Malibu Lagoon State Beach Park turned out to be exactly what I needed today. I came with my two girls, and from the moment we pulled into the parking lot, the day just felt easy. Parking is $3 an hour or $12 for the day, and the park is open 7am until sundown. After parking, it's about a seven‑minute walk along a peaceful path before the beach opens up in front of you. Most of the shoreline is protected wetlands, which actually makes the whole place feel calm and untouched. Even with the protected areas, there's still plenty of sandy space to set up a chair, stretch your legs, and settle in with a good book. My girls had a blast searching for seashells and honestly, they found some pretty amazing ones. The kind you don't expect to see unless you're on vacation somewhere far away. The waves were the highlight for me. They crash with this deep, steady rhythm that almost talks to you. When I closed my eyes, it felt like they were saying: relax, slow down, enjoy. And I did. The sun felt warm on my skin, and the breeze was just enough to keep everything comfortable. It's one of those places that reminds you how good it feels to pause for a moment and just be present with your kids, the ocean, and the day. read more

You'll be doing a little hike to get to the beach, and it's a very well kept one, although the restrooms are porta potties. There's lots of rocks, but several areas with rock free sand. read more

Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

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This is a small beach right next to billionaires row and is directly across the street Malibu Country Mart. There is ample parking at the Country Mart area. There is a small lagoon and a walk way that leads to the beach. When I went there wasn't a lot of people there and pretty easy to get a spot to park up. The beach is a bit rocky in parts of it but I saw quite a few surfers. If you're looking for a nice small peaceful and non crowded beach this is a great spot read more

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I came on a late Tuesday afternoon beach trip, and I was pleasantly surprised to be able to find parking and not deal with any traffic on my way to Malibu. The views of the Pacific Ocean and Southern California coastline are absolutely stunning. It's quiet, everybody is doing their own thing, and enjoying life. I stayed for two hours, and I could have stayed all day tbh lol. It was very peaceful. There are random birds of all kinds occasionally walking and flying around the Malibu lagoon area. It's pretty awesome. The 10 minute walk from the parking lot to the beach is kind of brutal though with all the rocks on the unpaved trails, so mentally prepare yourself when you're arriving and leaving! read more

Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Beautiful, relaxing view of the Pacific Ocean! Malibu is heaven on earth! - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

Very refreshing area for diverse views! There's tidepools, clear water, wildlife, and soft sand. There is even a Malibu Lagoon Museum! The beach itself is a short 10 minute walk away from the parking lot, but you get a view of the lagoon as you walk. It costs $12 to park for a full day, or $3 per hour. You need a phone app to pay. KEEP IN MIND: No dogs allowed, except in the parking lot. read more

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Looking for things to do ?? Look no further.... Nestled on California's stunning coastline, Malibu Lagoon State Park is a nature lover's happy place! With its fascinating history and awe-inspiring beauty, this park is the perfect antidote to boring everyday life. Be sure to check out the Malibu Lagoon Museum as well... Once upon a time, Native Americans called this place their hangout spot. The park's wetlands are bursting with more colors than a unicorn's mane. Picture vibrant flowers, chirpy birds, and waves that crash like a rock concert. But wait, there's more! Tucked away within the park lies a hidden gem known as the Adamson House... This architectural marvel is a time capsule that takes visitors on a journey back to Malibu's glamorous past. Imagine stepping into a Spanish Colonial Revival mansion straight out of a Hollywood movie, complete with exquisite tilework and stunning ocean views. Be sure to check hours and prices to get tickets to the Adamson House ..before you go. You can also get a docent led tour.. Good walking shoes are a must read more

Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

After visiting The Getty Villa we wanted to sit on the beaches of Malibu so we just started driving north on highway 1. The first state park we saw a sign for was Malibu Lagoon State Park. You can pay by the hour or for all day ($12), we paid $6 for two hours. With our beach blanket in hand, we walked the trail to the beach. It was longer than I expected but we slowly made our way towards the water. The actual sand portion is small but it does the trick. One side faces the Pacific, the other a small lagoon teaming with birds and wildlife. Lots of surfers, sun worshipers, adults and children. Being that it was during the week, it wasn't busy or too packed. There are several port-o-potty's, waste cans and a manned lifeguard station. read more

