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Came here with our pup on a warm spring day as it's the only dog friendly beach in Malibu. It was a bit of a trek to get here from Santa Monica, especially with PCH backed up but we really enjoyed watching the sunset with our pup and exploring the caves. Dogs are required to be on leash but no one was enforcing it when we were there. Either way, my dog is a runner so I wasn't going to be taking my chances. Parking is super easy on PCH and you can take a staircase down. Compared to beaches closer to the city, we had nearly the entire place to ourselves.
OK, I screwed up. When I convinced Jamie W. to tool on the PCH through Malibu to come here, I had thought it was the expansive historic ranch I saw Huell Howser visit on an episode of "California's Gold". Well, the ranch is way down south in Carlsbad, and this turned out to be a combo park and beach named for Leo Carrillo, the same Leo Carrillo who owned the ranch. Carrillo was a longtime Hollywood actor who played second banana roles like the comical Pancho in "The Cisco Kid". Not only was he a working actor but a smart real estate investor (thus the ranch) and a dedicated conservationist, which was why this space was named after him. Jamie and I didn't have time to go into the park, but we did walk under the PCH underpass and explored the 1-1/2 miles of beach. It's not pristine like Zuma but craggy with rocks and coves which makes it quite photogenic. So photogenic, in fact, that it's been the setting for a number of movies. It was in the opening scene of "Grease" when Danny and Sandy frolic on the surf. It was where Leonardo DiCaprio arrived by elevator in his subconscious in "Inception". And no surprise that it was in several 1960's beach party movies, too. It's about a 50-minute drive from Santa Monica on a good day, or alternatively, you could come by way of the 101 in the San Fernando Valley and enjoy the Santa Monica Mountains. Parking is $3 per hour so plan accordingly. RELATED - Exploring LA? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2TWT63v
In A Nutshell: -One of the few dog-friendly beaches available to the public close to L.A. -As long as you are NORTH of life guard TOWER 3, then you can bring your leashed-dog on the beach. -The best time to go is in the middle of the week before 10am. -You'll literally have the whole beach to yourself. -There are a few nooks & crannies to hide behind if you want to let your dog off leash (not recommend). -The sand is soft, the water is cool. -If the park is closed off to vehicles, just park along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). -The park rangers are very friendly too. Overall, this is a nice get-away for your furry friend so they can enjoy life on the beach.
We came here to check out the tide pools. We saw several crabs and urchins as we explored the beach for about 2 hours. There were a lot of families here enjoying the tide pools since it's wide and easily accessible. One kid had collected 5 crabs in his bucket! I loved the wide breath of natural landscape and how there was a long stream of water flowing from the state park to the beach. Parking was closed and we were able to find parking on PCH, even on a busy Memorial Day weekend. The beach is further out so it seems less trafficked.
We stopped at Leo Carrillo state park on our way to North Malibu Beach, CA. While we were driving my son said "stop here and let's check this spot out" and I'm so glad we did. They are located in Malibu California and have breathtaking views from the cliff tops. We parked alongside the parking strip just off the road and walked a few steps to get to the cliff where you can look down over the ocean. Words can't describe what you see with your eyes especially when it comes to nature. You know that feeling you get when you need to pull out your phone to capture the beautiful sight in front of you and then once you take that picture, you look at your phone and realize it doesn't do it justice? This is one of those moments here at this park. We walked around to the different areas including down by the water and I really loved the serenity and calmness of this place. We stayed for about 30 minutes until we left to our next stop. This place is so worth spending some time here. I highly recommend. Note: The bathrooms (portable John's) are disgusting. I'd rather find a spot outdoors.
