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    El Pescador State Beach

    4.4 (28 reviews)

    El Pescador State Beach Beaches Photos

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    Destiny C.

    Need a little getaway? Want to relax without the hustle and bustle of board walks and super packed beaches? If so, you should definitely check this beach out! It's such a gorgeous beach! It's super tranquil and clean. I love that it's secluded! It makes it so much more enjoyable. The rocks are so pretty and fun to explore. I had such a relaxed afternoon lounging around on the rocks and taking in all the beauty. There's a small parking lot and also street parking.

    View of the beach from on top of the cliff during sunset.
    Javier H.

    Small spot away from the big crowded beaches. I came on a busy holiday weekend so parking was a lil hard to find as it's very limited, but shouldn't be a big deal on a regular day. The beach itself was nice, however the north side of the beach was covered in rocks in the water so it was painful to walk however the south side of the beach was perfect with no rocks and lots of space.

    Beach view
    Sky N.

    Really nice and not crowded beach. My issue is with the safety of the broken trail and steps to get down to the shore. My partner slid and nearly impaled his foot on the rusty wires which apparently were holding the now broken stairs together. He suffered a smashed and partially torn off toenail also a cut and bruise on his toe. Within several minutes of arriving and paying the parking fee his afternoon was spoiled by the injury and plenty of pain and worry about the possibility of needing a tetnus shot. He slept while I played on the beach and it was beautiful but it's too bad a state beach has to be in such disrepair. They should repair the trail before someone becomes seriously injured! We are healthy athletic people and not used to getting wounded so it is really concerning.

    Amazing waves
    D'Arcy K.

    An amazing place to spend a day ... We try and arrive by 11am and leave by 330 to avoid the traffic on the weekends... This is truly a Slice of California Heaven! There are some steep steps and we suggest wearing more than "flip flops" to walk down .. But once you make the small 5 min trek, boy oh boy is it worth it .. We have seen many families (but it never gets too crowded) ... so the steep steps can be done with kids.. There are NO DOGS ALLOWED .. and we have seen the Sheriffs or Malibu's finest "sneak" up on the beach looking for dog and ALCOHOL .. Take note, they park at the top of the bluff every 2 hrs or so, and scan the beach for "issues" ... but out of the three beaches that comprise the real "hidden" public beaches, this one stays the least monitored (maybe the steep steps - I like saying that - keep away the people who cause problems .. like Zuma.. This is deffinatly the spot to get away .. Like being on your own private beach .. I don't have much more to say besides this is my favorite beach in Malibu. OH Parking: It's a small lot and there's a parking meter. You'll need to put the ticket on your dashboard - 2015 parking was $8.00 till sunset - Well worth the price - Parking is also available on the street (BUT check those signs & be careful exiting your vehicle people drive really fast - ALSO, the entrance to the parking lot comes up real quick so keep a look out - and be aware that the pavement in the parking lot is really crappy so drive slow when maneuvering .. Bring sun screen and water - ALSO BEST TIP - since the walk is even steeper going up, MAKE SURE TO USE THE BATHROOM BEFORE WALKING DOWN TO THE BEACH

    Beautiful !
    Chloé M.

    Slice of California Heaven! I don't have much to say besides this is my favorite beach in Malibu. Parking: It's a small lot and there's a parking meter. You'll need to put the ticket on your dashboard. I forgot how much it is, it's between $5-8.

    View from the top before walking down to the beach.
    Daisy A.

    Excellent secluded beach. It north of Matador Beach. This place is ideal if you are trying to avoid the crowds. The parking lot is small, so try to get there early or hope that someone leaves. You have to walk a bit to get down to the beach. The trail is a bit rocky and slippery so make sure to walk it carefully. The beach is small but for a reason - it is not well known and it keeps the crowds small. The area does have a lot of rocks, so make sure you place yourself away from the rocky area.

    Rose L.

    Cons: small parking but can park on street like any other beaches. No lifeguards, so take your own risks pros: the view is amazing, not crowded, clean

    Solitude

    If you are looking for a peaceful beach, away from all the other people trying to go to the beach in the summer, this is the beach to go! The only thing about this beach is you do have to pay for parking and you dont see the sunset.

    Gorgeous seascape opps
    Josue G.

    Pretty coold secluded beach! It is small but it is not crowded like other beaches. Nestled between houses so you might pass it up as you drive by it like I did. Parking is about $8 for the day or you can park on the highway.

    An hour before sunset. Absolutely beautiful.
    Nicole B.

    Decided to pull in here and give it a try after accidentally passing (the always packed) El Matador Beach. I'm so happy that I did! I ended up having a beautiful, peaceful day. Tips: Make sure to pay and Display, $8 for the day. It is a little steep and rocky getting down to the beach, may want to wear shoes with traction. Eat before arriving, or bring your lunch and risk swarming birds. Watch out for riptide.

    The right side of the beach

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    gorgeous, secluded, not crowded - there are some steep steps to get down to it (doable w kids), but once you do it is paradise!

