Alcatraz Swims

2025 Alcatraz Swim Schedule

Book Your Alcatraz to San Francisco Escape Swim

Swim from Alcatraz in 2025 with San Francisco Bay’s most experienced open water team. Whether you’re preparing for the Escape from Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon (on June 1, 2025) or completing a bucket-list Alcatraz swim, we offer over 90 professionally guided Alcatraz swims each year—including private swims, custom group events, and triathlon-focused sessions.

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Looking for a date in June or beyond? Inquire • Want to see other Courses? Click here

Register, Inquire, or Ask Questions Here • Read our FAQ Below

Alcatraz is the most iconic open water swim in the world, attracting athletes from across the globe. San Francisco Bay’s cold water, shifting currents, and dynamic conditions make it an unforgettable experience, especially for experienced open water swimmers seeking challenge, precision, and safety.

Join us for the 1.5-mile Alcatraz Escape to San Francisco swim, the fast, current-assisted ~3km Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz swim, or extended routes like Alcatraz to Angel Island and Round-Trip Alcatraz. All swims include expert navigation, real-time safety support, and breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline views.

Alcatraz swims are $279 per swimmer for the Escape to SF route and Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz, with group discounts and private rates available. April and May swims are ideal for triathletes who need to train under realistic race-day conditions for the June 1, 2025, Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Every swim we offer is tide-timed for safety, success, and maximum enjoyment.

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How to Register

Complete our Inquiry & Registration Form with your preferred date(s), swim pace, and open water experience. We’ll respond within 24 hours with availability and booking details—no payment is due until we’ve confirmed a swim that matches your needs.

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With the stunning backdrop of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and gorgeous San Francisco skyline views, Alcatraz provides an unbeatable swimming experience.

Affordable and Enjoyable

Swim the famed Alcatraz Escape course from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco for $279 per person. Or how about the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz for $279 per person. Round-Trip Alcatraz? Or maybe Alcatraz to Angel Island – we have more courses, dates, and availability than anyone else on the San Francisco Bay. With 22 years of San Francisco Bay swimming experience in the San Francisco Bay, we welcome you to our home.

Traveling to San Francisco? Ask about our Cancel for Any Reason plan for flexible refunds.

For group swims with friends or family, we strongly recommend participants swim at a similar pace for the best experience. On regular group swims, we’ll match the course to your ability and speed to ensure a successful and enjoyable swim.

Alcatraz Swim Favorites…

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Our Reviews Say It All…

Alcatraz Escape to SF Swim FAQ

Professionally guided, pace-matched, and USCG-compliant Alcatraz crossings, offered year-round by San Francisco Bay’s most experienced open water swim team. This FAQ is for the Alcatraz to SF Escape swim, though many details apply to all of our swims.

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How long is the Alcatraz Escape (to San Francisco) swim?

• Swim Distance to Alcatraz: The swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of cross-current swimming. Due to tidal drift, most swimmers record about 1.7 to 1.9 miles (2.7 to 3.2 km) on their GPS watches.
  
  Some organizations mistakenly list the distance as two miles, misrepresenting tidal drift as part of the swim itself. These groups often mistime the start, misjudge tides, and pair swimmers with volunteer kayakers who don’t fully understand the currents or the course. The result: swimmers spend far longer in the water and cover more distance than necessary. We avoid this. Then again, their swim distance might actually be two miles (3.3 km)—depending on how far off course their group ends up.
  
  At Pacific Swim Co., we swim Alcatraz more than anyone—and plan it precisely. We also teach every participant how to read conditions, swim the course, and prevent the tide from working against them.
  
• Time in Water: Typically 45–70 minutes, depending on pace, conditions, and route variation.
• Readiness: You must be capable of swimming at least 2 continuous miles in open water. This swim is for competent, experienced open water swimmers only.

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What course do we follow?

The route departs from the south side of Alcatraz Island and finishes near the beaches near St. Francis Yacht Club to the southwest. Depending on pace and conditions, landings may occur at Coghlan Beach, St. Francis YC Beach, or Crissy Field East Beach.

• All swims include a required in-person safety briefing with detailed course orientation and on the water instructions about sighting/navigation. We don’t jump till you know the course!
• Optional GPS-based swim tracking allows friends and family to track your swim. This may be purchased at a discount during registration only.

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What are the typical conditions?

• Water Temperature: Generally, it ranges from 50°–64°F (10°–18°C), depending on the season. Learn more about water temperatures here.
• Weather: Most swims begin near dawn to reduce exposure to wind and surface chop. Winds, waves, or fog may still be present.
• Currents: We align each swim with best ebb current timing, based on NOAA current predictions and adjusted by our daily observations. Swim plans are adjusted in real time for tidal velocity and seasonal variation.

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What safety measures are in place?

