Malibu's Beaches: The Ultimate Guide:
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A Guide to the 27 Miles of Malibu Beaches
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The city of Malibu is home to 27 miles of the most gorgeous beaches in Los Angeles County. There are 13 major named beaches with 29 local designations along this stretch of mostly south-facing coastline.Several of Malibu's most beautiful beaches including Leo Carillo State Park, Malibu Lagoon State Beach and the three beaches in the Robert H. Meyer Memorial Beach are managed by the state and accept the annual state parking pass. Leo Carillo also offers beach-adjacent camping.Beach Regulations
These things are prohibited on ALL Malibu beaches unless otherwise noted:- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Nude (or topless for women) sunbathing
- Pets of any kind
- Camping or sleeping
- Fires or barbecues (except where fire pits or barbecues are provided)
- Fireworks
- Amplified music
- Throwing balls in crowded areas (outside of ball courts) where you might hit other people
All of Malibu's beaches are public, despite what some home owners would like you to believe. Coastal access advocates have succeeded in getting beach access points added in some of the more controversial areas, but there are no public amenities, very limited parking and often very little sand during high tide, so they don't make the top list. You can check out the Our Malibu Beaches App if you want to find those tricky access points.The beaches here are listed in order from north to south down the coast. - 02of 17
Leo Carillo State Beach
Leo Carillo State Park actually begins at County Line Beach in Ventura County, but most of its 1.5 miles of beach is within Los Angeles County at the northern end of Malibu. Leo Carillo includes three beaches that range from wide, sandy stretched to rocky tide pools.The longest stretch is South Beach, which begins where the pedestrian tunnel crosses under Pacific Coast Highway and extends southward in a wide sandy arc. To the north of the tunnel is a series of four coves which can be accessed from the sand at low tide, or from stairways down from the bluff. The series of coves ends at Sequit Point, where there are some caves that can be explored at low tide.North Beach is the stretch of sandy beach north of Sequit Point which can be accessed from a parking lot directly on the beach. North Beach allows dogs north of lifeguard towas long as they're on leash.The limited-access rocky beach north of North Beach is known as Staircase Beach, although it has no stairs. You can walk there - 03of 17
Nicholas Canyon Beach
Nicholas Canyon Beach is a County beach that runs for about a mile south of Leo Carillo South Beach. The narrow strip of sand sits at the foot of a steep bluff and is a bit of a trek from both the upper and lower parking lots, so it doesn't get as crowded as some of the other Malibu beaches. At the southeast end, the beach runs into a rocky bluff topped by Malibu mansions.There are stairs and trails down to the beach. There are several picnic tables at a viewpoint just below the parking lot and a few more at the bottom of the beach ramp near the restrooms.The beach is known as Zeros Beach or Point Zero to local surfers. It has one of the few perfect point breaks left in Los Angeles County where you can watch the waves line up when the tide is coming in.Adjacent to the parking lot at the top of the hill, the Wishtoyo Foundation has created a Chumash Native American village.It can only be visited by appointment or during special events, but you can see the structures through the fence.Address: 33850 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and a County pay lot on the beach side of PCH on top of the bluff. Parking rates vary from $3 to $10 depending on the season. The entrance is marked by a concrete sign under some trees and is easy to miss in the shadows.Public Transportation: noneAmenities
Restrooms: Yes, building at the bottom of the ramp, portable toilets at the top near the lifeguard tower.