Leo Carillo State Beach in general, is less crowded than adjacent beaches which is great. The staff at the entrance of the parking lot are very helpful and welcoming! No complaints there. However, dogs are only allowed west of lifeguard tower 3 and we took our senior Yorkie here only to find out their dog beach area is a further from the general parking lot so we had to drive about a mile out to get to the dog beach area. Once you find parking, You've got quite a way to walk down to reach the beach but it was no biggie. At this visit , the washed up seaweed riddled the sands and the seaweed was covered in gnats or flies! Every step we took on the shore moved the swarm of flies around our legs. Gross. We had to find a good clearing of sand far enough from the washed up seaweed to avoid the swarms of flies. Maybe it's just the summer time when flies take over the beach but we won't be back for any other seasons to find out otherwise. This was not the typical beach trip we're accustomed to but our dog didn't notice the difference and he had a great time and I guess that's all that matters when visiting a dog beach! We did this for the love of our furbaby, But if you don't have a dog, I really don't see a reason to be here. Stay on the other side (east of tower 3) and enjoy Leo Carillo's no dogs allowed Beach side. I can't comment on that area but I'm hoping it's cleaner than the dog side.
This is one of the very few beaches that allow dogs at the beach. I been here a few times and it never disappoints. There are always plenty of pooches. Most owners are very responsible and I've never had any incidents. I usually get here around 11am or 12pm. I've had both scenarios where I found parking in their lot and I also had to park in the street. If you park in the street it can be confusing if you have never been. There are no signs informing where the beach access is and it can lead you to dead end cliffs. Also once you get to the beach there is no wheel chair accessible entrance. It's actually a steep jump to some rocks to enter the beach. Considering it's a state beach I'm a little disappointed they haven't addressed this issue. I saw plenty of elderly people struggling to get to the beach. Overall, this is a hidden gem in LA. The waves are great for swimming but can sometimes be strong. A boogie board will help you with those rough waves.
Excellent campsite for beginner/city campers and someone just looking to get away not too far from home. There is a convenience store inside the Park. Firewood and other goods can be purchased inside. If you try to pay with a card, there is a $1 surcharge. I did not spot any wild animals here, which felt a little too safe for a camping excursion.The state beach is a walkable distance, and drones are permitted. Check-out is at noon. I believe I got lucky reserving a site here because it was during the off-season. I've definitely had zero luck finding a weekend spot during their peak season (Summer and Fall). I don't know if I can recommend coming here spontaneously without a reservation, but I definitely saw a few empty spots in the evening. Getting here: Expect traffic in the afternoon; the drive from Santa Monica to Malibu took an additional hour, even though it's less than 20 miles away. If you pass Neptune's Net, you've traveled too far. A tip I learned from another camper: Bring flammable firelogs to set as the foundation for your campfire experience. Less struggle and the flames will burn longer and higher.
We were driving south through Malibu and couldn't resist the opportunity to stop by this gorgeous beach. We paid a few bucks to park for an hour in the parking lot and strolled up and down the beach with our two dogs. The pups didn't love having to stay on leash but they did love having a chance to stretch their legs and feel the sand beneath their paws. This beach is gorgeous. The waves crashing against the rocks was a lot of fun to watch, especially since there's not a lot of rocks in the water in San Diego.
This review is for the dog beach, north of the main beach with the tide pools. It's a beautiful beach and there's so much space to play. The one down side is that it's technically a leashed dog beach, though I've never seen anyone get in trouble. Park right above it on PCH and walk down the set of stairs to get there. It's a hidden gem!
I'd give it five stars but the bathrooms were disgusting! Parking was easy and the beach was clean. Easy in and out. Big lot. Easy to use kiosk to pay for parking. Lots of trash cans. Dog friendly beach but all dogs must be leashed and must have poop bags! They do have lifeguard towers. The sunsets here are amazing! Enjoy and be safe...