Safety is our highest priority!

• USCG-Licensed Captains – All vessels are operated by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains with extensive maritime and open water swimming experience in San Francisco Bay. Our founders are full-time professionals—USCG Master Captains with 200NM Near Coastal endorsements and accomplished swimmers—who operate this company year-round. Pacific Swim Co. is not a side project like all the other local swim companies; it is our primary work and professional commitment, which is why we’re able to be on the water daily!
• US Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Coordination – We coordinate with San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)—the maritime equivalent of Air Traffic Control—before, during, and after every swim. This ensures real-time awareness of commercial vessel traffic, navigational safety zones, and dynamic conditions in the central Bay.
• Mandatory Safety Briefings – All participants attend a required safety briefing covering route details, environmental conditions, self-navigation expectations, and emergency protocols. Swimmers may ask questions and confirm readiness prior to boarding.
• Pace-Matched Swim Pods – Swimmers are grouped into pods based on pace and experience to ensure safety, mutual support, and efficient escort coordination. This reduces risk of separation and maximizes swimmer enjoyment.
• Escort Vessel Ratio (6:1 or Lower) – We maintain a strict swimmer-to-escort-vessel ratio of no more than 6:1. Each vessel is equipped with radios, visual markers, and course tracking to ensure complete situational awareness.
• Real-Time Safety Oversight – Swimmers unable to maintain pace or experiencing difficulty may be repositioned or removed from the water to ensure safety. These adjustments are rare due to careful advance screening and pre-registration assessment.

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Do I need a wetsuit?

• Wetsuits are optional but strongly recommended for non-acclimated swimmers.
• Roughly 70% of participants wear wetsuits. Triathlon-style suits are preferred for flexibility.
• Booties and gloves are optional but often more trouble than benefit.
• Not allowed: snorkels, dive fins, or full surf/dive suits with limited mobility.

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What should I bring?

Come prepared with only essentials:

• Wetsuit or swimsuit (wear to check-in with wetsuit up to your waist)
• Goggles (bring a backup pair if possible)
• Swim buoy (optional, recommended; discounted at registration)
• Towel and warm post-swim clothing
• Water and snack for pre/post swim.
• Earplugs (optional but recommended)

Do not bring valuables. No hard-sided luggage or coolers are allowed on board. Wetsuit rentals are available at Sports Basement in the Presidio.

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What happens on swim day?

• Timing: Swims typically begin between 5:00 and 8:00 AM, depending on tides and weather. This will be detailed via email the week of your swim..
• Check-In: Details confirmed via email the week of your swim.
• Process: Do not be late to the safety briefing!

Swims occur rain or shine. Cancellations due to fog, high wind, or maritime hazards are rare. Fog is highly variable and cannot be accurately forecast. Unless we cancel a day or two in advance, show up on time!

If traveling from out of town, we strongly recommend selecting the ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ fee waiver plan during registration for maximum flexibility.

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Is there an age limit?

• Minors under 18 are permitted only with our prior written approval, a signed guardian waiver, and other requirements for participation.
• All participants must demonstrate open water competency and self-rescue capability.
• Contact us before registering if you have questions about youth swimmers.

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Can friends or family ride the boat?

Yes, only if pre-approved and space is available. There is a participation fee for all guests/observers.

What about meeting me at the beach? Landing zones vary due to the current and the swimming group’s pace. They should expect to walk up to 1/2 mile from the parking lot near the middle landing beach.

Note: Iif you want to finish your swim by staying on the beach if SF, swimmers are responsible for retrieving personal gear post-swim. Our vessels cannot land on shore, and there are no piers for vessels anywhere near the finish.

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Are there other Alcatraz swim options?

Yes. In addition to the Escape to San Francisco swim, we offer:

• Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz (current-assisted, available most flood mornings)
• Alcatraz to Angel Island (2 miles)
• Bridge-to-Bridge 10K
• Private or Custom Events
• Triathlon prep and pace-based training swims

We conduct more Alcatraz swims than any other provider and swim year-round.

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Tips for Success

Before the Swim

• READ EVERYTHING WE SEND YOU!
• Arrive early, hydrated, and well-rested
• Dress in layers and pay attention to the safety briefing and course overview
• Minimize time in cold air pre-swim

During the Swim

• Control adrenaline at the start; find rhythm early
• Maintain situational awareness 100% of the time
• Sight every 5–7 strokes
• Watch out for pulling left or right and adjust stoke accordingly
• Avoid stopping unless necessary—keep momentum
• Trust your training and stay focused
• Follow our processes and procedures for maximum safety and the best possible experience

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Swimmers who do not maintain the required pace may be repositioned or pulled for safety reasons. Many return to complete the swim stronger the next time.

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Ready to Swim Alcatraz?
Register, inquire, or Ask Questions here.