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I drove by Malibu Lagoon so many times and never stopped to check it out till Saturday. There's a sign for it, it has its own lot ($12 all day) and you can walk a few trails for viewing stations, although the best view is on the bridge on the PCH. There are many birds here we haven't seen before so close, egrets, pelicans, it is a beautiful and unique spot. Bring your binoculars and a camera with a great zoom lens for great photo ops. There are some people around, some homeless people on one side, but no one bothered us. It is very peaceful and one of the trails leads you to the beach. There are many picnic benches and portable toilets so you can spend longer here. Great unique spot in Malibu, lots of nature, perfect for birds watching. Glad I finally checked it out the Lagoon is a little paradise! read more

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If you are meeting people at Malibu Lagoon State Beach, be sure you meet them on the correct side of the lagoon. Don't do what I did! I parked on the south side of the lagoon, but my group parked on the north side. When I hiked along the beach to meet them, I could only cross the creek if I took off my shoes, even though it was low tide. I decided not to, and entertained myself by enjoying the pelicans, seagulls, tide pools and surfers. There were lots of rocks at the shoreline at low tide, so it didn't look like a great place to swim. read more

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For some reason I thought I would not be able to see any birds in late December, but I was wrong. Malibu Lagoon is gorgeous! It is peaceful and soothing! It is everything nature has to offer! Water on two sides, birds singing, mountains and sand. It was pleasantly cloudy today with lots of surfers out there. Parking was pretty easy. $6 for almost the whole day on weekdays. Many had chosen to park at the side of the road. Safe environment! Mostly families and surfers. read more

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Beautiful place with a quiet lagoon and beach. There's also a path which l leads to the beach. Can view lots of birds in the lagoon. There are lifeguards on duty A nice place to hang out with family and friends. read more

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Such a great location to go swimming/surfing. The whole area up and down the street is so crazy busy that the best time to show up for a good parking spot might just be early morning hours. I drove down the street in traffic for about 25 minutes til I was able to find a parking spot here. The parking area is a dirt area but is very small. Parking is $3 per hour or $12 for the day. Walk to the beach from the parking lot is about 10 minutes. The beach was packed as I expected it to be. But was still a great place to hangout and enjoy the cold waves at your feet. Love this place. Love Malibu read more

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This is a beautiful, easy walk that is suitable for everybody, regardless of age. It changes each time you walk it. Certain passageways are blocked depending on the tide, particularly when it is quite high. The small lagoon is frequented by a variety of ducks and birds, and if you walk to the end, you can see the ocean. Numerous tide pools can be seen and explored as well. It's a fantastic location to search for marine life or seashells. There is a great deal to see and appreciate on such a short stroll. read more

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This is a wonderful, gentle walk appropriate for everyone, young, old or otherwise. Every time you walk it, it's different. Depending on the tides, certain pathways are closed off especially when it's very high. There are different ducks and birds that visit the small lagoon and if you head to the end, you open up to the ocean. When the tides are low you can walk around the homes & enjoy a gorgeous beach walk behind the Malibu Colony homes. There are also many tide pools to explore as well. It's a great place to look for sea life or sea shells. For such a short walk, there is a lot to see and enjoy. Especially during our quarantine, this is an idyllic place to walk, get some sunshine on your face and enjoy the scenery. The mountains are a constant backdrop to the landscape. Parking is $8 in the dirt lot. No special shoes needed. It's a dirt path and can be traversed in sneakers or flip flops. read more

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Malibu Lagoon State Beach is one of the first beach park you'll see on your drive on Pacific Coast Highway, and though it doesn't give the best views compared to El Matador or Point Dume, it's still a wonderful place to stop by on your drive. As the name of the beach states, there's a lagoon area that you'll walk by before approaching the beach and it's not much, but it's a nice little peak of the nature that Malibu has to offer. After walking around 5-10 minutes, you'll be able to see the beach which is absolutely beautiful. Not the biggest beach, but still such a beautiful beach and you'll be able to see glimpses of Malibu. You can also walk right and walk by all the multi-million dollar beach houses as well. It's a great place to see sunrises and sunsets and it's a great little appetizer before you're exposed to the rest of Malibu, where you'll be exposed to more magnificent views and vibes. read more

Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

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Lovely location to walk and relax; tide pools to explore. Paid parking lot; clean portable restrooms off of parking lot. read more

