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    La Piedra State Beach

    3.8 (18 reviews)

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    Trail towards the beach
    Monika P.

    If you are not a fan of crowded Zuma beach and can handle a quick hike, this might be the place for you. As all state beaches there is a parking fee of $9 for a couple of hours. But you can avoid that fee if you park on PCH and enjoy the extra walk. Pack light, as the trail to the water is fairly narrow in some places. The trail itself is small obstacle course: it's narrow, dirt can be slippery, overgrown bushes and at the bottom you need to climb down an installed ladder. Some steps the etched in the steeper sections. The beach is absolutely beautiful which makes the hike down and up totally worth it. It is partly rocky and depending on the time of year it can be very rocky or smooth sand all throughout. The house perched on a bluff edging into the ocean at then other end of the beach doesn't look real but makes for a great subject for your beach photos!

    Alice Z.

    Its summertime, the weathers getting hot...and unfortunately the tourists are all flocking into my neighborhood to go to the beach. This means I can no longer lay out in the sun without being squeezed in between a family with boatloads of children and a PDA-ing couple. Talk about first world problems. Fortunately I heard about this beach from Weekend Sherpa, and took the drive up north towards Malibu to find this little gem of a beach. Its a little hidden from sight: you have to climb down some moderately steep rocks to reach the beach. But once you do, this beautiful beach is all yours to share with the few of us know about this secret. I almost feel bad posting this on Yelp. A bit rocky, so not an ideal place for surfing. Parking is plentiful and easy: there is a small parking lot right above it, or you could park along the side of PCH like everyone else. You might almost miss it if you're not looking closely. Definitely worth the drive. Its beautiful, quiet, and idyllic and perfect respite from the summer crowds. Great place to take your kids and the family for some summer day fun. But also a perfect place for couples looking for a romantic location to lay out.

    Vivian L.

    I loved everything about this beach except the freakin' sand flies!! Granted, they aren't everywhere, only at certain spots you cross getting to the good parts of beach, like around the rocks and where there are clumps of kelp laying around. There were so many at one point I was half squealing and half crying in hopes of at least scaring them off. I was so afraid of them eating me alive that I took the longer, more dangerous route climbing the big boulders to avoid them. Back to the good. The beach is not crowded (in case you wanted to do some nude sunbathing) and there is even a cave within the rocks to explore. my favorite part though, was gawking at the huge private staircases that go along the cliffs to the private mansions above. They are ginormous! (They are all locked of course, to keep us riffraff out.)

    From one of the lookout points along the hiking trail down to the beach.
    Vanessa B.

    Beautiful and mostly secluded beach. However, it's a lot of work to get to it. The parking lot is small, but the $8 for all day price is decent. The hike down to the beach starts slightly upward from the lot and takes you down a path where stairs have either worn away, are in the process of wearing away, or are completely absent. This is definitely a sneaker/hiking boot walk. Be prepared to get dirty, and pack light for an easier climb back up. Due to the current, the waves are great and the water is cloudy. Lots of crab remains on the beach and in the water. When the tide is in, there is little beach, a strong odor, and a lot of sand flies.

    This is how you get down from the trail to the beach. Fun to watch unsuspecting beachgoers figure out how to get their bulky items down.
    Felicity K.

    Firstly. This is a gorgeous State beach. Natural, exotic, mostly untouched by man. It's a decent, slightly treacherous hike down to the water. I say this because the dirt trail is wildly overgrown with plant life. I came alone but I had almost come with a family member with not so great knees and hip/back pain. There's no way I'd felt comfortable trying to help anyone down this trail for fear they'd snag their feet and trip/tumble or hurt themselves. If you're a beach bum like myself, you're accustomed to PCH beaches and hiking to enjoy the water. I'm just saying that as a State owned park, it was litter free, but the brush was very unkempt. And also, the makeshift ladder that you must climb down which isn't tethered tightly, is a major safety hazard. The beach itself is gorgeous. The parking lot was tiny, maybe 18 spots. I parked on PCH. The water is great and u get a good amount of beach to lounge on even during high tide. As with most State beaches, it is very Rocky and I recommend water shoes. I saw too many ppl unable to enjoy half the beach because of the Rocky terrain in the shallows. Cool tide pools throughout. I went July 9th and it was very crowded considering so many say that it's a secluded area. It's fun to watch the line of ppl get backed up while most are trying to figure out how to get their loads of gear up and down the ladder. I found a good spot in the shallows, perching on a rock and allowing the waves to lap up to me. Beautiful views and terrain. Just be prepared and pack less.