This is my absolute fave beach in California still to this day - hands down. Been coming here on the regular since I moved out here from Texas 9+ years ago - I've hesitated writing a review bc I wanted to keep it a secret lol. There's so much to explore here - one of the main feature is the large rock out in the water off the main beach. At high tide, it kicks off a good break that the surfers seem to love. At low tide, the tide pools are phenomenal and you can actually walk all the way out to the big rock and climb it if you're so inclined. The tide pools can be hit or miss - at the very least you'll see some crabs and definitely anemones, mussels, and limpets - but on a good day you get sea cucumbers, star fish, and I even saw an octopus once!! Off to the right of the beach are the trails - at low tide you can walk from beach to beach but be careful bc the tide can cut you off and catch you off guard and can be forceful at times. If you take the beach route, you'll see rock formations and sea caves! The upper trails go on for miles and are my favorite part - the views are just incredible, it's relatively uncrowded if you avoid weekends and holidays, and there are so many great places to sit and soak it all in. At high tide and when the waves are surging, it's incredible to stand out on the rocky prominence - it's almost like the waves are rising up to meet you and you feel like you're flying! Be prepared to get misted though lol! Also, it's almost always very windy up there. Sunsets couldn't be more gorgeous from here - and even on my last sunset visit on NYE, it was relatively uncrowded! But this beach is probably the one that's furthest down PCH - almost on the edge of LA county. There's one really awesome place I've found to sit and it's like you're hanging out on the very edge of the world with the whole place to yourself and no one can see you from there either!! It's so fantastic! It requires an adventurous spirit and some major rock scrambling - and I won't tell you where - you'll find it if you're brave and curious enough ;) I always park on the street - even if the cars are lined up, the area is so vast that it still feels uncrowded. And there are a lot of trail entrances along the street so it doesn't really matter where you park imo. There is a paid lot across the street but I've never parked there. If you do park there, you access the beach by a tunnel under the busy PCH so you don't have to worry about crossing the street. They used to have a great building on the beach with bathrooms and little water spigots for rinsing - but it was all destroyed in the Malibu fire a few years ago. Now it's just some dirty port-a-potties that never seem to be stocked so bring your own TP lol! The area vegetation has done well to start recovering from the fire and I am so happy to see that they saved the big coastal oak tree!
This is the place to camp if you want to invite 20 friends and blast your music and make your neighbor's life miserable. I never saw a Ranger, so there is no rule enforcement. Most of the sites are overgrown so leave your RV at home. Get the picture? San Elijo SB this is not! This is, hands down, the worst run park in the system! The mud damage from the rains of a few years ago is still a problem? If you like dirty bathrooms, you're in luck. Never again for me! I had a reservation in July for 4 nights and left after only one night. I'm retired and have over 20 reservations for camping, the condition of this State Park is unacceptable!
6 years ago
This campground had it's ups and downs for sure. Pro: beautiful scenic drive on the way to the campground, although FULL of people so beware of people not paying attention when they open their doors at the highway. Store was nice, only letting in 4 people in at a time, has all your campground needs including beer and cigarettes if you plan on partying. Within walking distance to the beach but if your site is clear in the back like mine it will be a long tiring walk. All the campers were nice and quiet at night. Cons: SNAKES! Rattlesnakes were IN my campsite! (Site 139)... so beware, especially if you have young kids like me. NO PHONE SIGNAL! I have verizon and didn't pick up any signal pretty much throughout the whole campground. The squirrels and chipmunks aren't afraid of you and will wait for you to leave your site to trash it! read more
18 years ago
