Point Dume State Beach and Natural Preserve Reviews

A wonderful place to visit and go and come back as well splendid place, panoramic sight, and very often movies makers

What a sight! I’m happy my wife and I took time to go here. We found parking in the neighborhood up on Point Dume and walked for about 10 minutes (easy). You won’t be disappointed with your visit here. Walking out to the point features a rocky beach for a long distance view to the left. There’s stairs to go down there as well. When we walked out to the tip of the point we saw sea lions down on the rocks. There was a big group of them and they were making a lot of noise. Going further you look down onto “Pirates Cove” beach. This beach was featured in movies previously. We unfortunately did not go down there, but there was only two people on that beach. The climb down is steep- proper footwear and limited belongings are crucial. On the other side of Pirates Cove was Zuma beach, a long expansive beach, accessible from Point Dume. We wish we could have spent more time here as there was plenty of photo/video opportunities and places to explore. If you’re traveling to the Malibu area, be sure to stop here!

Awesome and absolutely beautiful!!! Highly recommend seeing!! The view from the bluffs were unforgettable! Climbing the rocks was fun as well!

We stopped by here and were pleasantly surprised by the amount of sea life we were able to see-seals and even a few whales. It is a nice hike to the top of the peak but a little hilly but still easy to do.

Point Dume was absolutely stunning!! We sought it out after finding that it was the filming site of some scenes from Iron Man. It’s absolutely beautiful in real life and was super quiet when we went - almost no one else on the beach, just us and the surfers. It’s a bit rocky but there are some sandy spots to chill. One thing to watch out for is the stairs that lead down to the beach - they are dangerous and scary!! Many missing or loose planks so be careful as you go down. Parking was also a bit difficult. But those were the only drawbacks - it’s a lovely little spot!

Park in the car park end of westward beach road - 15 dollars for the day. Great beach far better than any other in the area and fairly quiet compared to Zuma ! Much more pleasant love it !

My favorite place in all of Los Angeles County and I live here. If you can find parking at the microscopic lot, you can take advantage of a short hike down the steep stairs to tide pools. One time we found a small octopus in a tide pool during low tide - the kids fed it sea snails. You can hike up to the top of the hill for a gorgeous view, and along the cliff's edge and over and down to other, rugged beaches towards Zuma Beach. We almost always see dolphins here. We don't swim at Point Dume so much, though. It's more of a hiking/exploration place.

When we arrived we parked on the street which was free then walked along to the cliff side. We laid out on the beach and spotted some dolphins swimming close to the shore which was lovely to see!

If you climb over the cliff there is a small hidden cove, which would have been lovely if there wasn’t already quite a few people there.

Easy pretty cool hike great views of the ocean with a breeze

You can make a stop at Point Dume Nature Preserve . It is awesome. Hiked the trails and saw sea lions on the rocks and dolphins in the water. There are some hawks (falcons?) flying over the preserve. The view of the coast north and south from the preserve is gorgeous.

There is a viewing platform along the boardwalk below the summit where you can sit and enjoy the million-dollar view. The summit trail branches off to another trail which leads you down a steep set of stairs to Dume Cove. This area is well known for its whale watching in spring,

It is neat to walk out onto Point Dume and get a view up and down the coast. You can definitely recognize the spot from the end of "Planet of the Apes" when looking north from Point Dume.

Take the stairs (which are narrow, steep and rusty - proceed with caution if you're clumsy like me) down to the tidepools and you can see lots of starfish and sea urchins at low tide. You can also keep walking.Recommend going down to both beaches - especially the one on the right side of the hill to view the Planet of the Apes scene! Lovely for sunset.
At the end of Point Dume, there is a smaller secluded beach (Pirates Cove.) This is where the final scenes from the original Planet of the Apes movie were filmed.

I was trying to get here for the sunset and I would have, if I hadnt had to drive around for 20 minutes to find parking then hike a mile to the point. For such a popular place, there is only a small strip of dirt that might fit 20 compact cars, tops. And the rest of the area is a neighborhood with "no parking" signs. I eventually found a spot on the side of the road a mile away without the dreaded signs but I missed the sunset. With minimal daylight, I didnt hike the full point but noticed people on the cove below so obviously there is a way to get down there. There is a cliff that is roped off but everyone disregards it because it's the best spot for photos. Just watch your step! I wouldnt recommend taking small kids or dogs along that cliff. In fact, there is a sign that says "no dogs" but that doesn't stop folks from bringing their best friend.

Hard to get parking but beautiful, panoramic views.

Not sure that the 30 minute drive in traffic was worth it.

Looking for the best beach to spend the day? Look no further than Point Dume Beach, where many feature films are shot there for it's stunning view, such as Planet of the Apes, Iron Man, D-Day the Sixth of June just to name a few. You will be thankful you heard it from me... :)

Make sure you drive all the way to the end, park in the parking lot at the end, where you will reach the best spot of the beach. You can lay on the beach, boogie board in the ocean, climb the rocks or body explore the coast. AMAZING!

I am so glad we stopped here on our coastal road trip! We stopped here later in the day, around 5pm, which made for a beautiful skyline as we took in the coastal views and climbed the rocks. The views were absolutely stunning and we enjoyed our pleasant little hike! Although the weather was a bit chilly, this spot is just too beautiful to enjoy no matter the weather.

I got here by bus and walked another half an hour to get here. The walk is not too bad and is pretty worth it. I would recommend bringing some food with you unless you're down to eating at a nearby restaurant (that you'll see as you head down) I was enjoying the beach for a bit (don't really recommend going in) and just climbed some rocks to get a better view and then climbed to the top of the point. Pretty dope place!

Visited in August around 6pm and it was very chilly and most people were leaving for the day. The stairs to get down are VERY steep and rusted and not in good shape so I do not recommend to anyone with vertigo issues, extraordinarily clumsy or very young/old. Once you're down you'll have to hike over very rocky terrain to get the the beach area near the cliff you see in all the pics. That in itself won't be great for anyone too old. Make sure you wear sneakers and if it were me I wouldn't bring a ton of junk with me because it would be hard to haul it over all the rocks and down those stairs. Looked like a lot of surfers were in and out and catching decent waves. I'd say this was worth the trip because I've never seen anything like it before and it really is beautiful but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

I wanted to see the tide pools at Point Dume. The directions I found here said to park at the trailhead in a residential neighborhood. There are only 6 spots total. There was no hope for us to snag one. We decided to park at Zuma and hike over. It is a challenging hike. Fine sand, uphill, a rocky bit, very little boardwalk on the Zuma side. We got about 1/3-1/2 way and decided to turn around. Beautiful views and beach. This is one of the most photographed parts of California coastline and has appeared in many movies. I would love to try and go again as I've never seen a tide pool in person. We saw a gathering of seals sunning on the beach and barking below the point.

Parking is the problem here...just have to wait for someone else to leave or park farther away and walk.Is short hike on sandy and slitely rocky trail to various viewpoints of coast that are beautiful.

A great hidden gem to see the Malibu coast and look back south towards Santa Monica, Venice, and the Marina del Rey coast. Parking is limited to only a handful of spots and local streets risking getting towed. Weekdays may be less crowded than weekends.

Beautiful hike when the sun was rising, definitely want to get there around when first light is happening to get the full effect. Surprising only saw 1 other person on the trail.

We visited this State Beach on a beautiful sunny day and hiked the peak that overlooks the ocean. The hike was really fun with great paths and a lookout at the halfway point. There is some free parking but the paid parking is worth it. I think it was only $8.00 and you can get close to the trails and the beach. The restrooms are as bad as you would expect at a state park facility. There was a wedding taking place on the beach there and lots of nice beach for families too. Put this on your list next time you are in Malibu.

It's not Hawaii or a private beach on the Greek Islands...but it's pretty darn close for a Southern California beach. Avoid large crowds, city congestion, noise, and trash. Park right on the sand for free or enter the lot for a few bucks. From your car, walk 50 steps to a quintessential socal beach. Oh, and keep your eyes out for celebrities :)

This is a nice easy hike and the overlook is beautiful. The trip down to the beach is not any easy one. I would say only those in good shape should tackle that one. The steps are not in the best condition either. The sea lions are fun to watch and the view is beautiful.

One of the beaches we go to most regularly.. roadside (free) parking is available most of the times, waves are great, nice white sand, couple of volleyball courts around, drivable distance, provides a small hike for adventurers, can do boogie boarding, surfing or just lying around in the sun - what more can one ask for :-))

Simply love this beach and go there atleast twice each year..

If you’re into hiking defiantly try this place specially around Feb to April. Around that time of the year you get to see the poppies and beautiful view of the ocean mixed with greenery. 2019 was an exception as far as poppies (those little colorful flowers, usually yellow or orange) but even on a regular year you get to see some around that time of the year. The hiking is very mild but just keep in mind that you’ll be hiking mainly in sand so be prepared for that.

My husband and I did this hike back in October. The views in the morning were amazing and the day we visited the waves were huge. We could have sat for hours watching the waves crash.

This place is fantastic! Of course it was set up for my niece's wedding so the moment was superb and the experience amazing!! I hope I'd get back to the West Coast and enjoy this beach a bit more! ;-)

Wonderful beach, you don't feel the crowd. Sea lions, pelicans, albatross ...we found that it's better to patk in the park lot then outside ... Much easier & less.crowded then outside

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.

We were probably expecting something much more strenuous and dramatic but the hike to the top of Point Dume was pretty basic with high chaparral vegetation and a few viewpoints. They were filming a Hollywood movie on the beach when we went which was kinda cool. We saw some birds, dolphins and seals. We hiked down to the tide pools (watch out for the rusted stairs) and checked out aquatic snails, anemones, and what looked like krill. Total trip can be done in less than 1-1/2 hours

this beach is my all time favorite place in Southern California. the quiet and beautiful view makes it the perfect place to relax and get out of the busy city!

A 20 min mid-level climb will land you on top of a cliff at the end of the beach with dramatic view of the ocean looking out and secluded beach looking down. Was hoping to see migrating whales but that did not happen.

Beautiful beach and a nice walk to Paradise Cove, as long as it is not high tide!! No lifeguards on duty and you will need to carry out all your trash. A long walk and strenuous hike back up the trail from the Point entrance. Parking is limited which can also add to the hike.

If you're driving down the PCH for the first time stopping at Point Dume reservation area is pretty much a must. Jaw droppingly gorgeous view of the massive Pacific Ocean and the long hook of Malibu beaches. Make sure to drive up to the actual point on the cliff - and hey, it's where Tony Stark lives after all.

The beach at Pt. Dume and the view from the point are wonderful. If you hike up the to the point from the beach, you will need to be in decent shape. Though the trails are wide enough for easy passage, there are a few steep spots, and some recent erosion (due to the rains in Jan./Feb. 2017) of the sides of the trails makes footing a bit challenging in a couple of spots.
The point is also accessible from a residential street on the backside of the bluff. I saw cars parked along the street, but since we didn't start from there I don't know how easy it is to find parking.
The view of the ocean, islands, the L.A. area, and down the coast to Palos Verdes is spectacular.

This is a very nice place to relax a little and habe a break when you are leaving LA and heading north on the PCH 1.

It is definitely worth to stop and enjoy the sun, the white beaches and the Wildlife.

Actually we have seen some wales, travelling by, when we were on top of the cliffs and did enjoy the splendid view.

