Big Rock Beach

Located near eastern Malibu, Big Rock Beach is a narrow, very small, and rocky beach situated along the Pacific Coast Highway. The beach is named because of a large dark black rock formation in the water that’s about 50 yards from the shoreline. The beach has a backdrop of waterfront residential areas which are present along the length of the beach. Big Rock Beach has no lifeguards or other amenities, so plan your visit accordingly. 

Big Rock Beach offers numerous activities including surfing, sunbathing, diving, wildlife watching, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, bodyboarding, beachcombing, and tide-pooling. If you are planning to go into the water, we recommend being careful as the water near Big Rock Beach is known to have rip currents and the rocky shoreline can inflict grave injuries. However, the rocky shoreline is also popular among kayakers and scuba divers. The beach is a popular diving spot as scuba divers often explore the rocky reefs and kelp beds present near the shoreline. Lobsters, crabs, croakers, scorpionfish, seals, sea lions, surfperches, halibuts, horn sharks, and bat rays are found in the underwater kelp beds near the beach. We recommend this diving spot for divers with some experience as the rocky diving entry can often be troublesome for amateur divers. The presence of a large array of fish in the water also makes Big Rock Beach a popular fishing destination. If you are planning to fish here, we recommend following the local fishing regulations.

Getting to the beach is easy - the access point to the beach is located near 2000 Pacific Coast Highway. There is another access point to the beach from the nearby Moonshadows Restaurant at 20356 Pacific Coast Highway. However, it is advisable to avoid using this access point during high tide as it remains submerged then. As there are very few parking spots near the beach, we recommend you park your car along the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway lane and then cross over the road to get to the beach access point. We recommend being careful while crossing the road from the parking spot to access the beach.

There are many attractions near Big Rock Beach. The Getty Villa is an educational center and a museum that is modeled after a real ancient Roman villa and houses intriguing artifacts from the ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. Malibu Creek State Park is a state park that is spread over 8,000 acres and offers numerous exciting activities including fishing, camping, and rock climbing and has also served as a shooting location for many iconic movies and TV series including M*A*S*H and Planet of The Apes. If you like shopping, the Malibu Country Mart offers numerous great designer and branded shopping stores, kids play area, and some of the best restaurants in the city of Malibu including Café Habana.

If you're looking for a restaurant, there are many great nearby dining options. Moonshadows Restaurant is an upscale restaurant offering a pleasant oceanfront dining experience and serves great seafood dishes including grilled Pacific swordfish and flash-fried calamari. Another great option is Malibu Farm Restaurant which is located directly on the iconic Malibu Pier and offers a variety of delicious dishes made strictly from farm-fresh organic ingredients including sandwiches, seafood, and pasta which are served in generous portions. A modestly priced option is Malibu Mutt's Grill which serves great burgers and falafels.

If you are looking for a hotel near Big Rock Beach, there are many great options nearby. The 5-Star Nobu Ryokan Malibu is an Asian-influenced hotel that offers numerous amenities including a restaurant, a furnished oceanfront deck, and complimentary access to an adjacent spa and the nearby Malibu Racquet Club. A more affordable option is the 3-Star Malibu Country Inn that offers a variety of amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and a hot tub. Another good and affordable option is the modestly priced 2- Star The M Malibu which is one of the first motels to be built in Malibu – it features a retro vibe and offers a variety of facilities including a pool and a sundeck with lounge chairs.