Oy-evay . . . Can a CA State Park get more TV and Film exposure than other CA State Parks? The answer is YES! I have camped here throughout the years in total awe because I see, meet, and party with so many adventurous peeps who frequent this State Park. A lot of excitement happens at this park! TV shows such as Summerland, SPF-30, Malcolm In The Middle, etc. were filmed on the beach side of Leo Carrillo State Park. The State Park also holds rock concerts in the main parking lot, too. Peeps do surf, windsurf, parasailing, boogie board, sun bathing, fishing, throw peeps' cremated ashes here, make a movie, make a TV show, get naked, get drunk, get high, get famous, you name it, it has been done at Leo Carrillo! The bathrooms by the beach are funky and the showers are extremely cold! Brrrr! Heads Up: I have noticed that cellphone reception is almost nil and the transmission/reception stops after Campsites 101-110. So, if you really need to keep in touch with your peeps, try staying near or at Campsite 102. Campsite 100-106 were flooded out in 2004-2005. The nicest, flat ground campsites are the ones in the middle of the park closest to the steep embankment (opposite campsites to the river). The campsites closest to the river are prone to extreme flooding danger! The Campground grocery store has a cool dude working during the store operation hours and his name is Lee. The Campground Host is Steve who lives adjacent to the grocery store and sells dry firewood, too. Both guys will tell you where to go hiking all the great, secret trails from Leo Carrillo to Sycamore State Park. Funny characters these two guys are because they have been hanging around Leo Carrillo ever since they were little boys. Anyway, I had to pack up my camping gear after the torrential downpour. I was camped at Campsite 108 and the ground was drenched-no . . . inundated with three inches of water! From the gate entrance kiosk to Campsite 100-106, the heavy rain storm also flooded the underpass to get to the beach. I wanted to see how flooded the State Park was after the heavy rain storm so, I drove all over the entire campground and headed towards the beach. So many of the campsites were sitting in about 3-4 inches of water. Not good. BTW: There is no other way to get to the beach by car because the Ranger Ricks locks the PCH 1 access 24/7. I walk out of my car and low and behold . . . what? The road is really flooded! I can't get to the beach? Crap! I pull over to the right side of the road before the flooded roadway. I get out of my car, skip a flat rock into the middle of the flooded road to see how deep the water is. A very long, black, shiny SUV pulls up onto my left side of my Toyota 4-Runner. The guys says to me, "What's wrong?" I replied, "The water is very deep, so I was checking to see if it will be alright to drive through the deep water to get to the beach." The guy replied, "Aw, I'm going!" I yelled back, "Ok, you go for it! If you get stuck, I am calling AAA!" The guy plowed right through the deep water! Oy-evay! Gee, who is that guy? Why does he look so familiar? No way! That is Robert Townsend? Lol . . . I decided to follow him to the beach and plowed through the deep water pensively white-knuckling my steering wheel. I park my car and jumped out of my car. Robert Townsend starts laughing at me! O=:-( "Hey, that is not funny to laugh at me, Dude! I was really concerned I would flood or damage my newly installed brakes!" "Eh, so what-they'll dry out!" Robert Townsend assures me. I frown, asked him what he was doing at the beach, and he said he often meditates on that specific rock on the beach. Oh, okay . . . Chillin' out, eh? "Well, thanks for giving courage to drown my newly installed brakes. I am going to eat my lunch and head North to San Francisco after I eat. So, take care and have fun chillin' out, Dude!" Robert Townsend tells me he climbed Kilimanjaro, hands me his phone number and instructs me to call him? "Okay . . . Well-take care and have a beautiful day! Bye!" While eating my lunch, I watch Robert Townsend walk over to his favorite rock, climbs up, and begins his meditation in a Yoga sitting position. I finish eating my lunch, climb into my 4-Runner, honk my horn at Robert Townsend, he waves good-bye and I am off heading North to my stomping grounds. I bet you Robert Townsend was wondering why I never asked him for his autograph! Dude-the only autograph I want from you is YOU signing my paychecks!!! O=:-D Yo! Show me yo money! LOL! Better yet, hire me as an union camera operator working at Leo Carrillo for seven days, I'll camp at Leo Carrillo, walk steps to the beach to get to work, get off work, take a hot shower at the bathrooms, crash inside my creature comfort tent, eat leftover movie/TV to-go meals, and I will be very happy indeed! read more
5 years ago
A very popular spot for surfers and other beach loving people. There's a lifeguard station by the large rocks and a lovely stretch of beach north of the lifeguard station. To the south it's rocky and when it's low tide you can find fabulous tide pools with various sea life in them. The beach is clean and the water is fairly clear. There's paid and free parking (on the highway) read more