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Such a beautiful and peaceful spot when it's not too crowded. We came on Martin Luther King weekend on a Saturday and the parking was abysmal, got a spot and paid nine dollars for the all day parking. Such a wonderful little peaceful space there are plenty of picnic tables and areas to sit and watch the birds.It is nice that the spot also has beach access, there is a lot of wildlife by the lagoon particularly sea hares and lots of anemones and snails. Saw plenty of crabs and things. Pros: - great place to bird watch - picnic tables make for an easy meal space - lots of nooks and crannies to read and relax - easy beach access Cons: - parking lot is very small - crowded on weekends -many people here without masks - despite there being no dogs allowed, many people came and allowed their dogs to walk around off leash PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG HERE!! I saw a lot of dogs walking around off leash at the lagoon trampling on the wildlife and messing up the tidepools. Not only is this super harmful to the biodiversity of the area, there are plenty of places nearby to walk with dogs ( Malibu Pier, Malibu Bluffs ) . I cannot understand why people insist on bringing their dogs and letting them trample all over the small sea creatures. read more

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What a gem of a place! I've lived in SoCal all my life and have never been here until now. I came here for the tidepools and they did not disappoint. We came at low tide and there were lots of critters to watch, as well as the giant Black Sea hares!! Soooo neat!! Little kids were picking them up like kittens and carrying them all over the place lmaooo. The parking lot is super small so we parked across the street at the shopping center (there's a Starbucks) but there was also lots of street parking available if you're going to chance parallel parking in the crazy PCH traffic. read more

Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Black Sea hare! - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

heads up! no dogs allowed, visited recently with my pup. traveled further up to zuma and sycamore beach for dog friendly beaches !

This is a wonderful find. So much so I don't really even want to share. But I'm a loyal Yelper, so here goes. Easy to find. Perfect for a little day trip. Lots of photo opportunities, too. Good for bird watching, butterfly and bee viewing, flower photography, picnics, and getting your toes in the water. Perfect weather, as always. Thanks SoCal! read more

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All of my photos are Shot in an iPhone 11 ProMax. This beach is Beautiful and has a wonderful picturesque path. After a sad night of mourning the loss of a fellow artist, Chadwick Boseman, I needed to be in nature. First thing in the AM a friend and I went I. Search of the sunrise. We found a beautiful sunrise here at Malibu Lagoon. read more

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Nice short stroll from the lagoon to the beach and finally to the pier; it was somewhere around 1 mile. Saw a few people taking pictures of birds with their expensive cameras! There were also plenty of people surfing as well. Ended up at the Malibu Pier after walking along the beach. read more

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Nice place to come to watch the surfers and enjoy nature. Not the best beach for lounging because the beach is pretty narrow compared to most CA beaches. My kids enjoyed seeing all the different types of birds in the lagoon, the little crabs in the rocks and the dead seal washed up on the beach...eek! The parking lot is small and paid. There are a couple of super disgusting porta potties on the way towards the beach. read more

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I made a stop at Malibu Lagoon State Beach yesterday. It was awesome. I saw lots of different water birds at the lagoon. The water in the lagoon and on the shore of the beach looked good. There are nice trails you can stroll along the lagoon. There are also some seating areas along the lagoon. I made a trip down to the Malibu Pier from the lagoon area (it's walking distance). I saw some surfers in the water at "Surfrider" Beach. I didn't know if I could walk on the shore in front of the residences north of the lagoon (the residences front doorstep is the shore) so I didn't bother (I didn't know if I could legally walk there, but I believe the public should have free access to that part of the beach as well). Anyway, I loved the time I spent there. It was nice seeing the mountains nearby and the stretch of the coast going south. I plan on returning sometime. For the record: Port-o-potties and regular restrooms could be located on the beach and on the pier. Parking at the lagoon was easy (just use the self-pay service station). No dogs allowed at the lagoon area or on the beach. read more

