating narrow areas, you should be reasonably mobile.
• If you have mobility limitations, consult Alcatraz City Cruises before booking – parts of the BTS route might not be fully accessible (though they do try to accommodate where possible).

Highlights of the Tour

On the Alcatraz Behind the Scenes Tour, expect to access seldom-seen spots like the old Officers’ Row tunnels, the Alderson warehouse, or the Citadel basement beneath the main prison (Exact routes may vary by guide and conditions.) 

The stories are more detailed, often covering escape attempts, prison operations, and personal anecdotes from guards or inmates that aren’t in the standard tour. 

You truly get to “peek behind the curtain” of Alcatraz. 

After the guided tour, you’ll still do the audio tour in the cellhouse (or you can skip it if you’ve done it before – but it’s a good refresher with the voices of those who lived it). 

By the time you leave on the night ferry, you will have seen Alcatraz inside and out.

Ticket Price

The Behind The Scenes Tour is the priciest Alcatraz option. Adult tickets cost about $105 (and around $97 for age 62+ seniors). Youth aged 12-17 years pay $100 – a slightly lesser ticket cost than the adults. 

No child tickets since visitors under-12 aren’t allowed. 

So for a family with teens, it’s a considerable cost – but remember it includes the night tour as well (two tours in one). 

If you’re a serious history buff or photographer, it can be worth the splurge. 

Book well ahead – this tour always sells out because of very limited spots. 

During peak months, it is not uncommon for BTS tickets to be gone 2-3 months in advance for popular dates.