We stayed at the campground for one night from 10/1-10/2. Check in was easy. This campground is old school meaning the camp sites are really large in comparison to most campgrounds in the area. We had site #137 which had electrical hookups. This site backs up to a big open area and your fire pit and table are down a tiny incline. The bathrooms, showers and wash sink and an outside shower are also behind this open area. The bathroom lights shine directly into this site and are on all night. There are water spigots all over the campground. The campground is surrounded by a high mountain canyon. It is very dry and dirt covered with weeds but alot of trees with shade. The photos on campsitephotos.com are way outdated. Alot of pesky crawling and flying bugs too so be very prepared. Most of the campsites had bug powder covering them. It was 92 degrees at 5PM without an ocean breeze in site. It is not beachfront and is a pretty far walk to the beach regardless of which site you get. We walked the whole campground and would recommend sites in the front of the park as it seemed to be much cooler as its more open up there and gets the ocean breeze. The camp store is awesome! It has anything from small camping maintenance items to a large variety of beer and wine, a coffee bar, ice cream, pre made sandwiches and firewood. The campground has a large dump station with water to fill tanks. It was pretty quiet at night too. I think this campground is great for large groups or people with kids as they can run around the large open areas. Just dont expect to be beach close as in order to access it you must walk thru the campground and then under the 4 lane PCH. If you have a site in the very back of the campground, its a walk y'all! Bring a wagon to shlub your things to the beach. Its is patrolled by the rangers heavily which made us feel safe. Id recommend this campground just be prepared for the aforementioned things. read more
One of the few dog beaches in Los Angeles County, Leo Carrillo is located off the PCH 5 or so minutes past Zuma Beach. Keep your dog on its leash as you will encounter the odd warden... Parking is super easy - do a U turn and park along the side of the PCH or pay to use the large open car park. We went during the day and only saw one or two other dogs. For the most part, the beach was empty save for the surfers heading out towards Sequit Point. Didn't see any dog mess - nice sandy beach with unisex bathroom facilities and an outdoor shower up near the main car park. read more
Took my puppy (and myself!) to LC for the first time today. Parking on PCH was super easy. The lifeguards were so kind and helpful. The guard in tower 2 was so sweet to my puppy and was really kind in explaining where the dog beach was. There's so much to see here, and the beach was so clean! The guards on duty at tower 5 were so friendly. Everyone was practicing social distancing insanely well unlike other beaches (looking at you Will Rogers). Can't wait to go back! read more
11 years ago
What a great beach - it feels private and secluded. First off, dogs are allowed! But only on leash. And only north of Tower 3. You'll see signs everywhere to know the rangers and lifeguards mean business too. The area north of Tower 3 has some pretty rocks and sea caves to explore. The area to the south has tide pools and excellent surfing. Either way, you can't go wrong. Take a picnic, bring your pup and plan on a great day here! read more
13 years ago
4 years ago
This is probably my favorite beach in the area, and one of my favorites in California. I'm not really a beach person so a small beach with rocks, tide pools, and a cute little cave is more for me than a more classic beach like you'll find a few miles south (I refuse to name the most popular and really touristy one here!). There are a lot of families and children here. My parents took me here in my childhood, too, so perhaps I'm a little nostalgic about this spot. If you're looking for a pretty beach that's more interesting than the classic, boring-old sand-meets-the-waves-picturesque dime a dozen beach in socal, this is one to check out. Tide pools! Rock formations! A beach cave! read more
6 years ago
I've been to almost 150 beaches inmy life and Leo Carrillo is one of my top 5 for sure. Terms like scenic, majestic, and sublime ALMOST give it justice. Sea caves, tide pools and really cool rock croppings small and large give this beach an otherworldly coolness, especially at low tide. Yet there is still enough clear area to swim. My fave spot is the large cove near lifeguard stand #2. Awesome indeed. read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
Nice stretch of beach off of PCH that's dog friendly. Brought my dog for a day at the beach. Weather was nice but a little windy. Found parking right off the street. There's stairs that lead you down to the beach. Also, parking available down near the beach but there's a fee. They have a couple of picnic tables and grill available for use. Beach area is nice, with people walking their dogs around. Waves are nice, white sand and less crowded than the bigger beaches like Zuma. There's also a stretch of rock, caves that can be walked through to go into the other side of the beach that isn't dog friendly. read more
9 years ago