It wasn't that crowded when we showed up at 11am on a sunday morning, but the parking lot was full when we left around 4.

Worth a ride from LA to escape the city.

If you go to Zuma Beach, it's almost mandatory to go to Point Dume as well. The view from there is absolutely stunning. It's important to be patient and wait for the sun to go down. You won't be disappointed. From the top of Point Dume, you can see for literally miles in both directions down the coast. It's recommended that you get to the top an hour or two before the crowds get there, so you can find a nice place to sit and watch the sunset. By the time that happens, prepare to be surrounded my 20 somethings who bring their dates up here to impress them with the view.

The hike isn't a big deal, albeit, if you are as active as a chair you'll probably doing yourself a favor if you take your time. Same thing with going down. It isn't a difficult hike, but in case you are questioning your fitness level, get there early enough to beat the crowds. Otherwise, you are going to annoy everyone who is trying to get a good vantage point, as they watch you plod towards your destination like a tired donkey.

When you go here, make sure yoy guys walk to the very end of the beach and climb the rocks to the other side of the beach so you can get to quieter beach. Enjoy swimming and sun here...

Another day of exploring the No. Malibu coastline... Today, POINT DUME Reserve on PCH (pacific coast hwy). The sign on PCH comes up quickly, so you take Heathercliff Rd, make a first LEFT on Dume and drive to the SPLIT- You can then take both R and L and hit DUME RESERVE. Parking can be tight since people live RIGHT across the street (see google earth). There are a number of trails which wind No & UP the hill, then over to ZUMA Beach & trails DOWN to Little DUME beach. Spring has the chance for views w/native CA Flowers. On a clear day you can see Santa Monica, Downtown L.A and Catalina Island.
Best on a weekday-less chance of crowds & pretty darn nice to hear NOTHING but the wave & air.
Some birds & lizards & cacti--maybe a seal or sea lion too? and surfers, yes......
Bring in food & eat atop the "hill" or down on the beach--but please, don't leave trash behind. Flip flops on the trails aren't the best choice... ENJOY THAT VIEW!!!
Took some pix below to give U an idea of the view...

Great spot to walk the coast, enjoy the trails to the rock overlook, and just bask in God's creation! Worth the short drive past Malibu on PCH. We ended up parking on the west side and walking up the coast to Point Dume because parking was limited on site. A nice beach walk.

Recommended to me by hotel staff. Definitely worth it. Great to have a beautiful place to hike near ocean. Was shooting a film, but was also able to have fun too.

If you get up early drive past parking lot and up the hill on a residential street where you will find state beach parking (room for about ten cars). Walking trail leads up a hill with a balcony on the east side perfect for viewing sunrise (or sunset on the west side). I also saw sea lions on the rocks. Very peaceful.

Made our way to Point Dume for the day. We usually go to Zuma, but we thought we would switch things up. I am glad we did. Parking was cheap and several spots were available. To clarify, that is down by the beach and not at the top of the bluff. There were way fewer people at Dume. Drive to the end of the lot and park/set up towards the rocks. The rocks are fun to climb on and make for great pictures. Hike over the rocks, and there is another beach. It's much more secluded. I will definitely go back next time I am in the area.

Gorgeous views from the top of the cliff. Note: Point Dume is on top of the cliff, a lovely county beach is below it. Limited parking at the official Point Dume entrance.

If you like to adventure Dume Beach should be your next stop. Upon walking along the shore line to our destination we saw 50+ Dolphins playfully swimming, jumping, surfing the waves at the beach, literally 5 feet from us. Once we got the end of the beach we hiked over the rock wall which exposes a beautiful horseshoe shaped hidden beach. Additionaly hiking over the other side was a beautiful by the ocean walk along rocks (not for the faint of heart) as the rocks are quite steep in some spots. Ending our hike on a rock ledge filled with hundreds of seals sunbathing. It was a great day and experience. My only complaint is the parking fees, just too much money..

Good spot to spend an hour and take in the views. I wish the trails were longer, but that's a good sign :)

An incredible hike with gorgeous views. The only and major issue is the parking. We drove all the way down to the beach and found parking there after a little drive. We made the half mile trek to the trailhead. Then again, when we went the street to the parking lot was being renovated.

The hike is rather moderate, very doable for most people.

This is a gem of a place. The views are absolutely stunning. The hike up to the top is moderate, I'd recommend sneakers or tennis shoes. There's currently a colony of sea lions in a cove below which you can see from the outer path. This is a great spot for whale watching during the migratory season, many people I'm here with have seen them this week. You can take some rickety stairs down to a part of the beach that has amazing tides pools and beautiful cliff and rock formations. I've been there twice this week and thinking about going again!

The cliffs along the beach are a must - short hike. Don't wear flip flops - the sand near the top is deep and you will lose your footing.

The top has an incredible view both up and down the beach.

There were climbers on the face were fun to watch,

Fantastic area to walk round. Stunning views from the top of Point Dume, various trails to walk round the preserve.

There are not too many places where you can go hiking right by the Ocean. Point Dume is one of them and that is well worth doing it. The Beach itself is not the best in Southern California, it is kind of primitive, I would say never cleaned by the City. The water is very rough and the undercurrents strong.
Unless you simply prefer less people sharing the beach with you, this place does not have any appeal.
But the hike to Point Dume cliffs is different. If you usually go hiking in the hot and dusty Sierra mountains, you will enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze while climbing to the top of the cliffs.
Bring water with you and rest a few minutes on the benches at the top of the cliffs. From here you will have an excellent panoramic view of the ocean and the beach. Lots of times you can see dolphins and sea lions and sometimes even the tail of a whale. That is a well deserved reward!

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!

Attempted to visit here but parking was backed up. Handicap parking but cane only on dirt trails. Not walker or wheelchair useable in my viewpoint.

Looked at other areas and the view was great. Better views of the coast if you can park in designated areas. Worth seeing if you have the time.

We love it. ...
A semi private beach. ...
Not too crowded and nice clean sand. ...
We got to sight a sealion and seagull catching fish. ...
We build sand castle and body boarding. ...
We had a lot of fun. ...

We went here with our kids (8 and 5) and they really enjoyed the beach. Parking is limited so go a bit early in the day if possible. If you are lucky you might find street parking if not there is a paid parking lot. The beach is pretty clean and the bonus for us was a pod of dolphins that seemed to be putting up a show for the folk so the beach!!. In our opinion this is a much better beach than Zuma which is always crowded.

Point Dume juts out at the northern end of Santa Monica Bay as a unique natural landmark like no other.

It is a small world by itself. Below is the isolated Pirate's Cove, long a nude beach.

It is a challenging climb up the rocks and paths from the south end of Zuma Beach.

Made a point to get there early on Friday. Arrived at 8:30AM and had our choice of parking. To take advantage of cool temps, immediately did the hike up Point Dume. Of course, the views were unbelievable...great photo ops. Spent the rest of the days on the beach, riding the waves, eating, having fun. Make note of the undertow. The lifeguard we interacted with was very helpful. Bathrooms = yikes!, but I guess that's to be expected. We stayed for around 6 hours. Would absolutely return to Point Dume on next trip to Malibu. p.s. Don't forget the sunscreen!

This place was not quite what I expected. Pretty drive to get there but just not much to see unless I missed something

My visit to Pt. Dume was the highlight of my recent LA trip. Having raised my kids in Pt.Dume, and having coordinated the volunteers who religiously joined me every Sunday for 6 years in removing the invasive ice plant that took over all the natives, so that the native correopsis could come back and thrive, I have a special place in my heart for this magical piece of land. It brought tears to my eyes to see how all those efforts have paid off. Walking the trails we planned so long ago, so that people could walk safely where they wanted to go, having benches to sit on and lookouts to enjoy viewing the sea lions, dolphins and whales...touched my heart so deeply. I felt a surge of pride fill me top to bottom as I was surrounded by thousands and thousands of correopsis, way taller than me. Hard to believe you could have counted those plants on two hands when we started. I couldn't believe it. There were botanists taking photos of what most of us would think was just dirt...but they saw a rare and teeny red flowering plant and needed to record it. So many people, young and old, were walking the trails and oohing and aahing. I left there with a renewed sense of accomplishment and pride, knowing I have left at least a small legacy and have made a difference somewhere in the world.

Taken here for photographs with our photographer. Perfect beach and some beautiful rocks by amazing Malibu ocean. Wowsers!

This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and enjoyable beaches along the southern California coast!! Forget Santa Monica, Venice or Malibu...drive a little farther north and you will fall in love with this beach! Point Dume is not crowded and you can always have your own spot to enjoy the beach. Lifeguards are always present and you can even watch surfers catch some good waves. Bring your own icechest full of food and enjoy a day or afternoon at Point Dume! You will not be disappointed. Forget the crowds and feel like you have your own private beach, especially in the afternoon. Enjoy and tell me about it..........

One of my favorite places. Very beautiful place to hike and explore. No better way to clear your mind. Requires some hiking and steep stairs to get onto the beach.

The view is amazing of the cliff and rocks and ocean.....it is also worth going to the bottom....there are stairs that will take you to the water.

Excellent destination for taking wonderful pictures and memorable moments in here. It is a good weather around the year and you cant get bored from this area.

I've live in LA for a long long time and never went to the South side of Point Dume, and wow, was I surprised! It's gorgeous, like the rock strewn beaches of Northern California and farther up the coast. Definitely check it out!

You can hike around and soak in the views, but getting to the beach there is only for the intrepid. We couldn't figure out how to get down there -- other than swimming around the Point. That's certainly how the sea lions got there. Yes, we saw half a dozen sea lions!

The only catch is the parking. You can park in a big lot on the North side of the Point -- but then you only have a regular (beautiful) beach and can only see the Point itself. You want to park on the south side of the Point, that is, south of the blue "Circles" buildings to take in the beautiful coastline. But that's easier said than done. There's a parking strip for about a dozen cars, but good luck with that! We found a spot by driving only one block away and going up the hill a bit -- till you don't see any "No Parking" (bring your lawyer along to decipher the signs). Then, it's a short walk back to the Point area. And hey, you're there to hike around anyway.

There are a bunch of little trails all over the Point. There's little reason in trying to tell you which ones to take. Just go. You won't regret it! Like life, 95 percent of enjoying this place is just showing up.

One of the gems of Malibu; all of Point Dume is special and you will want to spend the day exploring, with an evening dinner at Westword Beach, Sunset Cafe. That will make for a very special, romantic adventure.

Overall we were genuinely underwhelmed by Malibu but this place was awesome. Well kept beach and worth the drive to avoid some of the crowds that stop closer to L.A. water was freezing and wind was cold in late March!

If you are in the area, go here and spend the day walking around the cliffs (warning, watch for the tide or you'll have trouble coming back to the parking lot!) The place is gorgeous and the restaurant there is FAB

This place is gorgeous. Tiny parking area as it's in a nice neighborhood. Perhaps 8 spaces and police there to make sure you don't park illegally. Great family friendly hiking around the cliffs with a huge (if not rusty) staircase taking you down to the cove. Not crowded at all and just incredibly gorgeous.

A very tranquil morning visit to Point Dume. Arrived at 10am on a sunny day. Walked the beach all the way to the big rock which was being conquered by some fearless climbers.
Walked up the trails to the top to view the landscape. Absolutely gorgeous panoramic views.

It is very nice beach to walk, and enjoy the sunset.

It is very clean and good for couples and family to enjoy the beach.

