Your guide to Malibu ~ created by a local.

3/19/2024

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Beaches:

Paradise Cove

El Matador State Beach

Leo Carrillo State Park

Big Dume State Beach

Point Dume State Beach

Surfrider Beach

Dead End Beach off Malibu Road

Amarillo Beach/Malibu Colony Beach Public Access off Malibu Road

Puerco Beach off Malibu Road

El Pescador State Beach

Latigo Beach

Zuma Beach

Always check tides in Malibu before making plans! Most beaches lack walkable sand above a tide level of 3 ft. All beaches in California are public to walk along the median tide, which means you can walk along wet sand but are prohibited from dry sand in front of houses! Dogs are not legally allowed on LA beaches but you can get away with it anywhere that doesn't have a lifeguard stand. Please be a responsible pet owner so we can continue to bring our beach buddies! :)

Paradise Cove - Check tides & visit when less than 1 ft. Park for free on PCH & walk down if you want to avoid the ridiculous lot fees. The Cafe is a tourist trap - the food is not good and VERY expensive. I recommend only visiting for the tide pools & beach walk. Walk away from pier for Little Dume and Big Dume Beach.
Parking Lot Rates:

Flat Rate$45.00. (Mon-Fri)
Flat Rate$65.00. (Sat-Sun)
Holiday$65.00.

El Matador State Beach - Beautiful sea caves & rock formations. Hot spot for photo shoots. One of the Robert H Meyer State Beaches. $ lot or walk down from PCH.
Escondido Beach - Between Latigo and Paradise Cove. Amazing beach houses to view from median tide. Free parking on PCH.
Westward Beach - Park for free right on the sand! Between Zuma and Point Dume. The Sunset Restaurant is across the street & a great dining experience.
Broad Beach - Quiet neighborhood beach with beautiful beach houses as well as tide pools at low tide. Free neighborhood parking.
Lechuza Beach - Small hidden gem at the end of Broad Beach Rd. Free neighborhood parking.
Leo Carrillo State Park - Featured in many films. Camping, surfing, sea caves, trails & more. Free parking on PCH
Big Dume/Little Dume State Beach - Can get here from Point Dume Natural Preserve steps or walking from Paradise Cove. Big Dume Beach is the stretch of beach where the staircase leads. Little Dume Beach is around the corner heading towards Paradise Cove.
Point Dume State Beach -Adjacent to Westward Beach with its own parking lot off Westward Beach Rd.
Surfrider Beach - Living up to its name, you will find tons of surfers here! Next to the Malibu Pier.
Malibu Road Beaches - Find many beaches through access points along Malibu Rd. -Dead End Beach, Puerco Beach, Amarillo Beach, Malibu Beach @ The Colony. Not accessible at high tide.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Adjacent to Malibu Lagoon, between The Colony & Surfrider.
El Pescador State Beach - One of the Robert H Meyer State Beaches.
Latigo Beach - At low tide can walk all the way to Big Dume State Beach, passing Escondido & Paradise Cove. Total 8 miles there & back.
Nicholas Canyon Beach - Hidden gem surf spot. Called "Zeros" by locals.

Not Pictured:
Dan Blocker Beach, across from Malibu Seafood.
Topanga Beach, across from Reel Inn.
La Piedra State Beach - One of the Robert H Meyer State Beaches.

Hikes:

Charmlee Wilderness Park

Century Dam - Cistern Trail to Lookout Trail

Point Dume Natural Preserve

Latigo Canyon

Zuma Ridge Motorway

Zuma Ocean View Trail

Sandstone Peak

Zuma Edison

The Grotto - Circle X Ranch

Backbone Trail via Yellow Hill Fire Rd

Upper Zuma Falls

Lower Newton Canyon Falls

Sara Wan Trailhead @ Corral Canyon

Malibu Bluffs

I have been exploring Malibu for the past 8 years and still find new trails all the time. I can't give you a guide for all of the trails in existence but I can give you a list of my favorites! Check out my full guide to LA Hikes for more photos of each of these hikes.