Its Thanksgiving break, the weather is cooler, and Angelenos tend to stay inside. So I decided to see if there were any spots available. I got lucky and found site 59 that was available for one day. It took about an hour to get to the park from Los Angeles. Right before arriving I stopped by the Pavilions up the road and got lunch and dinner. Arrived at the site, checked in and got to my spot. Lots of squirrels scattered as I got out of my car and ate my lunch. Soon I set up camp, and went for a walk. The sites to the left and right of me were empty though they'd been reserved. The park is filled with old California oaks, and the walk to the beach took about 10 minutes, which was very pleasant. The sun was setting, and rocks jutted out of the beach, tied-pools. A few minutes later I headed north and sat on top of a slight cliff and saw the sun set. At night the neighbors across from me were a bit loud, and didn't stop they talking till around 11pm, but the noise doesn't compare the to cars speeding up the road, since Mullholland Highway is next to the park. Overall, a nice place to visit and camp. It seems more family oriented than other campsites, since there are tide-pools and beaches, and its just kid friendly. So, highly recommended for families and for a nice romantic outing with a special someone. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
4 years ago
I went down there to Camp with my friends and I had a good experience with one of the workers. I think her name was Lindsey or linsday. I had a great experience and it was a fun time down there but be there and just made me think about how lonely I am after my wife left me and took all the kids read more
7 years ago
6 years ago
Shot on IPhone 11ProMax. Had a wonderful time on this beach! The sky was amazing! The people were wonderful and the park rangers were incredibly helpful. I will be back!! read more
7 years ago
15 years ago
Far from real wilderness camping, *ahem, you're in Malibu* but really one of my favorite places to pitch a tent and eat. You are 1 minute walking distance away from the breathtaking state beach/cove. Convent facilities - Bathroom stalls for families or single - Coin-operated showers - A CONVENIENCE STORE with all your camping needs. And surprisingly, the items are fairly priced. (If I was the owner of this store, I'd overcharge like, "HA HA HA too bad you ran out of firewood. That'll be $30 for 4 pieces, please"). But they're market priced, they're nice. - Park rangers give out maps for you, so you know exactly where all the things are trash bins, water tanks, store, etc. - AWESOME hiking trails - plenty and scenic And yeah, this is pseudo-camping because all these things are so convenient. Although I would love to camp Bear Grylls style (no I don't), camping next to this is the major perk: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_nko0LR2WzMQutxzuxi4mA?select=DmUpmNkP7uVFPlaXkdoJ3w Remember to reserve your spot online www.reserveamerica.com because they are always always sold out and/or booked. It's about $30/per night, not including reservation fees. Dog Friendly Kid Friendly Bro Friendly read more
9 years ago
Beautiful beach. But this Sunday it was so crowded that there was traffic jam at the main entrance. Not my kind of visit to the beach. I rather drive north a little and find more isolated beach. The sun wasn't there. I think it stopped someplace at during the drive from LA to a Malibu. And the temperatures also dropped: Ok beach. Family friendly. Can get over crowded. read more
10 years ago
First off, there were so many families! A lot of children running around the beach. I stayed here for one night and around 9-10pm the campers around us were asleep (a lot of families around). We did hear one group fron a distance playing terrible top 40s music but again, it was a distant site. The bathrooms near our site were clean and had plenty of 2 ply toilet paper too. We stayed on #58 and I wouldn't recommend it if you want privacy because there is a water spigot on site and all your neighbors will come over to do their dishes which results in water pooling into your site. There were lots of fearless squirrels on site as well. The beach was really nice but rocky. A lot of surfers in the water. I would definitely come back, the night sky is beautiful here! read more
10 years ago
Camped for two nights at Leo Carrillo State Beach. Camping spot 127 is the best! Has a great tree to cover tents and main fire pit. We really enjoyed the camping facilities. On Saturday morning we took off on a hike from the camp site up the Nicolas flat trail. Great views. ~2000 ft elevation gain from the camp sites. 3 miles up with more trails to explore within the Nicolas flat reserve. read more
7 years ago
So happy I was finally able to take my dog to the beach. The beach was a little hard to get to/find. I parked on the street and realized once I got down to the dog part that it was parking down there, not easy to find. The beach is beautiful with a cove and great waves. read more
6 years ago
13 years ago