There is trail to hike to the top of the hill to see the beach, at certain time of the year you can see whales very close to shore.

There is restaurant called Sunset restaurant that worth to have lunch or dinner and enjoy the beach view

This is a very large beach with lots of parking. (Parking is $6 per car).
As we were walking the beach we saw a whale or manatee jumping in the surf.
There is a hiking path up to the top of the cliff. The view from up there is wonderful.
If you are a rock climber or repeller this is a great place to practice.

THE BEST I love it here, I live here and this is the best, perfect sand, not crowded. It is out a bit from the city but well worth the drive.

Had read about Point Dume being a back drop for several movies including Planet of the Apes. Got there about forty five minutes before sundown. The sky was on fire that evening.

Visited in March and we were able to see the whale migration. Beautiful sand beach. Beautiful sunset spot.

Went with family to see the beach. Beautiful homes lined the cliffs. Mountains with water beneath. My son my cousin his little boy and myself climbed the point. It was breathtaking beautiful. Lots of colorful flowers. looking from the height the waves crashing on the rocks. Saw sea lions in the ocean.
Bathroom facilities available

This is a great beach to enjoy the view and the sand. The water can be rough so be cautious about swimming. There are lifeguards. There is a great short hike to the top of Pt. Dume at the end of the beach with beautiful vistas. In the spring the Giant Coreopsis are blooming, which is an exceptional sight. These plants are rare and are only found on some of the offshore Channel Islands and a few mainland locations, this being one of them. They explode with yellow flowers and green foliage only for about a month and then they look dead for another year.

This is a nice place to see Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins playing in the surf.

Hidden little state park at pt dume
Small parking with room for 9 cars...don't park over the line or it'll cost ya $58-- guess how I know! Be careful on parking and check the street signs.

Great spot for whale watching as it pt dume ends Santa Monica bay as it juts out into the pacific.
Sunrise to sunset views.
Easy trail that only needs flip flops and you can also use the trail/stairs to walk down to the cove and small beach.

This is kinda like a secret spot and so worth it.
Yes yes yes

An early morning drive to the beach is awesome with cool breeze from the pacific. The water is cooler than you expect. Views are awesome and good place to relax

We decided to find a quieter beach around the LA area. Point Dume State Park Beach is beautiful and clean and perfect for families. There is lots of parking (costing $$) of course.

While we were there we saw dolphins swimming by as well as starfish. Very exciting to see!

One negative were the washrooms. They were absolutely disgusting. Urine, dirt, etc were all over the place. I don't think they have been cleaned since they were built in the 1970s.

We will definitely go back and will look forward to everything but the washrooms.

The quintessential SoCal beach. Very clean and just gorgeous. There are areas of the beach that are relatively quiet and it's not hard to sneak away from all the crowds and just enjoy. I come here often!

Beautiful views, amazing trails to the top where you can see the Seals. They do need to update the steps and some of the trail as they are rusting badly and some what dangerous

Very nice views especially on sunny clear days. Lots of people around, but most instanced from each other. Seems like an inviting and peaceful place to relax and enjoy the waves and ocean.

Just south of Zuma Beach you will find Point Dume. If you want clean sand, warm water, and plenty of surf than this is one of the finer in Southern California.

The view off the cliff is just outstanding! The parking lot is definitely limited but if you don't mind a 10 minute walk there was parking along the street. The view was definitely worth the walk!

We also ventured down to Zuma beach which has parking all along the sides of the road. It was a nice beach and we had a great day!

Absolutely spectacular!!!

Superb, clean, movies are filmed here. If you want the beach wait till August. If you don't mind a chilly hike go in April.

We saw real seals, the view is amazing and the trail is easy & not too long.

We spent the morning walking the beach with family and grandkids. A great experience and what a joy to see both the seals, the whales and the dolphins. The trail up to the point is a little dicey with children, definitively need to hold the hands and watch the little ones.

Few things are as beautiful as this. Peaceful beach (filming a reality tv show while I was there), beautiful blue ocean waves, and an amazing rock to climb! Absolutely breathtaking.

If lucky you will see whales from January - April off the easy to navigate dirt path that winds around the top of Pt. Dume. Parking is a challenge with only a few spots so be prepared to wait or park far away and walk.

Great place for a hike along the ocean. We say a lot of wildlife including seals. A nearby beach is clean and easily accessible.

The rock outcrop right at the edge of the Pacific is very popular with climbers. Really nice view of the coastline from the top of the small cliff.

This beach has a wide sand area with plenty of space, is rarely crowded, and has some decent waves. If you like to surf you will enjoy the beach.

Just another fun drive between Camarillo/Oxnard south towards Zuma Beach, Malibu Beach and Santa Monica. Point Dume is right at the Zuma Beach entrance.

We planned to stop here and to hike to the top. The beach was very busy, and parking was even more busier. We decided to drive up to the top to see if we’d have better luck. All parking was taken there too. There was also a cop around giving tickets to those that weren’t parked legally. My husband dropped 2 of us off so we could speed hike to the top to get pictures. He circled around a couple times for us. I didn’t get to spend as much time there as I wanted, but now I can say I have been there.

Want to see whales and dolphins splash in front of you while you sunbathe??? You'll be blown away. Great parking, great cliffs and photo backdrops, incredible sunsets. MAGICAL.

There is a beautiful, easy hike up Point Dume right above the ocean. The views are amazing all along the trail. We often see sea lions and dolphins. We went mid June this year and saw many baby sea lions on the rocks below in the cove. The beach is great to walk too. There are rocks and cliffs, and a neat cove. They do have a parking fee close to the trailhead and beach, or you can park a little out on the street and walk.

One of the most tranquil and quiet beaches around! Did I mention it was clean! Hardly ever ridiculously busy. Get ready to rekindle the love of relaxing on the beach without the masses around.

I was taken away by the beauty of the beach and the views from the hills above. Plenty of walking trails for the adventures along with groups with toddlers. Our 3 year old granddaughter loved seeing the seals and pelicans along with the waves coming into the beach getting her feet wet. This is a must if you’re in the area.

Love it, so quite, peaceful beach. Not a lot of people. Hardly any parking really you just have to wait for someone to leave. Its a 2 hour parking only. Very safe

The beach is nice, but it's not the reason to come here. Just from the back of the beach close to the cliff you can find a path that brings you to the top. Easy, but narrow in some points and no trees to protect you from the sun. The view from the top is awesome. If you have small kids consider that there are no protections.

This is a natural reserve, so sit down, relax and sometimes sea lions or dolphins make themselves visible.

The parking for entering the beach is $8.

Went on a Sunday and it was busy but not over crowded by any means. About a half hour drive up beach from Santa Monica. The parking is a nightmare. The top lot is free but has only a few spaces. You can drop off passengers here though. The bottom lot is a pay lot which had a queue that was at least 50 cars long. The majority of these cars were trying to park to access the beach and not point dume. I drove back up to the top lot, passed it, and then took a left on what I believe was grassland? Anyhow, it is the only street i found in the residential area that allows for street parking. It is also closer to point dume than parking in the bottom lot and is free! Walk the path down to the beach on the south side of the point and you'll find tidal pools full of treasures. It's all an easy hike for anyone in okay shape. Small children will need to be carried.

Wow great view easy little stroll, could have looked up and down the coast for hours. We didn't walk down to the beach but looked stunning. Seriously worth a visit.

So people understand the bad ratings on parking --- there are two places to park, at the preserve (if you are doing GPS will take you here), and at the beach. The preserve has 8 spots, the beach has a ton! We were fortunate, and got the preserve. The trail is really spectacular and winds around a small out cove. There's single track along the way, and points to stop and spot either seal lions or dolphins. Wind around, and then hop over to some of the stand alone cliffs. They are less scary then they look, but you can't help feel a little queasy looking over the edge! Great way to get a combination of the best Malibu has to offer - great ocean side hike, amazing views, daring cliffs, and a fabulous beach. Great check the box spot for Malibu!

This was one of the highlights of our trip. We paid for parking way at the end of the parking lot and hiked up to the top and over to see the tidepools which weren't much, but we still discovered some small hermit crabs. As we were turning to go back we noticed a baby sea lion on the beach so we stood and watched him for a long time until a surfer scared it out into the ocean to join its family. He was so adorable! We headed back over the overlook and spent time on walking up and down the beach and making a sandcastle. The coastline was just beautiful. And one final tip, put suntan lotion on your feet if you're wearing flip flops. I always forget about the reflection from the water and how much that adds to your sunburn.

Unable to see the park as there was no parking within a better part of a mile of the park. View looked nice from the parking area as waiting for a spot. Sheriffs Deputy stopped by and wrote a ticket or two, so be careful if you decide to do any questionable parking.

Your best bet: park in the paid lot at the end of Westward Beach (or at valet at The Sunset Restaurant). Walk all the way to the end of the beach then up the trail to headlands park. From there, walk back to Cliffside Drive then walk along the roadside all the way back down to The Sunset. Makes for a nicer hike and a bit more of a workout.

You don't want to miss this beautiful place. Make sure to bring a towel and swimsuit. Showers and bathrooms are available onsite.

love this beach very romantic, and scenic and a must see .. what more to say? just such a lovely beach to stroll along by yourself or as a couple

Ideal spot for sunsets and big wave lovers!
Bring a little wool even in the middle of a scorching summer!

I typically make this a required stop enroute to Ventura from LA. I park in the neighborhood [includes gorgeous homes which I understand are owned by a number of successful Hollywood celebrities] at the top of the cliff where there is a sign designating the location as Point Dume State Beach. As others have mentioned there are a limited number of parking spaces [10-11, I believe] so luck may have to be with you if the surf is up! There are steep steps leading down the cliff to the beach + 2 trails leading to the very top of the cliff. Wear sturdy shoes as the trail leading to the top will turn to deep loose sand which can be a challenge. Of course bring your camera to record some awesome views! No facilities [food, water, bathrooms] so prepare accordingly.

Point dume beach is a beautiful beach but right now there are tons of rocks all over the beach because waves have washed away the sand. Quite difficult to walk on too. Not alot of beach sand right now. So many other beautiful beaches in Malibu to go play in the sand. Also the stairs going down to the beach are in need of repair and I read recently in the paper the stairs are going to be removed and replaced in the near future.

This place is beautiful, simple! It has a great view from the top, the cliff is easily accessible and the nature is really great! Moreover, nice houses around and a great beach walk if you want to have a morning run, for example. I went by bus, it is kinda hard. The road is very far from the point, so what I did was I stopped in the last bus stop of Malibu Bus (that I do not remember the number, but the one from Sta Monica).T hen I walked all the way from the beach until the cliff. It is well worthy, but it took me 1h!! You can get out of the bus in a closer bus stop, where you walk 30 min (use google maps). But to go back it is a hard walk if you go through the houses, specially at night 'cause there is no lights on the street, maybe it's better from the beach. (I got a ride, lucky me).

Perfect 75 degree weather all summer. Locals are friendly and restaurants are fantastic. Celebrity sitingss numerous at the nearby Malibu Country Mart.

Head North to Santa Barbara from LA and pass Point Dume. A stretch of sun and sand with waves crashing, seagulls dipping into the Pacific and surfers dotted along the coast line. It's a lovely drive so rent a convertible.

