Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu

Leo Carrillo State Park consists of 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing, as well as tide pools, coastal caves and reefs. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds.

Among the many great features of Leo Carrillo, the most engaging activity for me and the kids is the tide pools. They are exposed twice daily at low tide and provide hours of engagement with sea stars, sea anemones, mussels, sea slugs and more.

Nature walks and campfire programs are offered and a small visitor center has interpretive displays.

Trails include Yellow Hill Fire Trail for panoramic views of the beach and the Channel Islands, and the steeper Nicholas Flat Trail, which brings you to a pond.

There are 135 family campsites at Leo Carrillo with restrooms and token-operated showers. Visit ReserveCalifornia.com and search for “Leo Carrillo SP” to make reservations.

The park was named after Leo Carrillo (1880-1961), actor, preservationist and conservationist. Leo Carrillo served on the California Beach and Parks commission for 18 years and was instrumental in the state's acquisition of the Hearst property at San Simeon. Leo's greatest fame came from his portrayal of Pancho, the sidekick to Duncan Renaldo's Cisco Kid, an early 1950's TV series.

Leo Carrillo State Park is located at 35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The park office phone is 310.457.8143. Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=616 for more information.

Parking is currently $12 in the parking lot for the day (or $3 per hour)...but free on PCH if you can find a spot. There are plenty of parking spots available in the lot. After you park, you can walk in a tunnel underneath PCH to get to the beach.

The muraled tunnel that takes you underneath PCH to Leo Carrillo Beach.

Dogs on a leash are allowed in the Park's day use areas, campground and north beach (north of lifeguard tower 3). Dogs are not allowed on backcountry trails or south beach (south of lifeguard tower 3).

DIRECTIONS

The most direct way of getting to Leo Carrillo from the Conejo Valley is via Westlake Boulevard (CA-23) (aka Decker Canyon) south, which for some is a fun 14 mile drive, but for others, not so much. It is a bit winding, hilly, steep at many junctures. I take this route during daytime hours but coming home I'm not too keen on it. After getting to PCH, turn right and drive 2 1/2 miles to get to Leo Carrillo.

Another more popular, though less direct route is via Kanan Road. Either take Kanan Road straight down to PCH, turn right (west) on PCH about 9 miles to Leo Carrillo, or take Kanan to Encinal Canyon, which is about a 3 mile drive on PCH to Leo Carrillo.

Lastly, if you are in Newbury Park, you can take Potrero Road west to Las Posas down to PCH. In about 11 miles you will reach Leo Carrillo.

DOZENS OF LOCAL AREA BEACHES

Beaches Spanning From Carpinteria Through Ventura County to Malibu

My kids and I love going to the beach but for many years we seemed to go to the same ones all the time. So I stopped by the Automobile Club and asked them if they had a brochure on all the local area beaches open to the public. They shrugged their shoulders and said no such guidebook existed. They handed me a fold out map, which was of no use to me as I wanted to know exactly how to get to these beaches, if they have restrooms, parking, etc.

Then I started searching around for information and found bits and pieces in various locations that were marginally useful. So I decided to consolidate this information into one place where I could find out about where to go to the beach around Ventura County on up the coast to Carpinteria and Santa Barbara and down to Malibu. So I hope you find the following links helpful in finding local area beaches in Ventura County and surrounding areas!

Carpinteria to Ventura

Oxnard to Malibu

Santa Barbara Area Beaches

This took a lot of time to compile over 60 local area beach areas, so I truly hope you benefit from these lists! So enjoy and provide feedback if you have comments and/or additional information.

At Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu.

Windsurfers at Surfers' Point in Ventura.

Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu

If you’re looking for a great spot to dine at the beach, the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe in Malibu is a great choice. Located at 28128 E. Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, it’s about a 30 minute drive from Thousand Oaks via Kanan Road. Learn more at www.paradisecovemalibu.com.

The public is welcome to access Paradise Cove Beach, including the dry stretch of beach around the pier (49 feet in width) as well as use the area of the beach below the mean high tide line for the entire shoreline length of the Paradise Cove property. You can either park on PCH and walk to the beach, or you can pay to park in the Cafe parking lot. But yes, it is expensive. It is much less expensive to park and dine at the cafe, which covers you for up to 4 hours of parking.

While some would argue that the food isn’t great and prices (including parking) is too high, my opinion is….it’s all about location, location, location.