For being a mere 30 miles or so north of Los Angeles and feeling like a Santa Barbara or Northern California beach with warmer Southern California water temperatures (by a hair), this gets 5 stars. It is either included within, or adjacent to, Leo Carrillo State Park, and is also the closest beach to Los Angeles to offer campgrounds. The state beach / state park is named after an actor. So what else is new? This is the first place at which I ever camped. The feeling of the place is unchanged. I could still smell the oak, sycamore, and vegetation typical of the area. Thank you for keeping this place in its original state, California State Park system, but did you have to approve that hippy-dippy mural on the underpass to get across Pacific Coast Highway to the parking lots and to the campgrounds? L.A. loves its murals. The ocean water is a little cold but one can get used to it, especially during the summer. There is a fee commensurate with SoCal prices for day use. However, one can see that there are cars parked on the beach side of Pacific Coast Highway. In the evening, several cars were parked along PCH and their passengers had simply walked up the small slope from the highway to walk along the beach and see the sand, the coves, the tide pools, the surfers, the views back to Malibu, and possibly even the sunset. Leo Carrillo is a great place. I recommend visiting if the weather cooperates and one has more time to spend to get from L.A. to Ventura or Santa Barbara along the coastal route rather than flying through on the inland Ventura Freeway. read more
This is a gorgeous beach! I am reviewing it from the dog beach perspective. Basic facts: -dogs only allowed north of lifeguard tower 3 -dogs must be on leash -people camp here -parking lot very close to dog beach but it is paid (approx 10-12 dollars) -can park for free on PCH for a small trek -gorgeous walk with mountainy feel We found this secluded private beach area just north of tower 3 and it was so fun to let B play over there! We did let him off leash for a little bit because it was so private no one could have seen us do that. I am sure you get ticketed otherwise in the more public areas when your dog is unleashed. We then walked over to the more public area and there were plenty of dog friends for B to play with. It's just a but sad that they can't be off leash. A beautiful expansive beach to walk your dog on though! Very rocky so you can sit and picnic above the beach and sand if you want to. I want to come back and camp! read more
12 years ago
Love this beach! My fiance and I only really go for the tide pools, which during certain times of the day, the tide will recede and leave the beach comber with a cool view of the tiny world of the smaller creatures that inhabit the shallows. Make sure to check the forecast and tide report before making the trek out. This beach is perfect for little ones, so bring a blanket and pack a lunch. Parking is free on the side of the road (but be careful when stopping and pulling into a spot because the cars tear down the street). If you do not feel comfortable parking out in the open, there is a lot close by to which you will have to pay a fee. read more
More info about Leo Carrillo State Park
35000 W Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
Directions
(310) 457-8144
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=616
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
Ask the Community - Leo Carrillo State Park
Can I get married here?
Is there cell reception to work off of a hot spot on my work computer?
Not unless you stay in the parking lot and are willing to move around to keep the signal.
Is the store open at this time? Tried calling several times and call would not go through.
If you are referring to the campground store, then YES! We were there on 10/1 and it was open, well stocked and had friendly employees! They have a coffee bar but due to COVID-19 no sugars or creamers. Huge selection of beer and wine too! When we… Read more
Is there WiFi?
I have Verizon. There is a signal by the entrance and at the beach across from the Park, but no signal inside the Park.
Does anyone know the phone number to the front gate? The phone number listed is a recording and I need to notify the front gate I will be arriving late so they don't give away my reservation. Thanks for the help!
Do I need to make a reservation to camp overnight or can I do a walk in?
Park is usually at capacity. Doubtful you could get a spot last minute.
Do you need reservations?
Highly recommend reservations. But.. we left on a Tuesday and it looks like they had plenty of sites available.
Are bonfire pits reserved or first come?
There are no bonfire pits on this beach. There are bbq's that you can have a fire in, and they are first come. They are not on the sand but on a small bluff overlooking the beach. It is on blacktop and also has picnic tables.… Read more
Is there a lot of rocks? I'd hate to go and not be able to get in the water due to too many rocks like at paradise cove where you can't even walk into the water without stepping on a rock. Also is it possible to boogie board here?
Not that bad it's actually awesome and yes you can board there
Is it off the leash for dogs? I have very friendly dogs that love to run on the beach and play in the water.
The northern part of Leo Carrillo is OK for dogs the southern part has lots of signs posted "NO DOGS"
Does Leo Carrio allow and sell firewood/campfires?
Campfires were allowed while we were there on 10/1/20. The camp store does sell firewood. The Chevron gas station about 5 miles down the road also sells firewood.
Review Highlights - Leo Carrillo State Park
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Leo Carrillo State Park - parks - Updated July 2026
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