This is one of my new favorite places in the LA area! My friend and I spent the perfect morning at Point Dume. It's hard to find parking (you'll have to share with all of the surfers!) but we managed to sneak into a spot on a side street as someone was leaving. We walked up the cliff, past all of the little lizards playing in the sand and got to the top where there was an absolutely fantastic view! Down below when you look over the side, you can see sea lions playing on the rocks. We even saw a ray swimming down in the shallows because the water was so clear! It was amazing. After our little hike, we went down to sit on the rocks, soak up some sun, and watch the surf. It was a perfect day. Definitely recommend this! It's an easy "hike" (more like a walk up a steep hill) but if you want to go down to the beach, be careful as it's a very steep rickety old staircase.

What a breathtaking view we got here, highly recommended stop as you drive the coast. Plenty of parking and not crowded in October.

this is an amazing place, my daughter got married on the top at point fume and we couldn't of asked for a better location or day. The weather was glorious, and we had a golden eagle watching over us the whole time.

what a perfect beach. we were lucky enough to see some whales playing right off shore and also catch the beginning of the "super bloom" which was amazing! if we had more time, we would have gone back for more. definitely a great way to spend a day!

Mandatory visit for people who likes taking photos or just enjoy the viewing and relax a little bit. There is a stairway available, so you can access the beach in the base of the cliffs, but you will need legs to come up again. Unfortunately, at least when I visited, the place was in need of a little bit more care. There is only a small parking lot available (4 or 5 regular vehicles, and more 2 for handicap), so you better stop the car some blocks behind the main street (be sure to stop in a permitted zone, police is always checking the place, and the chance of being fined is high).

Hands down the best beach in Malibu. However, the parking lot fills up fast. Get here early. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy a wonderful day in sunny, scenic Malibu.

I love how deserted this beach is so I'm down-rating it to discourage stupid people who judge things by star ratings instead of reading reviews. On the plus side there is nothing here to attract people except a clean beach at the base of the Malibu cliffs and, you know, whales. Surf can be rough at times and there are dangerous rocks lurking just below the surface. Strongly recommend you head back to Zuma Beach immediately.

his is the first thing my son loves to do when we come to Malibu. So we have done it way to many times. Wear shoes with good footing if you are going to hike over to sunset beach. Bring a camera, there are some great photo opportunities. Parking is limited so you can park at sunset beach and hike over to the point.

Point Dume has great views of the ocean from the promontory. We got there about a half hour before the sunset and it was gorgeous. I'd probably recommend trying to get there an hour or two before the sunsets, though, as it was almost dark by the time we left. The trails up to the overlook aren't too long and aren't too steep, but you'll want to make sure you watch your footing, just in case. It can get a bit breezy at the top but the view is worth it.

Parking can be tricky, though, as there are only about 10 parking spots along Cliffside Drive. I had to circle around a couple of times before I could get an empty spot at sunset.

We were there at sunset, and talking about why there were rules about not being there at night. When were were accosted by a very distressed ill man. We then realised that everyone else had disappeared. He drove his car blocking us in and kept revving up. He went away and came back shouting and threatening. We called the Police. It took 20 minutes for them to come. In the end nothing happened but we realised that it was quite an isolated spot.There is lots of parking spaces and good public toilets.

The view of the beach is nice and the location is accessible by car but parking is just simply impossible, almost so much so that it's not worth bothering (because the view is good, though not an absolute must see)

This was a really cool place. Though parking was a bit expensive ($12) it was worth it. The beach was a lot less crowded and the waves were pretty and nice and big. There was a lot less kelp washed up than in other locations along the coast and it was very well kept beach. There was a TV show being filmed there the day we were there too which was kinda cool. Apparently that's not terribly rare. I would recommend also bringing your walking shoes and hiking up Point Dume Volcano. It has the best view, and is worth the little extra hike but it wasn't a fun hike in flipflops!

One of the best beaches in Malibu - that's what we found during our trip. You shouldn't miss this beach if you are traveling to Malibu. Parking is not a problem here.

If you have a sunny afternoon or evening to spare (which is easy to come by while in Southern California), this is a great spot. This is an amazing spot in Malibu. We stopped by here on a Friday afternoon and parked in the lot on the beach, which had plenty of open spots. We walked up the path a bit to Point Dume, which was an easy walk that is worth it with non-stop views all the way. The summit gives you a wide view north and south up and down the coast. We walked back down and sat on a quiet spot along the beach for a couple of hours. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to observe and see in person the amazing Southern California coast.

We stopped here to walk on Mother's Day. A gray whale and a younger whale were playing not far off of the shore. We were all mesmerized. We enjoyed the climbing trail up the Point. There were a few really steep points and sturdy shoes are recommended.

For $8, this was an afternoon full of memories, fresh air and invigoration!

Even though we live in the Santa Monica area, we take the drive and love this place. There are dolphins playing every other afternoon.

If you are driving the Malibu Coast, a stop at Dume is a must. We have been living in Santa Monica for three years now and it is by far our favorite place to go. there are steps to go down to the beach, rock faces to climb, benches to sit, and seals, dolphins and whales. We always take visitors here. A real gem.

Walking up to the point, so picturesque. Wish it was warmer to enjoy the water and do some sunbathing. Beautiful area

This, is an amazing place. Allow about two hours to fully appreciate it. You park at the bottom take a short gradual hike up the side of a cliff. Once on too, there's an array of meadows and coastline views. Follow all the paths up and down and around. No bad time to go but in the spring, you've got a narrow window of migrating gray whales and blossoming flowers.

I was vacationing in Malibu for a week, I was hiking here everyday. Just amazing views, I was there in November so the weather was a bit unpredictable. It was cool and really windy one day, the next warm with a slight breeze. I highly suggest coming here, Zuma Beach is fairly close as well. Hiking shoes or tennis shoes are best, I would not suggest flip flops. There are seals at the deck and seating area.

We visited, driving to the top where there is a small but free parking area. We had to wait a few minutes for a spot. We then walked a trail to the edge of the cliff to see the view towards Santa Monica. We then hiked down to the beach below. The stairs are quite worn and a few didn't seem safe to step on, but the framing was still solid so we just held on tight and went for it . The beach was nice, but not very wide. Tidepools are the attraction here, but it was high tide when we were there so maybe next time. We hiked back up and then to the top of the point and saw sealions on the rocks below. Then down on the beach to the other side of the point there was a film crew shooting an army attack on the beach so that was interesting to watch for a bit. There is a beach with a lot of parking down there, but we did not get a chance to check that part out.

Visited again and not a great visit. Mother Nature was not our friend. Fog moved in and it was "socked in" by 3 pm. You could barely see the road. California peeps said they'd never seen it like this. Bummer of a trip. I do wanted to visit the ocean!

Famous for being the beach where they shot the last scene in the original "Planet of the Apes" but it is now really rocky-- rocks ARE beautiful. Tide pooling is a little challenging and not as good as other places. Still good to visit.

This was the perfect place for my daughter's first hike. It didn't take more than 15 mins or so to get to the top and my 2 year old did the whole thing. The views were great at the top and there were multiple trails to go in different areas for pictures.

After, two failed attempts to visit the Nature Preserve the day before (lunchtime and sundown), I decided to make it my first stop of the day. I lucked out that there were two spots and was able to pull right in. I walked around the bluff, then headed to the stairs down to the beach. The tide was high like the day before, so there wasn’t much beach, just rocks and a bit of sand. A young man pointed out some whales that were barely breaching the water near the point and a couple of seals. I walked down the stairs to the water and was able to see one of the seals better. He kind of looked like a dog with his heading bobbing in the water, at least until his whole body came into view. It was a great visit and I’m glad I didn’t give up on stopping by.

I have not given this review a 2 star because it is poor in terms of beauty; I have given it a 2 because of lack of access to view the beauty! Perhaps it was because we visited in August, but with only 8-10 parking spaces available at Point Dume, it is inadequate.

This is also a residential area, so I can understand that they don't want their neighbourhood turned into a carpark but a few extra spaces wouldn't hurt. Especially seeing as there doesn't seem to be any other legal parking until you reach Zuma Beach (quite some distance walk away).

Looked lovely from the road over the headland but unfortunately there were no parking spaces at the time we arrived (even after we had driven around a few times).

We absolutely loved our walk up to point Dume: the views are amazing! Parking is a challenge but definitely worth the wait if you have time. It gets very hot so I would make sure everyone has their water bottle. The trails are well indicated and well maintained so anyone who can walk can go and take in those beautiful vistas!

This gorgeous beach is a bit of a drive (around 45 mins) from Los Angeles, however it is well worth it. Away from the big lights, it is the perfect place for a relaxing swim and gives you magnificent views of the coastline

We like to visit Point Dume at sunset to catch the Green Flash. Doesn’t always happen, but it’s a treat when it does. Great viewing beach, nice a big stretch.

My friends and I parked in the nearby neighborhood a short walk away. The walk itself isn’t very long but offers great views of the ocean and beach and offers some ecological facts on signs along the way.

A great way to spend part of a day in Malibu outside!

We went here based on the positive reviews on Trip Advisor but were very disappointed. Lots of trash on the beach and poor access. Parking limited to 2 hours and about 4 spaces. I guess it's the local's party spot judging by the remains of their fires and the dog mess they left behind.

This was a fantastic place for meandering around the coast, rocks, and nature areas!! It’s a wonderfully easy hike too - all told it’s about a mile and a half if you do all of it - but there’s so many switchbacks and off-shoots that it’s easy to turn back any time. There’s also very little elevation gain - less than 350 feet (per AllTrails).

If you drive all the way to the end of the parking lot, it puts you right at the trailhead. The trail starts off to the left, but there’s nice beach off to the right of that’s more your speed. The beach area at this end of the lot is perfect for watching the brave folks dating to repel down or climb up the giant cliff face! It’s incredibly harrowing to watch!! I was in utter awe of them lol!

The trail does have a few entrances - the one in this area is steeper and has some pretty tall steps that short people like me have to practically climb up (due to erosion)! There’s also some rock scrambling required on parts of the trail. I did see another entrance once I got around to the back of the preserve - much flatter and a lot of this area of the trail was marked as handicap accessible...looks like you access it from street parking but I’m not 100% sure.

You can walk out onto the cliff top where people are rock-repelling from - but be aware it’s pretty treacherous in some spots with dangerous steep cliff drops off to the sides! And there aren’t guard rails or trail markers or anything to hold on to really. There’s also another area to the left of the cliff trail entrance that gets just as treacherous - and while it does have a small guard wire, it’s still wide open to the cliff drop, narrow and very rocky - and the people on the trail were being a little reckless when they attempted to pass me - they really put me in a shaky position with no choice and scared me to death!! So be very careful!

Otherwise it’s easy and gorgeous!! The views from all sides are breathtaking, sweeping views! Once you get up to the top, you get 360 degree views! And there are interesting info plaques along the trail and up at the top. Birding is also good here!

Parking was plentiful for me, even on New Years Eve and it costs $6. You pay at the pay stations and display the ticket on your dash. They had several bathrooms and a bunch of port-a-potties that were surprisingly very clean and well stocked! Overall great experience!

The views from the top of Point Dume were the best we saw in the area and there are some gorgeous views out there.

We didn't use the beach, it was $8 to park and they weren't letting people in the water because the waves were too rough.

Visited Malibu in February and went to Point Dume in the morning, afternoon, and at sunset. So comfortable there and so much to see! Wish we were there right now!

My boyfriend and I love visiting Malibu, especially Point Dume Beach! It's not as crowded as the other LA beaches.