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First of all, it's $15.00 to park on a weekend, and if it's a weekday, you have to pay from the vending machine. Be aware that they do not give out change. From my experience, I put in all my singles worth $3.00, and they it said it wasn't enough. So I put in a $10 bill and it went through alright, except it does not give out change. I ended up paying $13.00 for parking which lasted 11 hrs!. If I only knew, I would've used my credit card. Anyhoo, back to business. I like Malibu Lagoon State Beach because of its convenience to get to. I like the action at the beach watching all the surfers sitting on their boards and waiting for the big wave. It's relaxing and exciting at the same time. We ended up near the Surfrider beach and took a spot that has a good view point. It's very ROCKY there so be very careful. It's also WAVY. If you take a few steps on the beach, you will encounter big rocks that might harm you when the wave crashes on the shore. Just be careful. We all had some cuts and bruises from the rocks by the time we were done swimming. There was an incident at the parking lot with one of the surfer dude as well. My boyfriend tried to use the garbage but there was a surfboard lying on top of it. He was going to put the surfboard on the ground but the owner saw him and yelled at him not to touch it. The conversation became pretty charged up, I thought there was going to be an altercation. Luckily I was there to but in and told them to stop. So be careful when you see a surfboard make sure you seek the owner before you do anything if it is in your way. read more

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Dirty compare to Santa Monica and a lot of sea weed. We came around 8 pm after Nobu and this place look so pessimistic compare what people post during day time. But positive thing is there a lot of bunnies haha read more

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One of the beautiful beaches in California!! Sitting and watching the waves was definitely worth the drive. read more

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The beach was nice, with a great view and a stream leading out to the ocean, which was going pretty strong after a bunch of rain when we visited. We enjoyed watching all the birds (mostly pelicans) and found a nice relaxing place to sit. There are also tide pools. Downsides include a really small and rough parking lot, and it's a bit of a walk from the lot to the beach (about 1/2 mile). read more

This spot is magical however for the past several months, there is so little water in the lagoon that the fish have all died and the birds have nowhere to go. The lagoon is arid, like a desert, so very sad. No one can answer the question except to say that the lagoon breached. read more

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Really dirty beach. A bunch of seaweed on the beach. Smallest beach I have been to. Picked the beach for the weekend because based on all negative reviews, the beach would be empty. Turns out beach was full, we went later on during the day so we found space. Wouldn't recommend this beach to anyone. read more

This is a beautiful beach, and less crowded than by the pier. The only downside is it is a LONG walk from the parking lot around the lagoon to the beach. The lagoon attracted lots of birds that were fun to watch. Highly recommend as long as you don't mind the walk to the beach. Be sure to wear shoes as the path is gravel. read more

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Both of our cars were broken into in the state beach lot this morning . We parked close to the pay station in the dirt lot and parked for 2 hours . The beach is nice but not worth the hassle and money this will cost us. read more

I like the beach but parking is very difficult if you come a bit late in the morning due to limited space. That's even after paying for the State park fee. No restroom or shower facilities, just toilets read more

Malibu Lagoon State Beach - Beaches Near Me - Malibu, California

I was beyond happy with our beach day and bird watching yesterday. Malibu Lagoon is a superb coastal birding. I highly recommend a visit for both beach and bird lovers. The Pacific oceans interact with Malibu creek here and it creates a beautiful habitat for many migratory shorebirds. The surfers here are very fun to watch too.. This place is like a hidden gem for bird watchers read more

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I hate to even write a review for this place as it is an almost secret spot. There is a bird sanctuary here and the winding paths around the lagoon are all photo worthy. As you turn a few corners you find a little slice of heaven. A small beach with endless views. I have been here many times and have never seen more than 4 people on my walk or the beach. Beautiful! read more

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Living in Los Angeles can be extremely frustrating and draining. Getting outdoors and connecting back to wildlife is the best way to connect back to yourself and relax; however, it can be hard to do that if the closest beach has an F rating.... The Malibu lagoon beach is not only beautiful, but also CLEAN. The rocks are a perfect place to explore marine life-- just be considerate of the animals you are poking and picking up. I absolutely loved coming here to wind down and look at all the beautiful sea life. There were hardly any people there that day, which made the moment even more "intimate" even for a Saturday! Take a day off and drive down to Malibu Lagoon Beach and allow yourself to take notice of everything around you :) I promise it will help with the daily stress of living in this crazy city. read more

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I went here last week and nice a relaxing few hours. The beach is only for surfing, they have a sign that says no swimming in the water. They have a ton of tide pools which is always my favorite part about the beach. The beach was clean, a lot of dead Sea animals but pretty normal I would think. The water was clear enough to see the sea creatures. A TON of sea slugs, I was scared to step on them. They also had a variety of sea animals I haven't had the chance to see before. I would definitely go again to sit around the beach for the day. The only reason why not 5 stars is because kids might get bored if they aren't allowed to swim in the water read more

