point dume state beach and preserve

We drive to Zuma beach, took the hiking trail up and around. About 2 miles. Beautiful views. Some people were even rock climbing. Saw little kids walking the trail. Ocean down below and as far as you could see. Restrooms. Parking $8 or you could walk further and find street parking. I recommend for a beautiful walk along the shore.

I cannot possibly say enough positive things about this amazingly gorgeous place. I don't even know where to start. The beach is gigantic so it never feels crowded. There are rocks to climb and trails to walk and so much to see. Lots of wildlife...I have always seen either whales or seals. There is even serious rock climbing for those who have the proper equipment.On the weekends you have to pay for parking (only if you want to get super close to the trail down by the beach) but you can park along the beach for free and then walk to the trail...long walk but worth it. During the week on off-season, parking is free. There is a restaurant right on the corner where the booth is to pay for parking (during those times you have to actually pay for parking and it's only like $7 or so). I have not eaten at that restaurant yet but when I do, I will write a review. It seems to always be busy so that's saying something at least :)If you're an adventure lover or simply a person who loves to relax and chillax on the beach, this place is for you. Have fun!

My husband and I visited here the last week of February, 2015. Since it was off season we basically had the place to ourselves. The only other people really at the beach were like us, just there to take in the beauty of the place. There were other photographers there catching the beautiful waves and the scenic rocky outcropping.I highly recommend going during off season so that you can experience the quiet serene beauty of this magnificent place.The fee involved is just for parking.

This little state beach and preserve is a hidden gem near Malibu. It is a great place for photographers to capture the blooming flowers near April/May time and to get that beautiful open view over the beach and ocean. Make sure you bring a jacket if you plan on going to the top cliff area because it is super windy and can get really cold. It is also a great place for whale watching and enjoy a picnic at the beach. Did I mention it is one of the best places to view a sunset?I didn't go down to the beach area as I was there primarily for the sunset view over the cliff. This area is such a nicely secluded beautiful beach; much better than santa monica beach. There is also a private beach area on the left that has a very steep climp. Would not recommend if you are not experienced and you are not wearing proper climbing shoes. I saw a few people almost fall that day. There is also very limited parking (not the beach area) and no restrooms. Overall a very pleasant experience!

Not the most challenging of climbing locations, but the rock face offers a good spot to train and bring beginners. Fairly easy approach to set top-ropes and anchors, just watch for erosion and weak spots (sandstone).Great spot for picnics. Beach is clean.Not an infrequent occurrence to run into a film crew as this is a popular spot to film anything from commercials, tv spots and movies (had the pleasure of running into Jay and Silent Bob for the filming of the "planet of the apes" scene in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (totally just aged myself, but oh well, I thought it was cool).

We went down the long path down not sure what to expect and were so surprised to find such a secluded and beautiful beach. Loved the views from the top, but scamper across the rocks to the left when you make it down and you will be rewarded with a wonderful private beach.

I usually only go to beaches such as Venice or Santa Monica when giving friends from out-of-town the typical LA tour. But the nicer beaches require a little more driving. Recently I visited Point Dume, which is adjacent to Zuma Beach and is located north of Santa Monica passing through Malibu. There are several options for parking, but if you do not mind a short 10 - 15 minute hike up a small hill, then its best you pay for parking down at the southern-most parking area of Zuma Beach where you can also find clean bathrooms. The little hike makes the views even more rewarding, specially if you enjoy nature and wildlife viewing. You are likely to see whales in the distance from the top (look for the blows in the distance, good idea to bring binoculars). Weekend afternoons means bad traffic and less parking so I recommend weekend mornings or weekdays. There is a very nice supermarket (Vintage Grocers) and shopping area on the northern end of Zuma Beach which is a very long beach. Also a gas station at this location. Warning: Regarding the hiking trails around Point Dume it is important to be aware of some dangerous spots. There are a few areas where the trail comes very close to the edge of the cliff and the protection barrier is just a single wire and the ground is not firm. So please keep an eye on your children and be careful yourself. It is safe as long as you stay on the trail.

We visited on a Tuesday afternoon and had no problem parking down in the beach parking lot. It was $6, paid by credit card at the pay machine. We visited in the late afternoon and stayed to watch the sunset. There are some very easy/moderate trails that will take you on a leisurely 5-10 minute hike to the top of the point. The views of the ocean and up along the coast are incredible. We saw some sea lions resting on the rocks down by the water, and some were swimming nearby. It's a great spot for the kids to climb and hike and explore if they like the outdoors. We spent about 2 hours, which was just enough. If you're looking for a fun and inexpensive outdoor experience that allows you to take in all the beauty that Malibu has to offer, this is the perfect place.

Don’t bother to go here unless you are willing to park several blocks away and walk to the site. There is only about ten parking spots and a line of cars waiting.

you loose your patience and energy waiting of a spot in a small parking lot that can accommodate 6 cars only, parking anywhere else is illegal and there is cop waiting to give a ticket in case you leave your car unattended. The beach itself is very nice, you get a good view of the sea, you can climb a bit on a peak for a better view. I could hardly enjoy after waiting for 45 mins for parking when it got darker.

No parking except for a short strip closeby. If you have time to park farther away close to PCH then may be worthwhile.

Went to Malibu for the day. Point Dume, Zuma all very nice but I unfortunately tend to judge beaches by Hawaiian standards and that's a high bar. But what was absolutely enchanting was driving through the canyons behind Malibu on my way toward the San Fernando Valley. We chose to take Kanan Dume Road which runs from Point Dume over the Santa Monica Mountains toward Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. Incredible! We passed huge, beautiful estates, sprawling vineyards, horse farms. So rustic and serene and wild, you'd never know you were in the middle of a city of 20 million. The hidden gems are usually found off the beaten track and exploring Southern California's innumerable canyons are a great place to start!

We loved this beach....beautiful and clean. You can walk out to the point walking up the path, a little scary way up there but beautiful. We saw seals and dolphins. Just great!

Beautiful area for hiking and views. Not good for sitting on the beach too many rocks. Bring good walking shoes!

We were visiting our kids over Thanksgiving and they took us to Point Dume. I would highly recommend the hike. It can be a little challenging crossing the rocks, but my 3 year old nephew did it with no problem.