The part I love the most is the little hike up to the top. Great views of the beach and towering cliffs! If you keep walking, you'll see a little area where you can sit and watch seals and sometimes whales! The total hike is probably 1/2 of a mile one way.

Tip: it's usually pretty windy up there!!

This is my favorite beach, anywhere. Whales! Dolphins! Sea Lions! Outrageously beautiful and clean. Perfect for beach walks. Lots of surfers. Really crowded and fun in the summer, peaceful and quiet the rest of the year.

This park has beach access and the views are spectacular! Parking is along the road in front of the park. There are paths that walk along the top of the park, looking down on the beach & Pacific Ocean. The stairs down to the beach are ok - some have been fixed. Once on the beach, you can take a long walk along the sandy beach or the rocks on the coast. Definitely one of my favorite places to escape for amazing beauty!

What an amazing place! Beautiful beaches and great views. I would highly recommend hiking to the top of Point Dume and be sure to look down from the cliff while walking. We spotted at least 30 sea lions sunning on a rock. We also saw several dolphins .
It was worth the $6 parking (weekdays) or $8 weekends.

Calmer waves than Zuma, nice beach and sand. Didn't use the restroom, so not sure how clean those are. Plenty of paid parking.

Stopped here on our way back to LA after driving up the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway for the afternoon. Luckily for us there was not a cloud in the sky, albeit it was very windy up on the point due to the exposure and got cold as the sun started to go down. Amazing sunset though so it was worth it in the end and I certainly recommend heading up there on a clear evening.

We were here only for an after noon but spending the whole day here is not a bad idea at all if you enjoy walking, hiking, climbing or just the beach. You have to bring your own food. Parking for a small fee. The sunset was stunning. We even saw a few dolphins jumping in the ocean. Wouldn't love to go back if in the area.

We visited during sunset and saw a wonderful view of pretty yellow flowers in full bloom!
It was so pretty and nice.
It rained in the middle, but it was nice.

I want to visit again!! It was a really pretty place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a trip that made good memories and was very healing.

Point Dume State Beach and Preserve has sand, ocean, birds, fish, surfing .... A nature lover's dream.

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 went during February because it was a pretty warm day, so why not go to the beach. The day we were there the flowers were in bloom. So everything around us was bright yellow, plus the views... it was a perfect day. You can hike along little paths that are not very hard or long, so it's great for small children. The stairwell on the side that takes you down to the beach was a plus. The only negative about this place is the parking. There is no parking lot, and only 3 or4 parking spots are right by the place, and they are usually taken. So you have to park far away because it's a residential area and there are no parking signs everywhere. So have in mind you might have to walk a bit to get to the place, but it's totally worth it!

A must see in Malibu, worth the drive it is beautiful an quiet during the week and early morning, the hike is amazing too.

I wish to request whoever is looking after parking in this place to either 1) Get more spaces available or 1) Do not dish out tickets to tourists cars so quickly 2) Have a full time parking attendant to smoothen things.

Beautiful dunes and wildlife viewing here. Must stop here in Malibu. There is limited parking, but if you go to the other side past Sunset Restaurant and go into the park's paid parkign lot and drive to the end, you can walk up the hill.

There are no shortage of great beaches in So Cal... This one just feels more stereotypically "California." More intimate than Zuma... A public beach with a private beach feel.

This was the last beach I visited in Malibu before moving out of CA and I regret of not going there before. It is a perfect place to enjoy a beautiful sunset, it was amazing. I saw beautiful marine animals. Please wear comfortable shoes because you need to walk in order to reach the top of the cliff. Lovely place.

This beach is nice but cannot be compared with El Matador Beach. We saw a rock climbing and a photo session there. The parking was $15.

Quite nice if you live close then worthwhile seeing. There is a parking by the beach costs 3 usd but you can park for free on the top of the hill from the other side but there are only few spaces.

I saw seals and sea lions during my hike. The hike is not that long .

This is a good stop for taking in a good view of the Malibu coast and taking some good pictures. When we visited there were lots of Sea Lions in the water and on the rocks, easily viewable.
Parking is very limited, I let my family go while I waited, took about 20 minutes for a spot to open up. Seems like nobody observes the parking spot markings, if there are 10 marked spots, there were 15 cars parked in them, just make sure to give yourself and others room to get out. I saw one car nearly blocked in, took the driver a while to work their way out.

It is worth the price of your car rental, collision damage waiver, fuel, traffic and mapquest to visit this park on the beach an hour before sunset.
This appears to be the primordial ritual dating back eons here before your eyes.

The beautiful west coast california sunset is a must see!

Bluff top preserve of coastal scrub, chaparral, and the like leading out to fantastic views of the Pacific. Only room for 11 cars (2 hr. parking) plus 2 handicap, so either come during a school week or park below along Westward Beach Road and hike up the traverse trail by Pirate's Cove. From the bluff you will have panoramic views north and south along the coastline. Sunsets are primo and with binoculars you can search the rocky pools below for harbor seals, sea lions, and dolphins. The area teems with birdlife and also looks down on the gray whale migrations. Trails meander throughout the bluffs and stairways lead down to both Pirates Cove and Dume Cove beaches. Pirates Cove sports a rock wall fancied by local climbers. Dume Cove is rocky but if you hike far enough north, you will get to good surf runs just short of Paradise Cove. Be careful of the high tide as you move around points. Best access from PCH going south is by Westward Beach Road left to Birdsview which becomes Cliffside and the bluff parking area. Driving north on the PCH, use Zumirez Dr. to Wildlife to Fernhill to Cliffside. There's actually a metro bus (534) but it has an awkward schedule and is set up for the wealthy commuters residing here. Someone asked if you walk in from the PCH. The answer is yes, about 30 minutes. If you make it a whole day this could be your plan.

It was sucha beautiful place with amazing views.. There is problem finding parking as there are very few spots next to the road.. We were lucky as someone was moving out and got one. There is a hike down to the beach and up the cliff also if you plan on staying there longer..

Pay to park (no problem). Hike up the hill to get a wonderful view of Malibu, the beach, and the Pacific. We spent about an hour here exploring the paths.

Perfect location for a peaceful walk on the beach if you go early and immerse yourself in nature. It gets busier later and there is limited parking.

Stopped off at this beautiful reserve with my partner whilst road-tripping North. We went down onto the beach and climbed up to the top of hill. Both had just stunning views. Make sure you wear good footwear as the paths have seen better days and some of the steps are rusting away.

Awesome beach for a weekend. Not a very crowded place. But need to walk a lot to get the beautiful sunset view. It's also a nice place to do yoga.

We would not have stopped here without a guide book - so make sure you don't miss it. It's a spectacular beach you have to access by a crazy staircase from high up on a bluff, but the bluff gives you an amazing view of Malibu and the stones/water/vista on the beach is equally beautiful. There is only a small parking strip at the top, but if you wait patiently a spot will open because there are many who are stopping just for the view at the top. Don't stay up there though - definitely climb down the stairs to the water. Be careful in sandals and don't wear heels!

Spent the day hiking the trails and observing the pools. Highlight of the day was the seals that were sunning on the rocks and playing in the waters.

Great fun esp at dusk; the sun dissapered down the horizon within seconds. Climbing the rock was good to explore, not difficult with elderly or children

Very nice area in a vicinity of route 101 with plenty of opportunities to snap a pretty photo or two. Unfortunately, car park space is very limited (few cars only).

Beautiful spot to visit, parking was pretty full, but not impossible. Enjoyed the hike and the seals basking on the shore were an added treat. Could peacefully enjoy the views even with the amount of people hiking.

If you wish to experience the best of one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world then you must stop at Point Dume this summer. Lay down towels and a blanket and enjoy the surf and views. Consider taking a fine bottle of wine and don't forget your camera.

Go here! It is an easy hike (wear shoes. Preferably tennis or hiking shoes) with a great view at the end. It is part of a larger beach. The sunflowers surrounding the hiking path smell incredible. Worth the walk.

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).

this place is popular and parking is very limited. The flowers were in bloom today and we saw 4 whales and some seals. Gorgeous views and a very nice easy hiking area. this is a treasure.

While the cliff is high, the well-marked and fairly maintained path (with rails) is doable, if you're into lots and lots of steps. Only hairy place is where the steps descend into the area with the sea lions: quite a few are rotting and some are collapsed. OK if you take your time.

Park in the PAY lot as far in as you can drive. The steps to the cliff are then right in front of you. Make sure you pay for parking, we saw lots of tickets on cars when we returned from our day.

Surfers were out and sea lions were lounging. Possible celebrity sightings, if you're into that sort of thing.

No concessions on the beach beyond the point: bring your water bottles and snacks.

We were visiting LA and wanted to get in some climbing and beach time. Point Dume was perfect for both. The biggest issue was finding parking at Point Dume. The upper parking area could maybe fit 4-5 cars and was always full and a park ranger was there making sure no one double parked or lingered. But the upper lot was free. The lower lot was large and had facilities but was a pricey place to park. We unfortunately had to pay the fee and park in the lower parking area. The beach itself is quite wide and there are three main stations on the beach with facilities like bathrooms and showers. Now, we came here to do some climbing. The cliff at Point Dume juts out into the ocean on the north end of the beach. There are several bolted routes here with top anchors. You can actually walk up from the shoulder of the cliff up to the top of the routes and throw down top ropes here on most of the routes. We elected to just sport lead up since the grades here were on the lite moderate at best, at least along the beach side of the escarpment. The climbing was fun in the sun and we quickly drew a crowd as we climbed. There was another group that came to climb a bit after we started and everyone was very friendly. The beach is wide and sandy. We had a good time climbing here and doing some sunbathing here as well. It was a bit of a drive from LA but definitely worth the trip.

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

Go to the Pt. Dume headlands, park nearby on Grasswood if no parking available at the Pt., go to the stairway that will lead you down to the beach. At low tide, this is Malibu's best place to walk the tide pools. We've seen lots of starfish, an octupus, sea sponges, and more. Not so much lately though-not sure why. But still a great walk. Be warned, a long stairway, safe, but not for those with an aversion for lots of steps.

Went on a 6 mile, 2 hr, hike. It was GREAT! Loved every minute, views are great, trail is easy to follow, everyone we saw on the trail was friendly. Bring water as it is hot and dry but you will love it!

Very nice beach, not to crowded. Parking is free, there are life guards at time, I didn't see any surfers but there were swimmers.

It's amazing to see cali in the spring. Such gorgeous flowers. The wildlife is wonderful, I had a great time here. The trails are not easily traveled. Most are not easily navigated.

I always love Zumba Beach no matter what time of year it is. This visit I went for early morning walks and it was so quiet and the sea was calm.. very tranquil. It’s different up most of the beaches stretched along the coast as it’s on a quiet road off the Pacific Coast Highway. People walk their dogs on leashes in the early morning and when the waves are bigger the surfers are out.The sunrise coming up over Santa Monuca in the distance is beautiful.

This may just be my favorite beach in the world! From the cliffs to the beach to the waters crashing on the shore, this place is both awe-inspiring and serene at the same time.

It is an awesome place to walk, surf or just sit.

If you are looking for something a bit more rustic than Zuma, come to Pt Dume!

Love this beach and the view from the top of the point. The poppies and other foliage alongside the beach were in bloom, and we were able to watch some filming at this site. The tide pools on the other side were very cool, and we were lucky enough to see a seal during our visit.