Showers: Yes
Lifeguards: In season
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: No
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: No
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: yes
Body Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: windsailing, tide pools, Chumash Village - 04of 17
El Pescador State Beach
El Pescador Beach is the westernmost of three scenic pocket beaches that make up the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. It it a crescent-shaped stretch of sand at the bottom of a bluff with rocky tide pool areas at each end. There is a stepped trail or wooden stairway down to the beach from the parking lot. Although there are no restrictions to surfing, diving, fishing or windsurfing at these three beaches, it's a long way to tote gear, so you won't see a lot of that here.Address: 32860 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and a pay lot on the south side of Pacific Cost Highway. This beach accepts the California Explorer State Parks Annual Pass or has an hourly or daily fee to park.Public Transportation: noAmenities
Restrooms: Portable toilets
Showers: no
Lifeguards: no
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: no
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: permitted, but uncommon
Swimming: yes
Diving: permitted, but uncommon
Fishing: permitted, but uncommon
Biking: no
Other: wildlife viewing, hiking trails, tide pools - 05of 17
La Piedra Beach
La Piedra Beach is the middle cove of the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. the parking is on top of the bluff with a long, steep trail down to the beach. It's especially scenic in the spring with the wildflowers in bloom. Because of the challenging access and small parking lot, it doesn't tend to be overly crowded.Address:Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and a pay lot on the south side of Pacific Cost Highway. This beach accepts the California Explorer State Parks Annual Pass or has an hourly or daily fee to park.Public Transportation: noneAmenities
Restrooms: portable toilets
Showers: no
Lifeguards: no
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: no
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: permitted, but uncommon
Swimming: yes
Diving: permitted, but uncommon
Fishing: permitted, but uncommon
Biking: noOther: wildlife viewing, hiking trails, tide pools - 06of 17
El Matador Beach
El Matador Beach is the most popular of the three coves at Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach due to it's incredibly scenic arches and rock formations. It's a popular spot for photo shoots, but a permit is required for professional photography. The beach is accessed by a trail that leads to stairs down to the bottom. There are picnic tables around the parking area where you can enjoy the view from above.You can walk from Matador Beach southeast to Lechuza Beach and Broad Beach, which run along the front of mansions and beach houses with no parking lot access. There are a few public access points to Lechuza and Broad Beaches, but parking on PCH is tricky.Address: 32200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and a pay lot on the south side of Pacific Cost Highway. This beach accepts the California Explorer State Parks Annual Pass or has an hourly or daily fee to park.Public Transportation: NoneAmenities
Restrooms: portable toilets
Showers: no
Lifeguards: no
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts:
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: no
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: permitted, but uncommon
Swimming: yes
Diving: permitted, but uncommon
Fishing: permitted, but uncommon
Biking: no
Other: wildlife viewing, hiking trails, tide pools, photography - 07of 17
Zuma Beach
Zuma County Beach is a 1.8 mile stretch of wide, flat beach with a vast beachfront parking lot with 2000 spaces. There are beachfront restrooms, showers and concessions along its length. It is especially popular with families. This stretch of coast leading to Point Dume is more west-facing. The ocean floor slopes gradually, so there's shallow water to play in and it's good for swimming and body surfing, but Zuma is known for rip tides and rough surf at times. Watch posted flags for safe swimming areas.Address: 30000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: 8 parking lots with 2000 spaces accessed. Rates vary depending on season, day and time of day. Free street parking on the south side of Pacific Coast Highway.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa Monica, stops at Zuma Beach at Busch Road at the south/west end of Zuma Beach and Las Trancas Canyon Road at the northwest end. Las Trancas is the northernmost stop on the line.Amenities
Restrooms: yes
Showers: yes
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: yes
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: Concession stand, restaurant
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: Windsurfing, Beach wheelchairs available - 08of 17
Zuma Westward Beach
Westward Beach is the second half of Zuma County Beach on the west side of Point Dume. It's also referred to as "Free Zuma". Pacific Coast Highway veers inland at the end of the main stretch of Zuma Beach. Westward Beach Road turns off to the right along the coast of Point Dume. Zuma Westward Beach is a stretch of sand along Westward Beach Road with low dunes scattered with beach vegetation and a couple volleyball nets. The beach leads up to the cliffs of Point Dume. Rock climbers are a common sight scaling the cliffs.There are hiking trails from the parking lot up over Point Dume and across to the stairs that go down the other side of the cliff to Point Dume State Beach.Address: 7103 Westward Beach Road, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is free street parking along the first stretch of Westward Beach Road and a pay parking lot at the far end below Point Dume. Although Google maps will tell you this is Point Dume State Beach, this side is actually still part of Zuma County Beach, so your state parking passes won't work here.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa Monica, stops at Pacific Coast Highway and Busch Drive near the turnoff for Westward. A few times a day there's an alternate route down Westward Beach Road.Amenities
Restrooms: yes
Showers: yes
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: yes
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: Sunset Restaurant
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: hiking - 09of 17
Pirates Cove Beach
If you scramble over these boulders at the end of the cliff on Westward Beach, you'll find a small pocket beach called Pirates Cove Beach that has no other access point. Make sure to get back while the tide is still out or you might have a tough time getting back.There are no amenities at Pirates Cove. - 10of 17
Point Dume State Beach
