Cool little beach a lot less crowded than Santa Monica. Not really a place you would go swimming, but great spot to hang out, go birding, and overall just enjoy the ocean. Tip: During the winter (when I went) you can find street parking along PCH. You can find some surf fisherman there as well. read more

Funny story. So I was searching for good beaches near me where my girlfriend and I could go to watch the sunset, and oddly enough, up comes Sunset Beach. So we go to YouTube to check out sunsets at Sunset Beach, and we saw a really pretty one, so we went! And weren't we surprised to find that the sun--in the middle of summer--sets pretty much exactly in the West (go figure), which from Sunset Beach, is over the mountains just beyond Malibu! LOL Anyway, it was still a nice getaway for the evening, and we had a relaxing evening on the beach with just a few beachgoers, and a bunch of seagulls who camped in a big circle around us, apparently approving of our choice of seats for the evening. The beach itself is nice and kept pretty clean. There are trash cans available all over the place, the lifeguards are on duty and appear to be vigilant, the parking is sufficient, but you do have to pay $5 for the day. We only saw one homeless guy, but he wasn't bothering anyone, and was just checking for recyclables in the trash cans. What more can I say about a public beach? Go! Enjoy the beach! Just check the map, or maybe head a little further South if you want a proper sunset in the summertime. read more

Beautiful beach that wasn't too crowded which makes it enjoyable if you wanted to unwind. Even the sunset is beautiful which was the reason I've gone here. read more

Sunset Beach is a relatively nice beach in my opinion. The sand is soft on the shore and it's perfect for picnics. TIP: Walk a little out from the entrance, it is much less crowded there. Also move your blanket / picnic towel farther away from the waves, as they are quite strong and your stuff might get swept away. Don't underestimate the strength of these waves :) It is slightly crowded on the beach, like I mentioned but if you walk out it gets better as you get more far away. One thing I do really like about this beach is the accessible restaurant right next to it with clean bathrooms! You can also grab a quick bite to eat there, though I have never been to the restaurant personally. This beach is nice for boogie boarding, just keep away from the rocks at the edge of the beach. Overall, pretty clean for a beach and I recommend visiting! read more

Sunset Beach - Slightly crowded Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

See all

Beautiful beach , it wasn't too busy when we went and the parking is a little bit of a walk but lovely place, clean pretty big and access to public restrooms read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

We were just taking a drive up PCH after spending the day in Santa Monica. It was closing in on Sunset and we had seen plenty of spots to park on the street as we came by. Tuned around and came back so we could enjoy a sunset before heading back to get food and crash at the hotel. We just stayed up at road level, but it would have been easy enough to get down to the beach (I actually think it was high tide, there wasn't much beach to be had). Spent about 15 minutes here, not too much traffic to cause to much of a distraction. Just a nice spot to chill and enjoy the last rays of sun for the day. If you're out on PCH this would be a good option to come check out a sunset and relax for a bit. read more

See all

Sunset Point Beach, aka Sunset Beach, is located in the Pacific Palisades district of Los Angeles and is the northernmost beach in Will Rogers State Beach. This narrow beach north of the point at the bottom of Sunset Boulevard is separated from the rest of the state park by a rocky sandless stretch. SB is known as a great beginning surfers spot. The waves are long right hand rollers that give beginners a safe long ride especially on longboards. The rest of the state beach offers volleyball and a more typical sandy Socal sunbathing beach. Parking lot is available. Overall, this is a great beach to chill and surf. I highly recommend it. read more

Sunset Beach - Sun. Sand. Surf - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Found farther north from the SM pier, this beach sits along PCH, and is located where Sunset Blvd ends. Parking here is best found at the parking lots on the beach, as any other option would be too far of a walk. Much like Will Rogers beach, this beach is a nice spot to hang out. This beach is a lot more narrow than the beaches south of here. But if avoiding a big crowd is your aim, then try this place out. An added plus is how photogenic this place is. If you're into photography like me, you'll really appreciate the sights of the coast here. It also makes for a relaxing drive. Check it out. read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Love it! I love going anywhere where I feel calm and there aren't a bunch of people ruining my view. Too bad my bum got burnt otherwise it would have been a perfect day! Btw im NOT a surfer so it works for me just fine read more

See all

Wave connoisseurs might say there are NO good spots to surf at Sunset. After all, the break is notorious for its mushy, slow and sectioned waves. It is also often populated by wannabe surfers who can barely manage to make a turn before collapsing in the white water. To make matters worse, Sunset is an extremely tide-dependent break. Even on days when a strong swell is running and it is hitting Sunset from a desirable angle, the quality of the wave can still be poor at higher tides. Add to this the fact that Sunset has a tendency to get blown out (with onshore winds) by early afternoon and that many strong swells never hit Sunset because of its compromised geographical position, and you can see that skeptics have good reasons for being dubious about the quality of its surf. Nonetheless, I enjoy myself (if only for a 15-minute window). * very crowded on weekends * inundated with longboards * excellent for beginners * SB surfers are much nicer than than the Topanga surfers * I always see dolphins and seals read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Surf review: Cobblestone bottom makes for some consistent slower mushier waves. Great longboard spot. Kind of flat when I went out but I can see it being really fun with a nice swell. Chill crowd. Talked to a few locals and everyone was cool. Will be back for sure. Parking kind of sucks. Although it's free (along PCH) it may be hard to get a spot. I went around 8 am on a saturday morning with no swell and didn't have a problem but it was getting full. But when the swell is pumping, I can see it getting a lot more crowded. read more