In the movie Ironman, Tony Stark says he lives at "Malibu Point", he was really referring to Point Dume (the only point in Malibu). While there was no signs of his Ironman suite or Mr. Stark, there are lovely sand dune trails meandering around the bluff. Along the trail are unique animals like really small lizards, they pose for pictures, but then can run really really fast! Almost comically fast.

Beautiful views of Santa Monica bay and the shoreline of Malibu. Parking seemed inconspicuous (a small sandy pull over at the front).

There is a beach/cove down there, but I couldn't find where the trail leads down. And you certainly couldn't walk down over the rocks (and over the cliff). But the views are magnificent. No dog walking allowed here because of the sensitive ecosystem, ancient sand dunes native animals, are very sensitive to dog and other animals urine scent. This place must look something at sunset!

Parking can be challenging at times and also be careful where you park to avoid getting a ticket! You may have to park down side streets, however, it is so worth the small hike. Stunning views and at different times of the year the beach can change so much depending on tide, weather, etc...

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!

It can be awkward to find a parking spot. Be careful if you park where you shouldn't as we saw people getting a ticket.

Anyway. Once you get parked and get a chance to do the short walk to the cliff and steps / path to the beach... It's stunning.

Lifeguards and police patrols. Families everywhere so safe and clean beach.

No alcohol allowed on the beach.

Good to get in the sea but note that some waves do get a little big so hold on as they crash.

Great fun.

Recommended.

And it wsd free !!!

The trail to various overlook points is probably just a bit more than a one mile 15 minute hike but the beauty will inspire you to stay much longer.

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.

It isn’t obvious how to get here, but this is a gem of a place. It has free parking to start with (albeit for about 6 cars). You can walk to the hill overlooking the point and go down an (extremely rickety) staircase to the beach. We saw sea lions, porpoises, and a sea of yellow flowers in bloom all along the bluff. Please keep to the walkways! You can experience this in about 30-45 minutes or take a fairly long walk along the beach if you wish. It happened to be a drizzly day, but a nice little stop.

Its cool walking on the beach. Theres a walkway down from the road to the beach. You can see some of the houses up on the road have their own private walkway down. For obvious reason they are private and video camera enabled. Its cool to see. Some have an electric tram going down. One even looked like he had a hole on the side of the bluff.

Lots of dead birds though when we walked and 1 dead seal. Kinda sad

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.

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.

Stunning ocean views with comfortable ocean overlook with benches. Could have sat there all day. Has a beach. Dogs are NOT allowed. Limited parking. BEWARE. Malibu is not tourist friendly. Our car's bumper over hung one foot over a marketed off area in front and behind one handicap space. Car in the spot was three feet behind us. Ok right? WRONG! Received $438 ticket. RB.

Point Dume may be one of the better places in Malibu to watch a sunset. Make sure to get there early as finding parking is difficult, so you may have to walk a bit. Bring something to sit on once you get to the top, and have some wine and cheese while you enjoy the setting sun! Enjoyed watching and listening to the sea lions swimming below us in the ocean as they searched for a fish meal!

So glad we drove up to this spot. Easy hike to the top for gorgeous views. We even saw sea lions playing in the water. This is a must visit place in Malibu.

We stopped during a road trip North. It was well worth the side trip. Wildflowers are in full bloom. After a short hike we were reward with a whale sighting in the surf-line. Butterflies are everywhere.

We visited Point Dume Nature Preserve the first week in January, 2014. We enjoyed a couple of hours of easy hiking on the trails and beach. The highest point offered beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and Malibu coastline. The trails were clean and well-kept. There are only a handful of parking spots so we had to find some street parking in the neighborhood surrounding the park. I would highly recommend a visit to Point Dumn Nature Preserve.

Beautiful beach. Parking is difficult as there are only about 6 free parking spaces designated for this beach and they are limited to 2 hours. If they are taken you need to park at Zuma or Westward ($3-$10 depending on the day) and walk here.
Unfortunately due to the recent oil spill in Santa Barbara there is currently a problem with tar on the beach. You could be lucky and avoid it, or be less fortunate as we were and discover that you or one of your kids gets it stuck on their feet or clothes. It's hard to spot until it's too late. Hopefully the situation will be remedied soon and it'll be back to normal.

This is a beautiful park with plenty of trails and amazing views of Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It’s easy for those with disabilities to get around as all the trails are flattened and have a nicro-gravel coating. There’s plenty of handicap parking and some regular parking as well. Definitely worth visiting when in the area!

My family and I made a quick spring break visit to the LA area and the absolute highlight of the visit for me was Point Dume.

I've wanted to visit Point Dume for years after seeing the 1994 movie Color of Night starring Bruce Willis and Scott Bakula. The house called Circles on the Point located just north of Point Dume at the corner of Cliffside and Birdview is featured prominently in the film. There are also scenes with the two stars riding bikes on the trails of Point Dume. While I enjoy the movie itself, the house's architecture has always captured me. After finding the location of the house years ago, I looked more into the area around it and just wanted to visit that much more.

Most people don't know Color of Night and won't know of any movie connection with the house, but many will recognize the beach below the point from the ending scene of the original 1968 Planet of the Apes. It's not as obvious, but Tony Stark's mansion was digitally built on the top of Point Dume for the first Iron Man movie and many other movies were filmed in the area.

Beyond the Hollywood connections, Point Dume has beautiful beaches and simply stunning beauty. A short hike up the trails to the top of the Point reveals beautiful views of the coast up and down the Malibu shore. The tall grass and wildflowers were in full bloom on my visit, making for a great walk. March is the middle of the whale migration season, and from the top of the Point my family and I were able to spot several whales out in the ocean. Climbing around the rocks at the end of Westward Beach, we also encountered a sea lion taking in some sun on the rocks.

Parking at Westward Beach is unattended. There are several kiosks up and down the parking lot where you can pay via cash or credit/debit card. I parked at the far end of the lot closest to Point Dume and conveniently across from the restrooms.

I can't imagine any other SoCal beaches being as beautiful and I hope that last week's visit will not be my last.

This place has has the Republican Blues, i.e., when you hate government, you get State Natural Preserves like this. The fences are rusted and fallen, people are deviating from estabilished trails, making new trails, and producing some nasty erosion features. It is just a worn, heavily used preserve with little evidence of rational stewardship and lots of loose trash. On the positive side, there seem to be fewer invasive, alien elements of the flora than evident on prior visits and - lets face it - it's wonderful that a tiny patch of native vegetation can be set aside in the Malibu area. But, if the State does not deal with obvious usage problems, it might as well be Point Doomed.

A beautiful place to go for a hike. At the point you will have mesmerizing views of Dume Cove, Pirats Cove, Westward Beach all the way up to Zuma or just sit and gaze into infinity of the Pacific Ocean. We were lucky to catch the sea lion pups playing in the waves, the females sunning and napping on the rocks and the alhpa-bull roaring up a in song. We walked down to Dume Cove all the way over to the point leading to Little Dume Beach. It’s not the easiest beach to get to in part because of the limited parking as well as the long hike down. The 6 car lot has a 2 hour limit, so instead we parked on Grasswood Avenue and walked back up. I do not recommend this trek for those offended by naturists. There were a half dozen or so camped out in tents flying their nudist flags. The water was not so pacific when we were there and too rough for swimming, but it was nice with a dunk to cool off. We attempted hiking up “off piste” which I do not recommend. The sand and gravel makes this nearly impossible without endless back sliding, meanwhile getting covered in clay dust.

I was born and raised in Santa Monica and kept my horse at Point Dume. Back in the 1960's it was just a park and beach, but they have made it more than that now. When I was driving out there, it didn't even have a signal where you enter. I was just out there for my 50th High School reunion and had to go back to visit my Point Dume again........

After hiking in Solstice Canyon I headed to this beach which I found on TripAdvisor. I parked closer to the entrance side of the beach and walked along the ocean to the cliffs (close to a mile). I love this time of day when everything has a golden hue. I walked up the path barefoot since I left my sandals in the car. Apparently there are two sides of the beach where the Point Dume Cliff separates the two. One that is a wide, long sandy beach for bathing and swimming and the other rocky with bits of sandy beach which looks more like Big Sur. I only saw it from the cliffs and didn't go down (maybe I will another day).

Definitely worth the stop if you're causing the PCH. I wasn't able to find a good place to park. A park ranger said I could park at Zuma Beach but that comes with an $8.00 price tag. I was able to find a space for a few minutes so I could take some pictures. Would have loved to spend more time there. Very tranquil place.

Beautiful place, would definitely recommend a stop here. Rusty stairs leads down to the water where you can see starfish.
Its not easy to get a parking spot, theres just seven of them total. Theres no parking in the entire neighborhood. You could walk from the public parking by the beach but thats probably a 30 minute hike.

Loved the hiking trails and ability to get down to the beach
Disliked lack of parking spaces (about 15 spots, max). Parking is sunrise to sunset. No dogs allowed---bad for the critters who make this preserve their home. A wonderful outing and can't wait to return again.

We visited this beach on a lovely, windy day. It's a great place to visit if you're interested in nature and hiking. Kid and family friendly, but close enough to restaurants, shopping and civilization!

went on March 31, 2019, 6:00PM. There was cloud cover. Not much wind along the beach, but the wind will pick up at the top of the Point Dume. We go here quite often to watch the flowers and homes. I would give it a better #, if the traffic and parking is better. It is always frustrating with people trying to park far too early on the drive into the designated parking lot. The lot is a paying lot, so bring your credit card.

If you want to see the flower preserve, then you will need to climb the hill at the end of the beach (at the very southern end). The climb is fairly easy. You get a great view of the ocean with the yellow flower bed behind you. There is a hidden beach behind the Point after the south side of the beach. If you want more quiet and relaxing (but less sun - because the cliff will block out the sunset) then that is the beach for you.

Always relaxing, and the small eagle is always patrolling his/her territory.

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.

This beach is in more movies, TV shows, commercials than any other; it's like it own sound stage, as a cliff juts out to the water line making a wall the block the view to the south - a wall people use to climb on, too.

The beach itself is small and intimate,with bathroom facilities, and has a pathway that leads to hiking paths, which put you higher up to get a nice vantage point to look up and down the shoreline.

From these great vantage points you can spot whales and plenty of sea lions, which does make this spot special.

There is street parking on other side of the grounds, in a neighborhood setting,for hikers and sightseers.

Just one of my favorite places to enjoy my day! Every time I am in the area, I make this visit! Love it!

I usually go places when I can see them at their best. But after arriving in Malibu and having a quick snack at a local restaurant, I didn’t just want to go to the hotel. So I headed to Point Dume. I got there when a bunch of surfers were leaving and it was getting dark. Several paths were closed to allow for vegetation rehabilitation. I went right to a view point that overlooked Dume Bay and got some amazing photos of the moon reflecting in the crashing waves. The water was very high and rough due to all the rain California has been getting. The beach itself was rocky and a long way down from the small upper parking area. I’m going to try to go back in the daylight but seeing it at dusk was a pretty cool experience.

safe, easy to manage trails, outstanding views!!!!!
go early, hardly any parking but such a great view spot, you can see miles of coastline!