Charmlee Wilderness Park
Ocean Overlook Trail to Bench
2577 Encinal Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA

Out & Back
There are lots of trails to choose from in Charmlee Wilderness Park. My go-to is the Ocean Overlook Trail up to the bench (head East from the water after finishing along the ocean edge, take the steep hill in front of you and turn left when you come to the fork. You'll find the bench pretty soon after you turn!) Heading back to the entrance after stopping at the bench will be about 4 miles round-trip.

-Moderate Difficulty Level - Will give you a workout but plenty of flat areas to catch your breath.
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking Area

Cistern Trail
Cistern Trail to Lookout Trail - Crags Rd
27800 Mulholland Highway, Augora Hills, CA 91301

Out & Back
-Moderate Difficulty Level - Steep & rocky at parts. Definitely a good workout, but never feels unsafe.
-Not technically dog-friendly but I go early.
-Parking is a dirt turnout on side of Mulholland Hwy
-Great hike for sunrise, as the clouds roll East off the coast.
-You'll see water, mountains, graffiti, and lots of flowers during Spring time!

Head up from trail sign to where the graffiti platform sits. Continue trail until first fork & take a sharp left where the sign reads "Lookout Trail Crags Rd." This trail is out & back & connects to more of the Malibu Creek State Park trails. I like to go as far as the Century Lake Dam lookout and back for a nice 4 mile hike!

Grasslands Trail
27070 Mulholland Hwy Calabasas, CA 91301

Out & Back
-Moderate Difficulty Level
-No dogs - Park rangers present.
-Parking is a dirt turnout on side of Mulholland Hwy
-MASH Site, Rock Pools, Lake, River, Creek, Bridges

Escondido Falls
27807 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
Great Waterfall, Below Average Hike
3.8 Mile Out & Back - First mile is paved street.
-Easy
-Dog-Friendly
-Paid Lot or Free PCH Parking

Nicholas Flat
Via Decker School Rd

3.5 Mile Loop
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking at end of Decker School Rd (can also hike from Leo Carrillo State Park for longer hike)
-Ocean/canyon views with a pond & rocks to climb around it!

Solstice Canyon Loop
3998 Solstice Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265

3 Mile Loop
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking Lot and extra parking up Corral Canyon
-Waterfalls, Creek, Ruins

Mesa Peak Motorway
301 Corral Canyon Road, Malibu, CA

Out & Back
-Not technically dog-friendly
-Free Parking
-Rock mountains, caves, labyrinth, ocean views

For an easier trail: Park at trailhead address on the side of the road and take the dirt trail past the gate.
For a more challenging trail: Drive all the way until the road ends and begin hike headed towards the ocean.

Point Dume Natural Preserve
Cliffside Drive, Malibu, CA

Park Trails
-Not Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking (Limited spots next to park entrance, street parking on Grasswood Ave - take notice of street signs)
-Cliffs, coves, walkways, stairways, beaches (Point Dume Beach, Little Dume Beach), benches, whales, seals & more!!

Latigo Canyon
First cutout heading east from PCH on Latigo Cyn (left side of Rd)

Out & Back
-Moderate Difficulty Level - Steep
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking (side of road)
-Benches, city views, houses, succulents, panoramic overlook

Zuma Ridge Motorway
End of Busch Drive, Malibu, CA

5.4 Miles Out & Back
-Difficult - This trail is a consistent and steep incline, rough & rocky terrain at parts.
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking
-This is one of the many trails by Zuma Beach that all intertwine! Hike 2.7 miles up Zuma Ridge Trail & you'll reach Edison Rd. This trail is out & back unless you desire a 10.6 mile loop --> Zuma Edison Rd --> Zuma Trailhead --> Ridge Cyn Access Trail back to Busch Trailhead.

Zuma Ocean and Canyon View Trail
5721 Bonsall Dr, Malibu, CA

4 Mile Loop
-Moderate Difficulty Level - Do not attempt right after rain, the trail becomes too slippery and steep to manage!
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking
-Seasonal waterfalls (if you're lucky!), canyon mountains with ocean views, wildlife, and beautiful trees. Popular trail for horseback riding.