About half a mile south on PCH is the access point to Escondido Falls, a four mile round trip hike to the tallest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains (over 150 feet). A fun excursion - park on PCH and do the Escondido Falls hike. Then walk down the street to the Paradise Cove Cafe. Of course don’t leave valuables in your car.

Parking fees as of June 2023.

County Line Beach in Solromar (Ventura County)

County Line Beach is located near the corner of PCH and Yerba Buena Road in Solromar, a small unincorporated community in the southwest corner of Ventura County, just northwest of the actual Ventura/Los Angeles county line.

The beach lies in between portions of the residential areas of Solromar. Solromar is the only residential community along the Malibu coast not included within Malibu city limits, yet this portion of Ventura County typically uses Malibu in its address. Neptune's Net is a well known eatery located across PCH from County Line Beach.

County Line Beach is a very popular surf spot and has about half a mile of sandy beach to enjoy. There is a dirt parking strip located off PCH that has spaces for about 15 cars; otherwise, street parking on PCH is available. There are a couple porta-johns. No lifeguards on duty here.

County Line Beach is referenced "Ventura County Line" in the 1963 Beach Boys hit, Surfin' U.S.A.

LOCAL BEACHES IN MALIBU, POINT MUGU, PORT HUENEME AND OXNARD

Point Dume State Beach

On November 24, 1793, English explorer George Vancouver named the rocky promontory Point Dume after his friend, Father Francisco Dumetz. Point Dume is the western terminus of Santa Monica Bay and was named California Registered Historical Landmark No. 965.

View in the spring of 2023

Point Dume State Beach is a 63 acre promontory that juts out into the Pacific and features headlands, cliffs, rocky coves and vast beach access for swimming, surfing and scuba diving.

To get to Point Dume State Beach, take Westward Beach Road southeast from PCH near Zuma Beach's south side to the paid parking area, or park on Westward Beach Road, which parallels Westward Beach.

To the southeast of Westward Beach is a small 300 foot or so beachfront area called Pirate's Cove Beach (which due to its seclusion was once used as a nude beach).

Pirate's Cove beach seen from the top of the promontory. You can climb down there and when the tide is moderate to low, walk around to it.

The 34-acre Point Dume Natural Preserve also begins from the cul-de-sac. A gradual ascending trail leads to an ancient coastal bluff sand dune with spectacular views...we've seen whales, seals and dolphins over here. A stairway from the east side of the bluff-top preserve allows access to a more isolated beach and tidepools (look but don't touch). You'll have fun exploring up here.

In the spring of 2023

This is a snippet of the pilot episode, "The Lady in the Bottle," of I Dream of Jeannie that originally aired September 18, 1965. If you skip to 1:39 in this clip, you will see the prominent rock formations on the east side of the Point Dume promontory. Below is a more recent shot of that area.

This is where Captain Anthony Nelson (Larry Hagman) made a giant S.O.S. in the sand with sticks and other items, including an old bottle that moved itself. He picks it up, dusts it off, and out pops Barbara Eden. Lucky guy!

Location/Directions: Take Kanan south to PCH and turn right. Westward Beach Road is over the rise, at the foot of the hill. Park free on WBR or pay a fee at Westward Beach lot. No restrooms at the Preserve but some can be found on WBR. Call 310.457.8143 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=623 for more information. Also see beaches.lacounty.gov/point-dume-beach.

Dogs are not allowed on trails in the Point Dume Natural Preserve or on the beach.

Westward Beach

Springtime at the Point Dume Natural Preserve

Thornhill Broome Campground in Point Mugu State Park

Thornhill Broome Family Campground is located at 9000 Pacific Coast Highway in Point Mugu State Park. The beachfront campground offers 68 tent/RV spaces. There are no hookups for RVs or flush toilets; just chemical toilets and cold outside showers. However, you are camping ON THE BEACH!

Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Pets are allowed on leash in the campground. Fees as of August 2022 are $35/night plus a $7.99 reservation fee at www.reservecalifornia.com (type in Point Mugu SP to find Thornhill Broome). Be aware that summer months in particular book up way in advance.

Keep in mind that there is no shade when you camp at the beach. So if you don't have an RV, be sure to bring a canopy and/or umbrella.