Point Dume State Beach, operated by LA County, has just over 1 mile of sandy beach at the foot of the high cliffs on the east side of Point Dume. There are several trails across the top of Point Dume that will lead you to the single long steep stairway down to the beach. The beach extends below the mega-mansions that top the cliffs along this stretch of coast.The high vantage of Point Dume itself is a great viewing spot to see up and down the coast as well as for whale spotting, especially for the grey whales that migrate a little closer to land between December and March.From Point Dume State Beach, you can walk southeast to Little Dume Beach, a smaller cove beach around the next bulge in the coastline.Address: 7103 Westward Beach Road, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: 373 parking spaces at Westward Beach with trail access over Point Dume, about 10 street spaces (usually full) on Cliffside Drive between Birdview Ave and Dume Drive.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa - 11of 17
Paradise Cove Beach
Paradise Cove Beach is a public beach with a private parking lot associated with the Paradise Cove Cafe, where you can get table service while burying your toes in the sand. It's a crescent beach with high cliffs and Little Dume Beach to the northwest, a line of beachfront homes to the southeast and a mobile home park separating it from Pacific Coast highway. There's a small wooden fishing pier near the restaurant.Address: 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: Pay lot with time restrictions. Signs on your way in warn you of the steep price for beach parking if you're not dining, but the parking fee for up to four hours if you're dining is reasonable.Amenities
Restrooms: yes
Showers: yes
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: Restaurant - dine in or take out
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: permitted, but discouraged
Swimming: yes
Diving: no
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: beach chairs and umbrellas for rent - 12of 17
Dan Blocker Beach - Corral Canyon Beach
Dan Blocker Beach, also known as Corral Canyon Beach or Corral State Beach, is a narrow one-mile strip of sandy and rocky beach right along Pacific Coast Highway at the end of Corral Canyon Road. It sits below the Malibu Beach RV Park and across from Malibu Seafood and Fresh Fish Cafe. There is a cluster of 5 houses right at the end of Corral Canyon Road and the beach extends in both directions from there. The section east of these houses that continues in front of the houses packed along Malibu Road is known as Puerco Beach (Puerco Canyon is the next canyon to the east).Most of the land on the other side of Pacific Coast Highway around the RV Park is Corral Canyon Park, part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which has miles of hiking trails.This beach was donated to the State of California by Lorne Greene and Michael Landon of the TV series Bonanza in memory of actor Dan Blocker who played Eric Haas Cartwright, affectionately known as “Hoss” on the TV series. It was transferred to Los Angeles County in 1995.The proximity from the road to the water makes this beach popular with surfers, divers and snorkelers who don't want to carry their gear far, but you'll also see families set up on the sand.Between Dan Blocker Beach and Malibu Lagoon Beach, Pacific Coast Highway crosses inland and densely packed beach homes line the waterfront along Malibu Road and Malibu Colony Road. The middle section of this beach is called Amarillo Beach, and the section in front of the Malibu Colony neighborhood is known simply as Malibu Beach or Malibu Colony Beach. There are some rocky areas that prevent you from walking all the way around these neighborhoods, but there are public access points.Address: 26000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is street parking on Pacific Coast Highway. West of the RV Park, you can only park on the south side of PCH. It's a short scramble from the road down to the beach. There's a small dirt lot at the east end at the intersection with Malibu Road that is only accessible southbound..Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa Monica, stops at the east end of Dan Blocker Beach near Malibu Seafood Cafe.Amenities
Restrooms: yes
Showers: no
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: Restaurant across the street
Picnic Facilities: 2 picnic tablesActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: viewpoint, RV park, hiking nearby - 13of 17
Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Malibu Lagoon Beach is a 22-acre saltwater marsh wetlands wildlife preserve at the mouth of Malibu Creek with a nice wide stretch of sandy beach. It is the migrating grounds for over 200 species of birds. It is part of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, which extends the length of Surfrider Beach up to and including the Malibu Pier. There are a couple dirt trails through the wetlands that are great for bird watching. It's a beautiful beach, but with the flocks of birds, it can be a dangerous spot for a picnic between bird droppings and scavengers. From the west end of Malibu Lagoon Beach, you can walk to Malibu Colony Beach that runs in front of the beach houses on Malibu Colony Road.On the east side of Malibu Lagoon adjacent to the Surfrider Beach County parking lot is the Adamson House historic home museum, a California Historical Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "Designed by Stiles O. Clements in 1929, this Spanish Colonial Revival home contains the best surviving examples of decorative ceramic tile produced by Malibu Potteries. The home was built for Merritt Huntley Adamson and Rhoda Rindge Adamson, daughter of Frederick Hastings Rindge and May Knight Rindge—last owners of the Rancho Malibu Spanish grant."(1)
To go even farther back in Malibu history, you can learn about the local Chumash Indians and the ranchers who came after them at the Malibu Lagoon Museum next door.Address: 23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is a small State pay parking lot at the intersection of Cross Creek Road for an hourly fee. There's no parking on Pacific Coast Highway adjacent to Malibu Lagoon, but there is some a little west of Cross Creek and along Surfrider Beach.Amenities
Restrooms: Yes
Showers: no
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: restaurants nearby
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: no
Biking: no
Other: snorkeling, tidepooling, birdwatching, walking trails, museums - 14of 17
Malibu Surfrider Beach
Malibu Surfrider Beach is part of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, but it's parking is operated by Los Angeles County. Encompassing a nice stretch of sand and rocks between the Malibu Pier and the Malibu Lagoon, this is prime surf territory and the density of surfers out on the water when surf is up can be pretty intense. The birds from Malibu Lagoon also hang out at Surfrider, so you'll see blue herons, snowy egrets and pelicans in addition to flocks of surfers.The previously mentioned Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum are adjacent to the west parking lot at Surfrider Beach.Because of the number of surfers, swimming areas are limited at Surfrider.Address: 23050 & 23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Environment:Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and a County pay lot. Parking rates vary depending on the season.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa Monica, stops at 23017 Pacific coast Highway just west of the Malibu Pier.Amenities
Restrooms: yes
Showers: yes
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: yes
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: restaurants on the pier and across the street.