Sandstone Peak
Tallest Point in the Santa Monica Mountains
12896 Yerba Buena Road, Malibu, CA

Out & Back
-Moderate Difficulty Level - Steep and long.
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking

Take a left at first split following Backbone Trail for a short, one mile, but very steep ascent up to Sandstone Peak. Or, take a right at first split following Mishe Mokwa Trail for a 6 mile loop, Sandstone peak will be about a mile before returning to lot!

Zuma Edison Road
via Kanan Dume Rd
Zuma Edison Rd, Malibu, CA

Out & Back
-Moderate Difficult Level - Steady & steep pace
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking, cut out on Kanan Dume Rd
-Panoramic ocean/mountain views

Circle X Ranch
Grotto & Canyon View Trails
12896 Yerba Buena Rd, Malibu, CA

2.5 Mile Out & Back
-Moderate Difficulty Level - Narrow and steep at parts.
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking
-Waterfall, rock pools, variety of mountain views.

Backbone Trail via Yellow Hill Fire Rd
Yellow Hill Fire Road Mountain Biking Trail
Yellow Hill Fire Road, Malibu, CA

Out & Back
-Easy-Difficult - Out & back trail with many different routes for all levels.
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking (Dirt area off Yerba Buena where Yellow Hill Fire Rd begins.)
-Panoramic ocean views, islands, trees, rocky mountains, valleys.

Newton Canyon Falls to Upper Zuma Falls
1689 Kanan Dume Rd, Malibu, CA

6 Mile Out & Back
-Moderate Difficulty Level
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking at Newton Canyon Falls lot
-3 Waterfalls, Rivers

After you pass first waterfall, follow Backbone trail until you get to a bridge. To see Lower Newton Canyon Falls, follow river downstream. Requires rock hopping & getting wet! If you prefer to stay dry & on trail, continue on Backbone trail until reaching Upper Zuma Falls.

To do shorter hike (3 miles total - 1.5 mi to Upper Falls & back): Park at first cut out on left of Kanan heading north (away from Malibu) after passing Newton Cyn Parking Lot & follow trailhead to Upper Zuma Falls.

Sara Wan Trailhead at Corral Canyon Park
25623 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

2.4 Mile Loop
-Moderate Difficulty Level
-Dog-Friendly
-Paid Parking Lot or Free PCH Parking
-River, Beach,

Malibu Bluffs Trails
24250 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA

Park w/ Hiking Trails
-Dog-Friendly
-Free Parking Lot
-Baseball Field, Skatepark, Soccer Field, Playground, Workout Equipment, Benches, Binoculars, Trails for all!

Restaurants:

Taverna Tony

Malibu Farm Restaurant

Malibu Farm Cafe @ End of Pier

Paradise Cove

Howdy's Sonrisa Cafe

Sunlife Organics

The Sunset Restaurant

Malibu Brewing

Carbon Beach Club

Broad Street Oyster Company

Mutt's Grill

Ollo

D'Amore's

Aviator Nation Dreamland

Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar

Tramanto Bistro

Old Place

Best Food:
Taverna Tony - do not skip the dip!!
Howdy's Sonrisa Cafe
Malibu Sushi by Howdy
Malibu Brewing
Malibu Farm Cafe @ the end of the pier
Tramonto
The Old Place
Sunlife
John's Garden
The Sunset Restaurant
Pita Bu
V’s
Scott’s Malibu Market
Dreamland
Ollo
D'Amore's
Le Cafe De La Plage
Lily's
Nobu
Spruzzo
Mutt's Grill - Great chili cheese fries!

Great Vibes, Okay Food:
Malibu Farm Restaurant
Carbon Beach Club
Paradise Cove Cafe
Broad Street Oyster Company

Not pictured but recommended:
Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe
Marmalade Cafe
Geoffrey's

Activities:

Aviator Nation Dreamland - Check schedule for shows.
The Historic Adamson House - Garden open daily, inquire for tours.
Malibu Cafe @ Calamigos - BBQ food, games, paddleboats, live music & more! Dog-friendly too! Inquire before visiting about hours open to public.
Country Mart - The best shopping in Malibu! Playground, restaurants & more.

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