Sunset Beach - The lineup today - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

A really nice beach, with volleyball courts too. Smooth pebbles all about make for a romantic look. I took off a star not because the beach is bad, but because of litter. The beach is home to so many birds - I saw a lot of animals there. If you come here to relax and enjoy it, someone needs to be responsible for garbage. It seems the garbage isn't maintained often as other places - ton of plastic bottles, cups, and lost shoes at the shore. This is common in many CA beaches, but here, it was in greater quantity. So you wanna throw your styrofoam cup in the sand at the entrance? Ok fine, but you're gonna step in the same damn cup in the same exact place days later. read more

See all

The crossroads of Sunset and pacific coast highway gives you... Sunset Beach. Convenient for many reasons : restaurant available - - Gladstones, private parking, and street parking. If you're lucky to score street parking, it's a quick downhill path directly to the beach. After doing El Matador Beach, this downhill was easy peasy. Rocks to chill on (even though it says don't climb on rocks) , you'll see it's very comforting to do so and take in mother nature. Sand and water available... Jk. It's a beach, duh. Lifeguard booth not far from the entrance. So if you're not looking for the pier, come abs enjoy easy access to the beach and watch the time wave goodbye. Get it? Wave... Beach = waves. ... read more

Five stars for accesibility, friendliness, and historic value. One star deduction for weak, slow waves and the dirty water. This is one of the few breaks in Los Angeles County that you won't have to suffer some loudmouth, over-amped local protecting his turf. If you want that, drive up the road to Topanga. Yes, on any Saturday or Sunday over 2 feet it will be crowded with longboarders (don't even think of being able to come in with a board under 8 ft, you'll be hopelessly out-gunned). There are good vibes, and fortunately enough breaks from the lifeguard towers to the Gladstone's parking lot to disperse the hordes. There is free parking along Coast Highway, or you can park at the Gladstone's lot for $7. Advice: if you are a beginner, take a lesson from one of the surf schools and learn how to control your board read more

Sunset Beach - Sunset at Sunset - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

What more do you want? Beautiful location to spend quality time with family and friends. PERFECT location for a first date... mainly with the high-class restaurants they have around. Don't forget the fantastic views during sunset. Psst... guys who are taking their dates out... go to a nice restaurant during sunset... she will love you for that (a non forgetful moment)! I promise. A+ 5 Stars read more

See all

The name is a little misguiding, the suns rays do look beautiful from this point but you can't really see the sun setting on the ocean. However, we really enjoying going down and watching the waves crash so close to the rocks - definitely a good place to stop by. read more

Sunset Beach - View from above at sunset - Beaches Near Me - Pacific Palisades, California

Great beach, but be careful if you're surfing and parking on the PCH. Thieves are often looking for ways to break into cars or steal valuables from surfers in the water. Almost got ripped off this morning but luckily made it out of the water in time. read more

It's amazing I always take the bus here to meditate and do yoga by myself and it's so relaxing. Not sure how easy it is to park though but there are road sides read more

Sunset Beach. I have such a love / hate relationship with you. I have great memories of when I first discovered you and went to visit you. The surf was high, the waves were charging, hundreds of happy surfers were carving up your sweet face. I got in the water to join in on the fun and I was immediately greeted by rocks. You are the reason that I bought surf booties. Once I started swimming around in your warm embrace you promptly punched me in the face with Poseidon's Fist Full Of Rage. It Hurt. I tried paddling into your waves but even on a longboard you need to take a later takeoff. Once I did get up on a your bountiful bossom, I was greeted to a wonderful glide on your surging swell. It seemed to go on forever. It was a great day. The next few times I came back it was not as wonderful. It was like we had a great one night stand (with punching and fists involved) and then the rest of the times never really lived up to the first. Mostly your waves are not as good because of your geographic location a lot of swells seems to miss you or lose some power. Also you have really old surf dudes who travel around in a stupid winnebago thinking that they are alpha males charging every wave and making it dangerous at a BEGINNER SURF SPOT. This place is supposed to be chill, don't take it out on other surfers because you never made it PRO. The number of drop ins here is off the charts! No one ever looks, so BE CAUTIOUS and BE AWARE. You do have some great wildlife though, it is amazing to see the Pelicans diving into the water not 10 feet from your board or the school of dolphins that will surf on incoming waves or the seals that will just hang out and freak you out when they pop their head up in the water to just observe. I still like you and we still hang out sometimes Sunset Beach, I just don't think it will be a long term relationship. Let's put it this way, you are fun to ride ;) read more

Not a great beach, there are a restaurant so crowded of birds looking for food, bad smells from the restaurant, so you have to walk a lot to get a nice spot (you could arrive to Will Roger State beach lot and it's easier) And to be technical the sunset beach is full of rocks, so maybe it's a good place for surf or to take a picture, not for a day at the beach. read more