Nice place to visit with a great view. The history about he place can be read in the boards. If you are found to park your car near the parking lot, be aware about the fares: 3 dollars before 9 am, 8 dollars after 9 am and 15 dollars during weekends.
From the top of the point you can see the beach and some of the houses over the cliff. Very interesting
Ps: the house from the film (iron man) is over there....easy to see

Who would have thought there was such a treasure in Malibu. Truly a highlight of our two-week trip to CA. Point Dume is well hidden in a residential neighborhood, so be sure to follow some directions or you will never find it. There are a few free parking spaces and people actually queue up and wait for folks to leave. Several great hiking trails. Be sure to hike to the top and take in the view. If you look to the left you will see a beautiful crescent shaped beach, which was pretty empty when we arrived, because it’s not that easy to reach. If you look to the right, you will see neighboring Zuma Beach. You can easily spend hours here just walking around. Keep in mind that there are no facilities at Point Dume.

Breathtaking views from this park. Lots of friendly surfers. Not much parking. There is a nearby street where you can leave your car. I enjoyed the walk.

On your trek up Highway 1 take a break at Point Dume. Plan a full day between Los Angeles and Ventura on your exploration of the Malibu Coast. Take time for the pier, wander Point Dume, time it for the tide pools at Leo Carrillo, lunch at Neptune’s Net, and a hike up the Ray Miller trail at La Jolla Canyon for the sunset over the Channel Islands. The drive up the coast to Ventura.

This is a review of Point Dume and I got carried away. This is such a world class coastal drive. Get out of your car and take a walk on the beach. Check out the coastal mansions that cover the area. Just a fun walk.

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

A pretty short (but fairly steep at the beginning) hike will take you to some beautiful views. It is sandy and rocky in places so consider that when choosing footwear.
I can see that in peak season this place would be packed, but I easily scored free street parking (in fact the closest possible parking spot before the paid area) when I visited recently in the middle of a Friday morning. In the paid parking area there were maybe 20 cars. I also noticed a sign that those with disabled permits can park for free during the week.
Heads up - the public bathroom in the main parking area had a sink but no soap dispenser or any way to dry your hands. I now know why the paint is worn away above the toilet's flush handle: people use their foot to flush because people know they can't wash their hands!

great place to go and hang out and not as touristy as the rest of malibu .........great for a beach-nic

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!

I've been going here for years and is still one of my favorites on pacific coast hwy beautiful cheap parking unless you park outside the parking area you can walk and can have a free trip

This was one of my favorite stops in southern California! Nice wide trail leads to the most spectacular view! Not a strenuous climb but it is a "long hill at moderate grade" on a nice gravel trail.

The ocean view and beautiful beach were well worth the ride. Friendly people at the nearby shop 'Surf and Soul'.

It is a secluded area that you have to climb over rocks. Once you are there, it was worth the hike. It is not well-known so you don't have the crowds.

Amazing spot to watch a California sunset.

The preserve has some trails and hill that serves as a center point. The spot offers about a 180 degree view of the ocean broken into two sections. On one side, you can see the sunset and in the order the hilltop houses.

The biggest issue is the limited parking. If you are visiting to watch the sunset, you need to arrive 30 minutes to an hour prior to ensure you get a spot.

We approached Point Dume from Westward Beach. The high cliff is a popular climbing spot and several climbers were on its face. At the same time, a photo shoot was going on with a wedding couple and a white horse. This area is also featured in many films and commercials for its scenic beauty. A trail leads up from the beach and you wind around the seaward side of the hills until you top out hundreds of feet above the beach. Hold your hat, as the winds are fierce on top. There are close up views of ocean, beaches, rocks, surf, cliffs, pickle weed and brush covered hills, and beautiful cliff top houses. The long views up and down the Malibu coastline are amazing as well. The trails are well maintained. Hiking was easy even in sandals. It's definitely not a wilderness experience, but Point Dume's popularity doesn't spoil the experience. There are knowing looks from strangers as you each recognize that you are sharing a great day outside in the sea air.

I am so happy that we stopped at this spot on our recent trip. The parking situation was challenging as there are no signs. There is a small area that fits around a dozen cars right near the paths, and there are no signs indicating where else you can park. But it was so worth the effort. We walked up to the top of the cliff. Really easy walk and the views you get at the top are spectacular. We then walked down to the beach and were treated with high surf crashing on the beach and cliffs and surfers taking advantage. Because the surf was so high, there wasn't much sand right at the bottom of the path. But you could sit on the rocks and enjoy the view.

Our favorite go to beach that's less than an hour from Los Angeles by far! We went to Zuma beach last year, a stone's throw away from Point Dume. But, this place is better, a bit secluded and the most fun part is you get to do a quick walk through a trail going up to the peak were you can see the coastline. What an awesome view indeed! Too bad we did not see any dolphins as some reviewers have luckily seen. Come early before it gets crowded. Waves can also be high depending on the weather. There are two sets of restrooms located at both ends of the beach.

We had a really nice time 4/26/14. The beach is very nice. There were some dolphins & sea lions sightings there that day. Also, they were also filming a show that day. But the most memorable thing I seen that day was, a man falling 40-50 feet off a cliff & getting air rescued out. The rescuers did a GREAT job! I think about the guy everyday. I hope he is alright. So PLEASE be safe on the rocks / cliffs or you might NOT be as lucky. BE SAFE.

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.

Exit Pacific Coast Highway just south of Zuma Beach and visit Point Dume! Pay for parking at self service kiosk's located throughout the parking area. Bathrooms are available. Go to the very end of the parking lot to access the hiking trail that will take you up above the cliffs, where you can look down on a pod of sea lions, and continue over to the steps that go down the cliff. Time your visit for low tide, and go out and explore. My daughter found Octopus and many anenome. Back at the beach next to the parking lot, we saw a whale swim by. You might even see dolphin playing!

This is a state beach that is a hidden gem. Most people don't really know about it. Which if your a local your glad. This is somewhere that you can go and just relax and enjoy your family out in the open (celebrities)

What a place! Definitely recommend to be here early - before 12:00. This will allow you to meet and great many, many dolphins, seals and even whales. Of course, the lizards will be present as well.

The coastline is amazing, simply beautiful. Must-visit when in the area!

Point Dume is a quiet "get away" spot to experience the beach scene - to walk on the sand & to hopefully see a pod of dolphins swimming off the coast. Fairly rustic with minimal amenities. Bring a picnic basket & enjoy it all.

This is the best beach in Los Angeles. Although far from the actual city it is a good visit when in LA. The beach is very clean with clear water. On good days the waves are great for good surfers. I have even seen snorkel before. Lots of wildlife. I have seen seals, whales, fish, bunnies, deer, and birds. The area is beautiful and the hiking trail to get to the beach is great. Parking is not a problem because when there is no space you just park in the neighborhood and walk to the trails.

I enjoyed this beach, however I enjoyed El Matador much more just down the road. I came in February so the parking lot was closed maybe if I could have parked closer to the point I would have enjoyed it more. I would be willing to try again.

If you drive through Malibu on Route 1 and not stop here, you'll really miss how beautiful Malibu is. We had a great hike over the hills and down to the beach. It was absolutely stunning

Point Dume State Beach, USA is a very versatile outdoor attraction. Of course there's the beach; very clean, Life Guards close by, and there are restrooms with outdoor showers to get the sand off before getting back into your car.

The waves are normally rough from the southern point continuing north for all of Zuma Beach. Not advisable for young children or inexperienced swimmers in general. (the Lifeguards do an awesome job for PD & Zuma beach! try not to give them any extra work!)

The hiking is very rewarding. One trail takes you to the 'Point' and the other takes you south of the point for a considerable distance. The view from the point is breathtaking! On a clear day one can see the entire Santa Monica Bay southward and then north to the end of Zuma and the next point. Very sweet! Bring binoculars for an even better experience.

The repelling is novice I am told but it looks crazy to me! LOL!! One can take the hike to point, fasten hardware to anchors that have been permanently placed by the Park service, then 'fly' down. Of course, one can repel up and the take the hike back to the parking lot if one chooses. There are anchors affixed facing the beach as well as seaward.

The restrooms are typical State Park, maintained so make sure you have flip-flops or other washable sandals. The week we went both Men's toilet stalls were non-functioning; 😞 my wife had to stand guard outside the Woman's facilities while I took care of business. Most embarrassing upon exit with two women waiting to enter!

There is a food/drink facility in the Zuma B area. (1000 yds from PD parking.

The parking is $8 for the day and is somewhat close to the seashore. Accepts MasterCard/visa.

This is the most beautiful beach with the wonderful smell of the Pacific Ocean! Lovely to walk along the water and the rocks on the far south side are stunning. The parking is not expensive and I just love this area of Malibu.

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 visited with a friend on a weekday in March to see the wildflowers blooming. We started our day with yoga on the beach. It was so relaxing to work out to the sounds of the waves and the seagulls. Many pelicans were gliding by along the top of the cliffs.

After yoga, we took a walk up the short trail to the Pt. Dume Nature Preserve. The coreopsis were in bloom in a spectacular field of yellow. We walked to the peak and enjoyed the views of ocean on three sides of us. I kept an eye out for whales, but didn’t see any. After coming down from the peak we took the trail around the perimeter. Binoculars came in handy. My favorite part was watching the sea lions over the side of the cliff. There were so many of them, probably at least 50. They were in the water, on rocks, and on the shore. We could hear them grunting and calling, and smelled a very fishy smell. We also caught sight of dolphins out in the water.

Afterward we had lunch at Kristy’s up on the hill, enjoying a delicious pizza and the beautiful views from the patio.

Not a nicer access to the beach possible. If you want to experience, True California, check it out..

This rating isn't really fair since I never got to actually see Point Dume. It's the reason why I couldn't...there's nowhere to park?! The entire park has eight spots on the side of the road, and that's it; it is illegal to park anywhere else on the Point. The spots are always filled, so you have to wait in your car in a line until someone comes back from the point and leaves. I don't know what genius designed such limited parking, but it's not even worth the wait.

The views were simply amazing, but I was really surprised at the condition of the hiking path to get down to the beach. Parts of the trail seriously consisted of balancing yourself across a large metal drainage pipe. We met a woman in her 60s who plain refused to try attempting the trail and I didn't blame her. The metal stairs which lead you onto the beach were in a state of unkept .. I was stunned. The metal was rusting through - there were large holes. Some had been covered with wood.. while others had not. That being said-- the views and the beach are gorgeous. As the other reviewers said- I think there are like four parking spots.. two handicapped. Definitely not ideal.

I read on here "don't be lazy - worth the walk". It was well worth the walk. Great views - I also read that sometimes you will see whales. Not so much for me today, just some sea lions. Still a great view.

Wonderful moderate hike up Point Dume. The views from the top are certainly worth it. While some people choose to scale the rock wally to reach the top, I would recommend the stroll up the trail alongside the mountain. Insider suggestion. Park at the Sunset restaurant and walk up the beach to Point Dume. Really beautiful.

This was beautiful evening and after climbing up the cliff to see the sunset, it was definitely worth it!! Everyone was taking photos, including a couple for their engagement. If you can't manage the climb, I'm sure it was just as breathtaking from the beach as well. I think we even saw a seal below as well. Definitely worth the drive - be sre to get there in good time to see it, so you don't have to rush. this is NOT to be rushed!

We try to make it to this park each time we are in the area. The walking trails are great for our family, including our two year old. There are awesome views and it’s a great place to watch the sunset!

You may have to wait a few minutes for parking but it's worth the wait. The views of the beach are spectacular. Hike as far as you like along rocky cliffs to gaze at the Pacific and listen to the waves reverberate across the secluded cove.

