Carbon Beach - West Beach Access

Located in the eastern part of Malibu, Carbon Beach - West Access is one of the three access points at Carbon Beach. Carbon Beach is a one-and-a-half-mile-long south-facing beach that is situated between Malibu Pier on Surfrider Beach and Carbon Canyon Road. Carbon Beach has been nicknamed Billionaires’ Beach due to the many ultra-wealthy homeowners and incredibly expensive homes owned by celebrities and CEOs there – in 2019, one home sold for $110 million. Carbon Beach - West Access is great for beach walking, but be careful because the beach gets very narrow during high tides. 

If you are looking for additional activities, you can drive four-minutes west to Malibu Lagoon, which is an excellent spot for birdwatching and hiking. Carbon Beach - West Access is also known as Ackerberg Access and is situated east of Carbon Beach - Zonker Harris Access and west of Carbon Beach - East Access. For many years the Ackerberg family fought to block the opening of this access next to their Richard Meier-designed home. In 2015, they lost their lawsuit and the California Coastal Commission opened up an access point here, and that same year Oracle Founder and CEO Larry Ellison purchased their home for $48 million. 

Getting here is very easy – the Carbon Beach - West Access point is located at 22466 Pacific Coast Highway. There is limited free parking along Pacific Coast Highway, and if you find a spot be careful not to block any garages or driveways.

If you are looking for attractions near Carbon Beach - West Access, the iconic Malibu Pier is a two-minute drive away. The Malibu Pier is a fun tourist attraction that’s famous for its dual white towers, rough-hewn planks, two restaurants, five stores, and an observation deck where you can fish and look for dolphins. In addition, there are two museums on the nearby Surfrider Beach – the Malibu Lagoon Museum showcases history from the days of the California Indian "Chumash" tribe, gentlemen ranchers, and the birth of the surfing era – and the Adamson House Museum, which is also known as the "Taj Mahal of Tile," explores the history of Malibu. Spread across six acres, Malibu Bluffs Park is a community park consisting of two baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a playground, a skate park, picnic tables, and a whale watching station. Malibu Bluffs Park also hosts many events and sports leagues for children, youths, and adults. Another attraction near Carbon Beach - West Access is Point Dume, a beautiful and large promontory that projects into the Pacific Ocean and forms the northern end of Santa Monica Bay – it offers an incredible and is a fantastic place for Instagram-worthy pictures, and is also a perfect spot for hiking, especially for beginners because of its natural climbing wall with moderate single-pitch rock climbing routes.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a three-minute drive of Carbon Beach - West Access. If you are looking for an upscale restaurant, the always-crowded Japanese-themed Nobu Malibu is 100-feet away and features Nobu Matsuhisa's signature dishes such as Tiradito, Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno, and Black Cod with Miso. It was also mentioned in "Explore the Best Celebrity Hangouts in Los Angeles" by Fodor’s Travel – but if you are coming here bring your wallet because it’s very expensive. There are two restaurants on nearby Malibu Pier – Malibu Farm is a chic bistro that serves farm-to-table dishes and has a full bar, and Beachcomber Café is a 1940s-styled restaurant that serves American cuisine, margaritas, and cocktails. Another option is Jack in the Box, a fast-food restaurant that serves burgers, fries, and chicken sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Carbon Beach - West Access, you can walk a few minutes to Nobu Ryokan Malibu, an intimate, 16-room 5-Star, very expensive, and private beachfront hotel with Asian-themed rooms and a small gym. The upscale 4-Star hotel Malibu Beach Inn is located on Carbon Beach and has many amenities including a bar, spa, and restaurant. The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu is a 4-Star hotel featuring a lounge, rooftop bar, and restaurant situated on Surfrider Beach. Another good option is the affordable hotel The M Malibu that offers a pool, and wine tasting sessions.