Picnic Facilities: noActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: Fishing Pier - 15of 17
Carbon Beach - Billionaire's Beach
Carbon Beach, also known as Billionaire's Beach, is the beach that runs from east of the Malibu Pier in front of the Malibu Inn and and along a row of Malibu Beach homes owned by the rich and famous. You may see signs warning you off the beach, but it is a public beach and there are a number of public access points including a paved, wheelchair accessible ramp that was installed in 2015 after a 40 year legal battle. The beach is public below the mean high tide line, so the wet sand is always public property.You can walk across from the Malibu Pier or access points within the neighborhood are from west to east:- Zonker Harris Access Way, 22664 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
- West Access/Ackerberg Access, 22466 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
- East Access/David Geffen Access, 22126 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
Beyond Carbon Beach, the coast becomes rocky and the water line goes right under the beach houses, so you can't walk along there.Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway. Be careful not to block driveways or park in red zones.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa Monica, stops at Rambla Vista and at 22506 PCH.Amenities
Restrooms: nearest at Malibu Pier, none once you reach the residential area
Showers: no
Lifeguards: no
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: restaurants on the Pier, across PCH and at Malibu Beach InnPicnic Facilities: noActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: walking and gawking at beach homes - 16of 17
Las Tunas Beach
Las Tunas County Beach is a rocky stretch between Carbon Beach and Topanga Beach that has very little sand, but is popular for fishing and scuba diving. It is the southernmost beach completely in Malibu.There are pockets where you can walk in front of the beach houses at low tide, but given so many other beach options in Malibu, it's more a spot to stop for a few minutes to admire the view. there is one area that has a bit of off-street parking and a lifeguard tower.Address: 19444 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway. There is also a small dirt lot next to 19324 Pacific Coast Highway with portable toilets and a lifeguard tower.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown LA, stops at Tuna Canyon Road at the east end of Las Tunas Beach.Amenities
Restrooms: Portable toilets
Showers: no
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: no
Picnic Facilities: noActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: yes
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: - 17of 17
Topanga Beach
Topanga Beach, which sits on the border of Malibu and the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades is a popular surf beach, but is too rocky to be good for swimming. There's plenty of sand above the rocks though if you just want to walk on the beach or sunbathe.Address: 18700 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265Parking: There is limited free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and two pay lots on either side of Topanga Creek. Los Angeles County has taken over management of the beach from the state, so it's now under the county parking system, so you can't use your State Parks Pass here. Parking rates vary by season.Handicapped parking (2 spaces), beach and restroom access is from the East (south) parking lot only, and access is a little tricky. You need to take the left fork at the very east/south edge of the east/south lot that goes right down to the beach below the regular parking lot.Public Transportation: Metro Bus 534 from Downtown Santa Monica, stops at Topanga Beach at the bottom of Topanga Canyon Blvd, east of the East Parking Lot.Amenities
Restrooms: yes
Showers: yes
Lifeguards: yes
Bike Path: no
Fire Pits: no
Volleyball Courts: no
Playground: no
Gymnastics Equipment: no
Food: restaurants on the beach and nearby
Picnic Facilities: yesActivities
Surfing: yes
Swimming: no
Diving: yes
Fishing: yes
Biking: no
Other: Windsurfing, Beach WheelchairContinue exploring Los Angeles Beaches.
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