Malibu’s 27 miles of Pacific Coast Highway hide some of the most varied outdoor experiences in Southern California: pocket beaches with sea caves, hidden canyon waterfalls, the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains (Sandstone Peak, 3,111 ft), and the broad sand crescents that defined an entire generation of West Coast surf culture.
The fiches below cover state beaches, MRCA-managed coastal trailheads and the inland canyons that climb back up to the spine of the Santa Monicas. Several remain in active recovery from the January 2025 Palisades Fire and the older 2018 Woolsey Fire — the alerts box flags what’s open, what’s partial and what’s still closed, with links to the official status page in each case.
The eastern Malibu coast (around the Palisades) was the hardest hit. As of 2026 the MRCA still lists Castro Crest, Sara Wan Trailhead and most Corral Canyon access as closed. Central and western Malibu beaches (Zuma, Point Dume, El Matador, Leo Carrillo) are open. Check the official MRCA park listing in each fiche.
El Matador State Beach (part of Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach) is the iconic spot. La Piedra and El Pescador, the two beaches immediately upcoast, offer similar geology with fewer people. Best at low tide; check NOAA tides before going.
It’s a strenuous 7.2-mile loop from Circle X Ranch with 1,700 ft of gain. The Mishe Mokwa half is well-graded; Tri-Peaks and the final scramble to Sandstone Peak get rugged. Plan 4–5 hours, start before 7 AM in summer, carry 3 L of water. Easiest version: the 3-mile out-and-back to Sandstone Peak only.
Point Dume State Beach is the classic LA County whale-watching headland — gray whales from December through April. Malibu Bluffs Open Space also offers a wide ocean panorama. Bring binoculars and arrive at dawn for the highest activity.
Yes — at low tide you can walk the sand between El Matador, La Piedra and El Pescador (about 2.5 miles round trip). The Santa Monica to Will Rogers Beach walk along the bluffs/sand is another classic, roughly 4 miles each way.
Park content restored and enriched from the 2017 lamountains.com archive (Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy). Trail statistics courtesy of AllTrails. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Closure information current as of May 2026 — always verify with the official agency page linked in each fiche before visiting.
2 min
A practical guide to beach camping near Los Angeles, with coastal campground expectations, Malibu planning anchors and booking tips.
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
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