Malibu Lagoon State Beach(Malibu Lagoon Beach)

Located in the city of Malibu, Malibu Lagoon State Beach is situated at the point where Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean forming Malibu Lagoon. Also known as Malibu Lagoon Beach, it is two miles long and is a five-minute walk from the famous Surfrider Beach. Malibu Lagoon Beach is a part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area, a California state park which was established as in 1951 and is 110 acres in size.   This beach is a well-known surfing destination and a right-break point, but be careful of the high tides and rip currents.

The beach offers several amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. In addition, the Malibu Pier has many amenities including two restaurants and is only a five-minute walk away. If you are looking for additional amenities, there are many watersports equipment rental shops and dirt trails around the beach that provide a perfect spot for walking, watching tide pools, and bird-watching.

Malibu Lagoon State Beach offers several other activities including fishing, hiking, paddle-boarding, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, and volleyball.

Getting here is very easy – after you get off of Pacific Coast Highway, drive one-and-a-half miles east to find the entrance for the paid parking lot (entrance fee is $12/day) at the intersection of the highway and Cross Creek Road. You can easily access the beach from one of the three paid parking lots – one next to Adamson House, one directly next to Malibu Pier at the adjacent Surfrider Beach, and one across the street from Malibu Pier.   

If you are looking for nearby attractions, there are many nearby. Adjacent to Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Malibu Lagoon Museum showcases history from the days of the California Indian "Chumash" tribe, gentlemen ranchers, and the birth of the surfing era. Escondido Falls are the tallest waterfalls in the Santa Monica Mountains – they are 200 feet tall and can be reached by following the popular Escondido Falls Hiking Trail which is four miles long. 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. It also hosts many events and sports leagues for children, youths, and adults. Malibu Pier is a tourist attraction site famous for its iconic dual white towers, rough-hewn planks, two restaurants, five stores, and an observation deck where you can fish and look for dolphins. As another option, Point Dume is a promontory that projects into the Pacific Ocean – it forms the northern end of Santa Monica Bay, and is 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 several restaurants within walking distance of Malibu Lagoon State Beach. V's restaurant + bar is a posh eatery with a nice menu including portobello fries, meatballs, salads, pizza, and an extensive wine list.  Malibu Farm Pier Café is located on Malibu Pier – it is a chic bistro that serves farm-to-table dishes and has a full bar.  Another good option is Fish Grill - Malibu, a seafood restaurant serving grilled kosher selections and several fast-food options on an outdoor patio.   

If you are looking for a place to stay, you can drive three-minutes to Nobu Ryokan Malibu, an intimate, 16-room 5-Star beachfront hotel featuring a fitness center with a gym. The upscale 4-Star hotel Malibu Beach Inn has many amenities including a bar, spa, and restaurant – it is located on Carbon Beach, which has been nicknamed Billionaires’ Beach due to the many ultrawealthy homeowners and incredibly expensive homes there. The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu is a 4-Star hotel featuring a lounge, rooftop bar, and restaurant. The pet-friendly and affordable hotel Malibu Country Inn has a pool and an outdoor fireplace.