Thornhill Broome Beach is across from the gigantic sand dune that provides for a great workout and views. And due east is Sycamore Cove and Sycamore Canyon Campground (both also in Point Mugu State Park)...which of course is the most direct path...albeit by foot or bike...to Newbury Park and the Conejo Valley from the beach.

And of course the Sycamore Canyon Campground is across from Sycamore Cove, if you're looking for additional camping possibilities.

Traveling southeast on PCH from Oxnard/Camarillo; this sign tells you you're just about there.

The cool, massive sand dune across from Thornhill Broome Beach (be careful crossing PCH!).

40+ LOCAL CAMPING OPTIONS IN VENTURA COUNTY AND NEARBY AREAS

Surfer's Knoll Beach in Ventura

Surfer's Knoll Beach is located in Ventura adjacent from Ventura Harbor Village and as its name implies, is geared towards surfers, as well as others looking to relax and explore. Riptides are common here so be careful if you're a novice swimmer. There are restrooms and showers available. Lifeguard service on weekends only in May until Memorial Day weekend, then daily through Labor Day weekend. There is a relatively small parking lot available at 1596 Spinnaker Drive; parking is free.

One great thing about this beach is that it is one of the few almost completely westbound facing beaches throughout the area, meaning...it is a great place to catch the sunset! And several of the Channel Islands - Anacapa and Santa Cruz.

Though this is a nice, sandy beach, a better beach for kids/families is just north up the road at Harbor Cove Beach, which is calmer water, protected by jetties. 

Surfer’s Knoll Beach, Harbor Cove Beach and South Beach is managed by the Ventura Port District at venturaharbor.com/beaches.

DOZENS OF BEACHES STRETCHING FROM VENTURA TO CARPINTERIA

Sycamore Cove Beach in Point Mugu

Sycamore Cove Beach is located at 9000 Pacific Coast Highway in Point Mugu. This beach is one of the closest and easiest to get to from the Conejo Valley and Camarillo via Las Posas and PCH.

Sycamore Cove Beach in the background. Sycamore Canyon Campground entrance on left.

The beach is popular with families looking to barbecue and enjoy quick and easy access to the beach. There are also porta-johns and restrooms available. Very limited parking on PCH (read the signs carefully as you don't want to get ticketed) but plenty of paid parking available (generally $12 to $14 for the day).

Dogs on a leash are allowed in day use areas, campgrounds and beaches within Point Mugu State Park. Dogs are not allowed on backcountry trails or dirt roads.

A view of Sycamore Cove Beach from the south.

On the northwest end of the beach you can walk underneath PCH to the other side of PCH, where Sycamore Canyon Campground is located. From there, you can take Sycamore Canyon up to Newbury Park (about eight miles).

PCH is above. You can safely get from Sycamore Cove to Sycamore Canyon under this bridge (though at high tide can be a challenge). Beats risking your life crossing PCH!

Due north of Sycamore Cove Beach is Thornhill Broome Beach/Campground, which along with Sycamore Cove and Sycamore Canyon is part of Point Mugu State Park. Across from Thornhill Broome is the large sand dune that makes for some fun climbing.

The humongous sand dune walking distance from Sycamore Cove.

Visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630 for more information.

Rincon Beach Park at the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Line

Rincon Beach Park is near the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line just a few miles east of Carpinteria. Just take the Bates Road offramp off the 101 Freeway (or type in Bates Road and Rincon Point Road, Carpinteria). Take Bates to the ocean and on the right you'll find plenty of free parking and easy beach access, with picnic tables and restrooms.

If you make a left turn off of Bates, there's a separate parking lot for Rincon Point, part of Carpinteria State Beach, one of the most popular surf destinations in the world. There are a couple of restrooms on this side also, albeit not particularly pleasant ones to use.

Campfires are not allowed on the beach.

To learn more about Rincon Beach Park or to reserve the picnic table, visit www.countyofsb.org/842/Rincon-Beach-Park or call 805.568.2465.