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    Ask the Community - El Pescador State Beach

    Review Highlights - El Pescador State Beach

    This is truly a Slice of California Heaven!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Point Dume State Beach - View from the hike

    Point Dume State Beach

    4.7(337 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    We've all heard of PTSD…read more... You know, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But have you heard of PDSB?? (I'll break this one down in a bit) Well, if you've read any of my other reviews of the picturesque beaches in Southern California, your PTSD of "here we go again, another review about white sandy beaches, moderate temp. waters and picture perfect sunsets" by Lance L. just might kick in. But bear with me, because this review, you're definitely not gonna want to skip. So what is PDSB you ask? Well Point Dume State Beach of course! Yes, one of Malibu's finest & for good reason too! Sure, when everyone thinks about beaches in Malibu... For those with families, It's usually Zuma Beach, but that's where EVERYBODY goes and because of this, it's ALWAYS packed! And of course, there's where all the surfers go.... Surfrider Beach, hence the name! But Surfrider is for hangin' 10 and you just might get a big stare down by the locals. But Point Dume State Beach or PDSB as I know you will now refer to it is about to be your new favorite. Here's why: A pay lot which sounds like it sucks to have to pay just to go to the beach, but the minimal cost ($6-$15 depending the season) is worth it. The lot is literally parallel to the beach and once you park, you are right on the sand! In addition, Point Dume State Beach, although smaller than Zuma is pretty decent because it's not as well known about so you will definitely find a place to plant that umbrella and set up your beach towel to watch the kids play, throw a football around or work on your tan lines. As far as Safety, Not only is lifeguard towers right on the sand, but a lifeguard headquarters office is also onsite, so if something goes south, help is very nearby. Point Dume State Beach does have fairly maintained, public restrooms that's are serviced regularly by the beaches and harbors maintenance team as well as a few porta-potties onsite for use. The beaches themselves are clean and do not have a lot of trash, debris or tar like some of the beaches that I've been to up North on the Ventura County Side (Oxnard & Ventura beaches). And the best part, some of the best sunsets you can catch on this part of the coastline. Besides the actual beach, you can actually hike from the beach side itself up the Point Dume hiking trail to get an even better view or jump off the cliff if you dare. But.... Please, Please, Just make sure you are a solid swimmer if you are a real swimmer thrill seeker as the water near the cliff is rocky and the currents are very unforgiving. There are always calls for service where Lifeguards, Firefighters and the Sheriff's department are on scene performing rescues, but unfortunately, sometimes are unsuccessful and people have tragically drowned. So maybe leave the Olympic style diving into the Big Blue to the pros. And now that you probably have actual PTSD from me telling you how you could actually die if you aren't careful.... Maybe just shake it off and get some PDSB instead and enjoy the Best of Malibu from the safety of your seat right on the sand! "Life's a Beach, Enjoy it!"

    Walking on the sunny Beach. No need to make chatter. If you…read moredon't start conversations you are pretty much left alone to enjoy the views.

    Photos
    Point Dume State Beach - Point Dume

    Point Dume

    Point Dume State Beach - Overlooking the beach

    Overlooking the beach

    Point Dume State Beach - Well to PDSB!!! Malibu!!!

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    Well to PDSB!!! Malibu!!!

    Zuma Beach  - The beach

    Zuma Beach

    4.4(517 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    A beautiful stretch of beach that's always a must. Along the famous highway 1, it's a nice big…read morebeach thats for perfect day outing. Parking wise, there's street parking along PCH, paid parking lot on PCH, street along the beach as well as another paid lot on the beach. Depending on the time, parking is a bitch as it's always full. It's a pretty wide stretch of beach so there's plenty of spaces for laying out and so on. One side has all the volleyball court. We arrived around 11:30 and luckily found street parking along the beach. It was nice out, sunny and a good amount of people along close to the water. We found a spot and made ourself comfortable. There was a good half dozen or so school buses parked where the volleyball courts are. Either a summer camp or school is back in session and it was a beach day. The odd thing, after an hour we arrived, the clouds started to roll in. Within minutes, it went from sunshine to overcast and gloomy. Stayed like that for a good hour and half. Even looking out to the hillside, it was so gloomy that you couldn't see down the beach. When the clouds burned off, it was back to beautiful beach weather. Lifeguard towers were in full force. We did notice that security on four wheelers were patrolling. They did questioned some people. It's a beautiful stretch of beach if you haven't been. The water was beautiful and looked clean but the waves were on a different level. They were pretty massive so lifeguards were on full force. People did go in the water but not a lot. To make it more magical, there were schools of dolphins swimming close by the shore. Even more fun, you could see them basically surfing the waves. That brought everyone on their feet trying to get the perfect picture. There's a good amount of restrooms and showers. It was actually clean which is a major plus. There's also a little lagoon that's a hangout for all the seagulls and pelican. Sand was soft and hot. Beach was clean, water was clean so it's was a good experience. It's a must if you haven't been.

    Zuma has always been my tried and true. It's easy to get to, there's loads of parking, and the…read morebathrooms are pretty decent for public beach restrooms. Waves are great, lifeguards are present and plenty of beach space to picnic. There's really no bad time of year to come, though in the summer months it definitely gets more crowded. I wish there were more trash cans present on the beach part as well as some sort of food options available. I know there used to be some small food stands, but they have since closed. Love coming here with the family for a beach picnic. Love that the bathrooms have showers to rinse off after a day of playing in the sand.

    Photos
    Zuma Beach  - Fancy car meet up vibezzzzz va-Roooooommmmmm

    Fancy car meet up vibezzzzz va-Roooooommmmmm

    Zuma Beach  - Chasing sunsets!

    Chasing sunsets!

    Zuma Beach  - Ahhh My Goodness!!!

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    Ahhh My Goodness!!!

    El Pescador State Beach - beaches - Updated June 2026

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