Best Beaches In Malibu: 7 Beautiful & Secluded Beaches In Los Angeles
We have put together a list of the seven most beautiful and secluded beaches in Malibu that are sure to impress. These are our top picks for the best beaches between Santa Monica and Ventura.
If you’re planning a beach day in Malibu and wondering which beach you should spend the day at you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Malibu’s 27 miles of scenic coastline offers many seaside choices for you to have a beach day out.
With so many beaches to choose from we have narrowed them down to the seven most beautiful and secluded.
Not only are the beaches listed below the most beautiful in the Los Angeles county, but there is also a good chance you might have the shoreline all to yourself!
Okay, so you might not have the beach all to yourself on a hot weekend in the middle of summer but there is a strong possibility during a weekday.
Here are our top picks for the best and least crowded beaches between Santa Monica and Ventura.
Best Beaches In Malibu
El Matador Beach
El Matador State Beach is the prettiest beach in Malibu because of the sandstone cliffs that plunge dramatically into the ocean along it’s shoreline. It is a secluded beach that mostly only locals know about.
This beach can be popular on weekends but otherwise is fairly empty on most days. Many of the visitor’s to El Matador Beach will only stop by briefly to view the beach from above however we recommend taking the time to explore the shore and sea stacks. The beach is accessed via a short trail that leads to a steep staircase that eventually takes you to the bottom.
There is a small carpark and limited parking on the Pacific Coast Highway.
2. Zuma Beach
Zuma Beach is known for its long and wide, white sandy beach and as you can see from the photo above it is stunning! Especially with the Santa Monica Mountains in the background.
This is the most popular beach in Malibu and even though it is packed with people particularly on the weekends and summer holidays, you can always find yourself a spot on the sand because there is so much space here. Note that the northern side of the beach is the least crowded.
Zuma Beach has lots of facilities including volleyball nets, surfboard rentals, restrooms, and showers which are all located on the southern end of the beach. Plenty of parking is available in the paid parking lot or along the Pacific Coast Highway.
3. La Piedre Beach
La Piedre State Beach has beautiful sandstone cliffs and a secluded shoreline that is perfect for strolling on the sand and sunbathing. The beach itself is a narrow strip that is accessed via a short but steep hiking trail down a bluff. It’s worth the effort!
On either side of the beach are million dollar homes which can hardly be seen from the beach but can be viewed from the hiking trail on the way down.
If you plan to stay at La Piedra Beach for a few hours be sure to bring a packed lunch because there aren’t any shops nearby. Portable restrooms are available though at the parking lot.
4. Leo Carillo Beach
Leo Carillo State Beach has loads to explore such as rock arches, caves, tide pools and trails.
It actually has 3 distinct beaches; South Beach which is narrow and sandy, North Beach which is much wider, and Staircase Beach. The latter has a separate parking lot and requires walking down a bluff.
Across the road from the beach is the state campground offering 135 campsites with beach access via a trail that goes under the PCH. This is perfect for those on a California Coast road trip!
There are also several hiking trails that take you to view points that can see as far out as the Channel Islands.
5. County Line Beach
County Line beach is very popular with surfers but even though the line up in the ocean can get very crowded, the beach is usually quiet and up for grabs!
This beach is only a half mile wide but is still great for sunbathing and swimming. If you have time, try to stick around until the afternoon to watch the sunset. The sunset seen from County Line beach is quite magical.
Afterwards, head over to the popular and iconic Neptune’s Net restaurant located across the road for a delicious seafood dinner.
6. Sycamore Cove Beach
Sycamore Cove State Beach is a south-west facing sandy cove. This is one of our favorite beaches along the PCH because of its barbecue and picnic table facilities.
Sycamore Cove is a a great place to spend a summer afternoon watching the sunset whilst cooking up a tasty meal and sipping on a cold beverage.
In winter, it is a nice place to toast marshmallows and listen to the ocean. In addition, there are great hiking trails across the road at the Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area.
7. Thornhill Broome State Beach
Thornhill Broom State Beach and Campground is the last beach on this list of best beaches in Malibu. It is also the last beach before you enter Ventura County.
What makes this beach so special is that it’s one of the few beachfront campgrounds in Southern California. Yes, the campsites are located right on the beach! This does mean the beach can be busy on weekends and during the holidays but besides that, this beach stays relatively empty. Probably because it is the furthest beach from Malibu and Los Angeles.
The campground can accommodate about sixty RV’s and there are a few sites available for tent camping. Be aware though that this beach is a little rocky and can get quite windy especially in winter.
Thornhill Broome State Beach is part of Point Mugu State Park and there are a number of hiking trails you can explore across the road on the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway. Other cool things to see nearby include Point Mugu Rock and the Mugu Sand Dunes.
The Mugu Sand Dunes are very tall sand dunes located beside the highway and a popular way to enjoy them is to climb to the top and run as fast as you can back down. It’s also a good spot to watch sunset.
You Might Also Enjoy:
LOS ANGELES
GUIDE
Which of these beaches in Malibu would you most like to visit? Let us know in the comments below! For more USA travel inspiration visit our facebook community group.
