Located in the city of Malibu, Pirate’s Cove Beach is a small and excellent beach on the west side of Point Dume. The beach was the shooting spot for the final scene of the classic 1968 movie Planet of the Apes. Pirate’s Cove Beach has a few fun activities including swimming, hiking, and photography. Getting close to the beach is very easy – after you get off of Pacific Coast Highway, drive down on Westward Beach Road to the last paid parking lot on Westward Beach. However, once you arrive access to Pirate’s Cove Beach is difficult and if you’re walking is only possible during low tide. You will start at the southern end of Westward Beach where a high rock wall with large boulders stands and then need to go around the many large and small rocks that surround the water along the base of Point Dume. We don’t recommend it, but during deep waters and high tides, visitors can hike up and climb over a rugged path behind the boulders to reach Pirate’s Cove Beach.