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This is one of the most interesting & unique parkland spaces I've ever experienced. It covers an area that includes Malibu Creek, the lagoons, Surfrider Beach, Malibu Pier, and the historic Adamson House. (Tip: if you don't mind walking a few blocks, there is plenty of free parking on Malibu Road, behind the plaza where Ralph's is located.) The entrance to the park is across the street from Malibu Country Mart, and the beach's north end borders the star-studded Malibu Colony, a guard-gated enclave of multi-million dollar beachfront houses. Celebs are everywhere. They live here, surf here, shop and dine here. You'll see them without their makeup, with kids in tow. I never turn my head to look, in Malibu the unwritten rule is to allow privacy. I took photos of the landscape, but pics can never do justice to this setting: rolling hills as a backdrop for a lagoon, a true wetland, that is separated from the ocean by a narrow strip of sand. I used to come here at least every couple of weeks when I lived closer. And not having visited since the last Malibu fire, I can see how things have changed. The castle on the hill is gone, burned to the ground, heartbreaking. And the parking lot for the state beach has been reconfigured (I liked the previous one better). Some seating areas have been added since my last visit, and now you can circle the lagoon via a path. But what happened to that handy ped underpass, the "secret" dirt trail that went under PCH? Booooo.....I think it's fenced off, and that damn light at Cross Creek makes you wait forever to get across the street. If that's progress, it's not working very well. The lagoon is home to so many birds it looked like they were overcrowded. I was right up next to pelicans. And there were egrets and herons and ducks, and who knows how many species...... The best way to explore this area is to start with the lagoons. Walk across the bridges, walk around on the paths through the wooded areas. Then hit the beach. At low tide, you can walk into gated Malibu Colony, along the sand, and admire the fab beach homes (I assume this is still allowed). Then go the other direction, along Surfrider Beach toward Malibu Pier, and stop at the Adamson House if it's open. http://www.yelp.com/biz/adamson-house-malibu#hrid:XjrCixvkoLUzEauKXa9LAA On weekends this area is very popular, but don't let the crowds keep you away, it's great people-watching. Malibu Pier has recently changed, too, but that's a different upcoming review. This part of Malibu to me is like another world entirely. It's secluded from the rest of LA, with hills on one side & ocean on the other. It takes a bit of effort to get in and out of this spot, especially during slide season, and then there are all those wildfires that plague the area.........but it still feels like something close to paradise. Which is probably why I keep going back for more..... read more

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What are you looking for here? On some aspects, it will deliver, on others it will miss. My visit was in late September, so the time of year could play a factor in what you will find. Are you looking for long stretches of beautiful clean sand? MISS. The beach head is small and not super clean. It has clumps of seaweed strewn up and down the beach, which brings a collection of birds and flies. Are you looking for a nice sandy entry into the ocean where the kids can play? MISS. The water entry is loaded with rocks and such, I sat an laughed watching people try to wade into the water, it was akin to watching someone walk on hot coals or glass. Are you looking for a swimming environment which includes a lifeguard? DELIVERS HERE. Are you looking for tide pool adventures? KINDA MISSES. During low tide you can explore the rocks and see some sea life, but it's not teeming with life like I've seen in San Pedro and Palos Verdes down the coast where they have the best tide pools. Are you looking for a surf break? BINGO! DELIVERS HERE. This has a good break about a quarter mile out. It seems to be the popular local break, consequently you will find a lot of locals who are friendly and not territorial. Are you looking for interesting birds? BINGO! DELIVERS HERE. The lagoon part of this area does have a lot of plant and wild life which is cool. The lagoon area has trails which you can follow and signs which tell what you are looking at. They did a nice job of turning the lagoon area into a cool 'show and tell' area. Are you looking for cheap/close parking? MISS. Parking is $10, and it requires a quarter mile walk to get to the beach. The path is dirt and fairly flat, so it's sufficient for people of all ages. You can find free parking just down the street, but it adds to distance you walk to the beach. The beach aspect of this place lacks, but the lagoon, plant, and bird wildlife is actually quite cool. Your enjoyment of this beach will depend on what you are looking to get out of it. read more

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I have serious love for all beaches. Malibu Lagoon State Beach is no exception. Though, State Beaches tend to be the most crowded and have the highest parking prices, they are always in a great area. It is so beautiful here, you spend money on everything now a days why not drop $12 for a gorgeous day at the beach? If not, walk a bit and park for free, that's what I do! read more