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    If you come before 12 there is plenty of room for parking. It's a very clean and quiet beach. So beautiful!

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    Ask the Community - La Piedra State Beach

    Review Highlights - La Piedra State Beach

    Initially I wanted to check out El Matador, but it was heavily populated, even on a weekday.

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    Zuma Beach  - The beach

    Zuma Beach

    4.4(517 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    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.

    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.

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    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 Matador State Beach - Sunset through the rocks

    El Matador State Beach

    4.4(514 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    So be warned that parking is limited and also expensive, even if you want a quick little stop. We…read morewent super early on a week day so there was no one else there. Also the porta potty had no toilet paper. So not sure what the parking fees are upkeeping. Anyway, the beach itself is really pretty. The walk down is a little touch with stand on a steep slope so you have to be careful. But it's worth it for the views. It's a very romantic spot.

    El Matador Beach is truly one of the most beautiful spots along the California coast, and it never…read morefails to impress. Walking along the sandy beach, surrounded by dramatic rocky cliffs and sea caves, feels like stepping into a postcard. The ocean views are breathtaking, the sound of the waves is calming, and there are so many little hidden nooks to explore. It is also an amazing location for a photo shoot if you have a permit, with the cliffs, natural arches, and golden sunsets providing endless opportunities for beautiful shots. The only reasons I gave it three stars are practical. Parking is expensive, which can be frustrating when all you want to do is enjoy the natural beauty. If you want to do professional photography, you also need a paid permit, which adds to the cost. On top of that, there are lots of stairs to get down to the beach, so it can be challenging for anyone with mobility issues or small children. Despite these drawbacks, I keep coming back because the scenery here is truly unmatched. Whether it's strolling along the sand, exploring the rock formations, or just sitting and enjoying the view, El Matador Beach captures the essence of California's coastline. It's a stunning, iconic location that I would recommend visiting at least once, just be prepared for the stairs and parking fees.

    Photos
    El Matador State Beach - Rocks and birds

    Rocks and birds

    El Matador State Beach - Rocks

    Rocks

    El Matador State Beach - Cool rock structure

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    Cool rock structure

    Lechuza Beach - Gorgeous!

    Lechuza Beach

    4.1(52 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    Absolutely stunning beautiful Beach. Many beautiful rocks and the sand is super soft and a…read morebeautiful off-white color. I usually carry my wagon with me with blankets and pillows and the necessities so after observing how many stairs there were to get down to the beach decided to go elsewhere. But if you have very little to carry, I recommend this stunning beach. Not too crowded at all.

    There seems to be a ton of misinformation regarding this beach. Perhaps the MRCA which owns and…read morecontrols it should do a better job of signage and use instructions. First, read the California law on beach's. Not all beaches are public. The public may walk below Ho tide line- which basically means wet sand but above that may be private property and trespass laws apply. Don't believe it? The Malibu sheriffs will explain it quickly. The entrance at East Sea level IS a private road and gated community. Pedestrian beach access was granted but if you attempt to drive through and park you will be towed. It is a very long walk to LaChuza beach at this entrance. You will pass a sign half way telling you that entrance is a Private beach ( above hi tide line) so walk alllll the way down to the end to the stairs. If you decide to stop on the lawns for lunch and photos you are trespassing. The stairs and entry at Broad beach road is the best access. Parking is limited on broad beach and if you block a driveway or lawn, or litter you will be cited buy the Sheriffs. LaChuza has strict rules about use: Only service animals on leash. The MRCA rangers Will cite you. No alcohol. No smoking or drugs. No fires. Closed at 8:00. If you chose to use the stairs , the beach is at the bottom to the RIGHT. The beach area to the left is Private above the high tide/ wet sand and you will be tresspassimg and they will call the police. LaChuza looks lovely but it can be dangerous. No life guards. No toilets. If you pee or poop-you will be fined. The water is so nice- sometimes but there are strong currents and rips and NO life guards. Very Rocky with many submerged jagged rocks. In winter when the sand is low the water has many mor obstacles- wires- pipes- concrete pilings that can be dangerous. Swimmer beware. During hi tides sneaker waves cover the beach sending all your stuff to Japan. How do I know? I go knocked down and swept out by one. During hi tide the waves cover the entire beach. There are better beach options like Zumba or Leo Carrillo.

    Photos
    Lechuza Beach - Happy people

    Happy people

    Lechuza Beach
    Lechuza Beach - Exceptional sunset

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    Exceptional sunset

    La Piedra State Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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