Point Dume is less crowded than most beaches in Malibu which makes it great to visit. There's a lovely trail atop that you take along the coast with beautiful views of the ocean

The Malibu view is best! On the weekends, the beach is busy and parking can be hard to find. We park on the side of the road. It's best to go early morning to the Point Dume State Beach. Love the view!!

One of the most gorgeous views on the PCH. Not far at all from Malibu.. parking is not the easiest. I believe you can pay to park in parking lot next to 26 Beach and walk up there.. both times I have gone to Point Dume I have waited to park next to trail head. But it is the most gorgeous view of the Pacific you will see. Cool to watch the surfers and see the tide pools below. GREAT PHOTO OP!!!

From this small promontory you can enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean and the beach below. It is very popular at sunset. Better to find parking in the surrounding streets, given the low availability on the main road.

Parking is $12.50, but worth it.
Cause I went on a sunday. The free parking was full. Decided to pay, and close to shire parking lifeguards, restooms. Semi private place, cause if u don't pay the parking fee, u r in a much more crowded area. It takes u about 0.3 miles away from the crowds.
The cliff is awesome!
Waking on the actual point, is great!
Many seals on the south side of the point.
Many trails. The big rock gave am awesome view of Zuma beach!

We saw this beach but parking was such a nightmare that it put a damper on the whole afternoon. We were enjoying the coast and read the reviews and figured we could tolerate the parking but if you don’t go early, there isn’t parking. Actually something should be done about the parking but then t does contribute to the fact that it isn’t crowded. In any case, be early or just skip.

I drove out to the furthest parking point at the beach then hiked up the hill (10 minutes) to get a lovely sunrise view from the wooden deck. It was really easy and certainly worth it for some morning meditation and/or photography. The sign says no dogs but I think that isn’t highly enforced. They also have restrooms by the parking which is convenient.

Took an easy hike from beach to lookout area. Incredible views!! We have three kids and they didn't complain about the hike. There are areas close to the edge of the cliff that require careful steps. There is a rope along this area - but it still made me a little nervous. All in all a great family activity!! We even saw a whale migration from the beach while we were there (April).

We were pleasantly surprised with Point Dume State Park and surroundings. We parked the car and walked the boardwalk trail and the handicapped accessible trail around the bluff. We saw a family of seals sunning on the rocks below the cliff. Very cool. The public beach is below the cliff and there is more parking there, as well as lifeguard stands and restrooms. We did not go there. We found parking at the top at the beginning of the road. I recommend a visit if you want to see the Pacific Ocean and take an easy hike. It is also free. I enjoyed the mosaic trash bins! Check them out! The public staircase is being renovated and is closed at this time. That was a major disappointment, but the other areas are equally as beautiful.

There's a few parking spots near the entrance but they were full on a Sat morning so we parked off the street in a neighborhood. A little further to walk but the trails are pretty short and well maintained. Lovely views from the top. It looked like there was more parking off the beach at the bottom.

What an amazing hike! Gorgeous scenery, great exercise, fab beach! Can't wait for my next visit to Malibu just to do this hike again!

Point Dume is unique and a must see in Malibu! The hike to the top is relatively easy, although sandy or rocky in a few places to be careful. Along the way, you can see directly down where there were at least 20 seals hanging out on the rocks. When I went, I was lucky enough to see 2 whales swimming by! The view from the to is stunning. Highly recommended!

I didn’t dig into the reviews and figured a state beach would at least have a small lot but like others arrived to find no spots and ppl sitting and waiting for others to leave. We debated parking illegally as several others did and a local said they regularly swing by and ticket so my husband sat in the car while I went down to see the view and then we switched, but didn’t want to risk going up to the top in case the other had to leave the illegal parking spot- another thing to note is that I had zero cell phone there (Verizon) and my husband had minimal (at&t) so be specific if trying to meet up with anyone else! There is street parking about 1/2 mile away up a side street but we had two kids with us and didn’t want to add the extra mile of walking to the stop as we were just checking it out while driving through Malibu. View is super pretty for sure though if you can grab parking or come from elsewhere!

This is our go-to beach in Malibu. Beautiful water and the rocks at the end are perfect for finding starfish and other tide pool creatures. Its a long one lane road into the beach so get there early during the summer months so you don't get stuck waiting in line to get into the parking lot

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.

This is a terrific pay-beach, but parking fills up very early and therefore the lot is closed to further visitors. The nearby Westward Beach has free street parking and is often a better value since you can walk in the beach to Point Dume State Beach. Beware: Point Dume State Beach DOES NOT accept the California State Park placard, so it's an exception. No idea why this beach is exempt from the California State Beach membership.

The Point Dume gives you a wonderful view of he pacific ocean from three sides. The Hill top is easy accesible not hard trekking. Even kids also can trace to the top.The hill top( nort exactly a hill although) extends into the ocean from the beach thus giving you are peninsular view of the Ocean ahead of you. The gusting sound of the veiws.. the wide open Blue ocean and soothing wind(high speed breeze). The veiw of the Zuma Beach on one side is an add on.Dont forget to look out for the plantonics just under the surface of the ocean giving a dark shade to the water here and there.If interested for surfing you can go for it here.But be careful and while going around the edge and avoid the edges. There is enough space to move around.Not much crowded. Quite and Serene Place.
Car parking is a concern as it has limited parking space. Its just along the side of the road. But you can one although as it is worth visiting.

Almost no one touched the water on this 55° January day, but it was still sunny. We didn't pay to enter or to park. And parking wasn't a problem on this Friday night sunset. Not a lot of kids or teens, mostly couples.

The ice cream truck came through just in time.

This is one of my favorite places on the planet. The hike is pretty light and the views are like no other! I do an Uber drop off, its easiest. Currently there is a super bloom and it is INCREDIBLE! The hike is breath taking and very well kept. I promise you will love it!

I always enjoy the beauty of the beach and ocean, but even more so when the rocks and cliffs accent it. There are several trails and you can see the curve of cliffs along the Malibu coast.
One major drawback is that there is really limited parking, but we came fairly early in the morning and found a spot fairly quickly.
Another is that no dogs are allowed in the park or on any of the trails or beach. I found this to be sad, because we are conscientious pet owners and would have loved to take our dog along.
Unfortunately we encountered a drunk homeless man along the trail, who would not move off the path for us. He reeked of body odor and alcohol. He was drinking from his glass alcohol bottles and then tossing them over the cliffs and into the bushes. Our dog would have been less destructive. Just saying....

We spent a wonderful afternoon hiking around and enjoying this special place. Well worth the time and effort to get here. The drive up the coast from LA and then back through the mountains makes for a wonderful day. Very highly recommended.

Stunning scenery. Quite a hike down rickety stairs to get to the rocky bottom and then make your way over to the beach. Highly recommend decent shoes. Local place for surfers. Lots of tourists. Very small parking area (like maybe 10 spots). We got lucky and only had to wait a few minutes for a spot to open up. Reportedly seals and sea lions are spotted here often but we didn't see any.

What a wonderful view of the coastline! We were there late morning and was able to see a few sea lions from the cliff.

Parking can be a pain due to only a handful of spots at the bottom of the cliff. The beach has parking - a free area and a paid area. If you park there you will have to walk a little ways to get to the beginning of Point Dume. We parked in the residential community on Dume Dr. & Grayfox St. That added almost a mile to our hike but it was totally worth it.

Point Dume home of the State Marine Reserve is a protected area for marine life established in 2012. Hiking the trail over Point Dume is strenuous but spectacular. Whales, seals, dolphins and heron are often seen.

Easy to get to. Pay to park (I think $6?). Explore the beach. Take the short hike up to see some awesome views. The day we went it was very windy at the top. If you are looking for a bite to eat nearby, check out Country Kitchen in Malibu. Very good!

Note that this rocky cliff was the film location of the final scene of the original Planet of the Apes.

Our group were not the type to sit on a beach and soak in the sun. The hike up the bluff, the views, and the the hike along the coastline were excellent. When done, we did relax on the beach, people and water watching. It made for a greater and relaxing 1/2 day.

Great view for some panoramic photos. It was worth the detour to Malibu. The hike up is pretty steep so this is not for kids

Zumba beach is the most fun beach in Malibu. They even sell tshirts that say Zumba beach. All beaches in Malibu are beautiful. This one is a lot of fun too.

This is a must do on your drive around Malibu. Enjoy many amazing and beautiful panoramic views of Malibu and the mansions on the cliff. You can take a set of stairs to walk down to the beach area.

This felt like a private beach! We paid $8 for parking and there was only a handful of people. We were able to hop into the water without worrying about our bags. They had a couple of small production movies going on but was not busy at all! Views were absolutely beautiful! Cannot wait to go back there!

End of October, under the sun. Very beautiful beach (very clean), not very busy, no problem parking and great restaurant.

Been to Zuma/Point Dume few times and always love it, especially this time with my young son as before we left home we watched the original 1967 Planet of the Apes movie, and once we passed the rock wall where climbers scale and easily scramble around the point to the next tiny beach - Pirates Cove - and if you ever saw the end of that movie, this beach is where the finale of the movie takes place. The Statue of Liberty came out of the side of the far cliff with bird poop all over it and the rock wall behind the cliff where Charlton Heston had the gun battle with Dr.Zaius tied up. the cave to the Forbidden Zone is there but is not safe to ascend to at all. My son and I took many pictures we had fun setting up to mimic the movie.
Con is that it is a bit dirty with garbage and broken glass.
Parking is like $12+

We stopped here on a whim as we are travelling up the PCH.

it’s worth it for the views but we didn’t prepare with the right footwear.

The climb is quite challenging for compete novices, a bit perilous in places as there aren’t proper continuous barriers at the edges.

But we saw eagles and sea lions and a fab view. Definitely take the camera

Parking was easy enough and plentiful.

The place is beautiful. Only thing is, we chose a rainy day. Highly recommended for a day out with friends and family

When we thought the drizzling rain and fog had squelched any chances of seeing a whale or anything of interest, we were about to turn back. However, then we saw a small pod of about 4-5 dolphins swimming parallel to the shore. We watched them for a while. When we walked along to another lookout area, we heard the sea lions before we saw them. They were at the base of the cliff we were on so they weren't easy to see without binoculars, but they were still fun to see and watch from a distance.

We were visiting Malibu for the first time, and were going to Zuma beach, and the parking attendant told us to try Point Dume, we lucked up on parking, it is a very busy place. The beach was great, got to see lots of surfers. Saw dolphins jumping around, the tall cliffs were neat too!!

Go with a local, that knows how to get there. Kinda off the beach road and only 10 places to park. No other places to park along the road. Our friend dropped us off and we spent 45 min walking down to the rocky coastline then up to the point. Awesomeness at all points. Views of God's wonders, with the varied plant life and rocks and ocean. Nice cool breezes at the water's edge and when you get to the top...so bring a jacket .

Everyone flocks to Zuma, but I prefer Point Dume any day of the week. It's not as busy, feels more secluded, and backs up against the cliff.

From Los Angeles we drove about 20-30 minutes head to Malibu and found this beauty. Looking over the pacific ocean itself, stunning! There’s a hiking trail as well if your up for it.

Decent beach but the real attraction is the short hike from the beach up to the top of the bluff to enjoy the views. We saw sea lions and dolphins from a great vantage point.