Yeah, I dig this little spot. It's got the best of all worlds in SoCal beaches. Some rocks as well as some decent waves if you're into surfing. Though I do believe that's a double edged sword. It's a sort of either amazing surf with no one there moment or a situation where you're surrounded by douche bags and no waves in sight. The parking is also either really good to you, in that you can find meters a block up and crossing the street is fine, or you'll have to walk a block more from non metered street parking. I typically used this for the hiking path above, but it's also great for when you want to spend a couple of hours at the beach. With a grocery store near by, you can stock up on beach grub really easy. Sure, the joint that you're going to be under is a bit bougie, but hey, if you're done with the sun or need to be a little marinated, you can grab a drink at the bar. Either way, the crowds are fairly average here and it's a nice spot with plenty of parking if you know where to look. It's also have Sunset Blvd as an alternative escape route when you're in the need to avoid traffic going back home that PCH will be swamped with. read more

Sunset is like the girl you go to when no one else calls you back. Extremely tide dependent and a point break. However if once in a blue moon on a Tuesday morning when theres a south swell with 4-6' waves , 3-4 people out, its good times. That happened to me only once. If you shortboard, you can't surf this beach unless there is a swell of atleast 3' waves... even so.. best bet will be anywhere else. Go earrrly-- like crack of dawn early before the sun rises-- before anyone is in the water and its pretty beautiful. On the weekends, its bullshit. Shit ton of longboarders, beginners, drop-ins, etc. And couples, can you please stop making out n shit? I feel awkward changing out of my wetsuit, semi naked while hearing sucking noises. I have to say its better than Malibu though. Malibu is the hot girl with herpes. You don't wana touch that shit. read more

I started surfing about a year ago and this summer I surfed 6 hours a day so I did what most people do in 3 years in 6 months. Unemployment didn't suck all that much. if you're a surfer you know getting to spend 6 hours a day in the water is like a dream even if you might become homeless eventually. Fortunately I got a job. I mainly surf Bay Street in Santa Monica except on the days when it gets huge and walled out. On those days I'll find myself at Sunset. This place is so much easier to surf at than Bay St. With the 3 take off points and a really mellow drop, I think Sunset is a fun place whether you are a beginner or advanced. The vibe is super cool and it's a great place for anybody to learn. If you are freaked out by rocks everywhere like I was, get booties and you'll be good to go. read more

Party wave!! Sunset is where I learned to surf. Great people in the water, super mushy and often barely ride-able even on a longboard, nobody is going to fight you for your waves here. This break will always feel like home and if there's good rides and I'm feeling like taking it easy, I'll be there instead of Topanga or the Bu. No facilities, so bring your own water for rinsing off after the session. read more

5 stars for the past 3 experiences here at this beach. All three times I saw pods of dolphins and a few seals. I like the dolphin experiences over the seal experience; I know how vicious those sea dogs can be. In any case I came here and two of the three times the swell was poppin off . There were pretty good waves to be had and such long rides compared to my home beach. It was only really crowded once, I spent that time basking on the beach and went back in after the crowd had died down a bit. This is not a secret spot at all. You can tell by the masses of cars parked alongside Hwy 1 on the weekend; that's how I found this place. read more

I love this spot. Besides the picture of whitey breaching (the one Randy took that was in the la times), it could be the friendliest spot on the coast. Everyone is a beginner, there all cool, no hassles, ever. Nice beach to have a surf, lay on the sand and pic nic, shhh the California life. read more

Nice free parking, careful climb down the rocks, and a great little surf spot on your way to work if you travel down PCH like me. The waves here are sporadic and while it might be super crowded early in the morning at SurfRiders in Malibu, you may still find a free PCH parking spot here. Plenty of other long-boarders like myself here and relatively friendly as long as you are following some basic etiquette and keeping a positive attitude. Look out for the rocks and enjoy Nature at its best. Often Dolphins, Seals, and Sea Lions in the area. Not much of a beach here, if you are looking for that push on to Malibu or even Zuma as you will find more parking there and more beach to enjoy. read more

Okay so I'm one of those "beginners" all of you are saying should take lessons. But here's the deal. I just moved from the East Coast (NYC to be precise) and I started to learn surfing out on the Jersey shore...yes there is a big surf culture out there. I am still trying to find my spot out here and I went to Doheny..eh...La Jolla...yuck...and someone recommended Sunset. But I haven't been on board since before my move. What schools would you guys recommend in the area? Looking to get back on a board in a nice laid back spot where is all about finding my balance and not about showing off. Hopefully this is the place. Thoughts? read more

I'm not a surfer, but I had a fantastic time enjoying the sun, sand, scenery and swimming in the cool Pacific Ocean water here. And it's all free, too! read more

This beach is not the cleanest, but it's very quite. You'll see a lot of people surfing. I used to park nearby 7th street as it's close to the rest room. Perfect place to set camp for an afternoon nap and see the sunset. read more

Nice wave breaks. 5-star Not much free parking on street. 3-star Tricky access with boards. 1-star read more