Views from the picnic area at Rincon Beach Park

This sign always makes for great conversation starters at Rincon Beach Park

Arroyo Burro Beach Park in Santa Barbara

Arroyo Burro Beach is a beach park managed by the County of Santa Barbara. It is also referred to as Hendry's Beach, as the Boathouse at Hendry's Beach is located here at 2981 Cliff Drive. Decent sized parking lot with restaurant serving up moderately priced meals and drinks indoors/outdoors, seven days a week from 7:30am to 9:30pm. Arroyo Burro Beach is a sandy beach, good for surfing, boogie boarding and fishing, with an adjoining park with grassy areas with picnic tables. Restrooms available. From the 101 take Las Positas Road south to Cliff Drive. Turn right and travel 1/2 mile to the park entrance. More information at www.countyofsb.org/810/Arroyo-Burro-Beach

Arroyo Burro also has a great doggie park! Dogs are required to be on leash through the parking lot but there's an area where dogs can run around in the ocean. Self service dog wash stations provided by County Park. Details at www.countyofsb.org/parks/dog.sbc.

CLICK THIS LINK FOR A COMPILATION OF SANTA BARBARA AREA BEACHES

Westward Beach In Malibu

Westward Beach is about a mile strip of beach in Malibu, sandwiched between Zuma Beach and Zuma Lagoon on the northwest and Point Dume State Beach on the east.

This nice beach has both parallel street parking available on Westward Beach Road and a paid parking lot (which on a Sunday can cost $14; weekdays are less).

What I also like about Westward Beach is its close proximity to the Point Dume Natural Preserve, and the periodic sightings of seals, dolphins and other sea life.

Westward Beach generally is not as swim-friendly as nearby Zuma Beach as the waves are choppier and less duration and higher impact. While we've taken the boogie boards into the ocean here, we weren't particularly successful at catching waves here. That said...my little ones love playing in the sand and running from the waves here.

Another cool thing at the southwest end of the beach is a sheer cliff used for rock climbing.

There are restrooms available here as well as an outdoor shower facility.

Location/Directions: Take Kanan south to PCH and turn right. Westward Beach Road is over the rise, at the foot of the hill. Call 310.457.8143 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=623 for more information.

Point Mugu State Park

Point Mugu State Park is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, stretching from Newbury Park on the north to five miles of ocean shoreline on the south. The park includes 14,000 acres of land with over 70 miles of trails popular with hikers, cyclists and runners.  It is truly an amazing place, with rocky peaks that include the prominent Boney Mountain State Wilderness that looks over the western Conejo Valley.

The sign in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park indicating you are entering State-managed Point Mugu State Park.

You can actually hike, run or bike from Newbury Park, from the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area managed by the National Park Service down to the ocean via Sycamore Canyon "Sycamore to the Sea," which is about an 8 mile trip one way. But do be aware - the initial 800 foot drop from Rancho Sierra Vista into the canyon via Big Sycamore Canyon Road is a bit more challenging coming back up.

The paved hill drops into the canyon via Sycamore Canyon Fire Road.

There are four main canyons in Point Mugu State Park. Sycamore Canyon is perhaps the most well known, stretching practically the entire north/south length of the park, where at the bottom of the canyon you'll find the 58 space Sycamore Canyon Campground at 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway (make reservations at ReserveCalifornia.com and search for “Point Mugu SP”).

The Sycamore Canyon Campground connects to the Sycamore Canyon Fire Road, which is your access point to a day of fun and adventure in Point Mugu State Park trails.

The La Jolla Valley Natural Preserve is on the western side of the park, with a main access point near Thornhill Broome State Beach at the Ray Miller Trailhead to the La Jolla Canyon Trail which connects with the Loop Trail. Another access point to La Jolla Valley is the Chumash Trail trailhead, a rocky, steep trail across from Point Mugu Beach. La Jolla Valley was purchased by the State of California in 1966 and was established as a Natural Preserve in 1972.

Wood Canyon is in the northwest section of the park, where you will find the north/south running Wood Canyon Fire Road, which connects to the Guadalasca Trail, among others.

Serrano Valley is accessible from the south off the Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road/Trail about a mile north of the beach. A beautiful, serene, area, with a connection to the Old Boney Trail that takes you to the Danielson Monument in the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

The main beach areas in Point Mugu State Park, running southeast to northwest, are Sycamore Cove, Thornhill Broome and Point Mugu. Sycamore Cove is a fun day-use park popular with families for gatherings with BBQ grills and picnic tables. Learn more about beaches in the Malibu area at this link.

This is the PCH overpass where on low tide you can walk underneath here to get from Sycamore Cove Beach to Sycamore Canyon Campgrounds and hiking in Point Mugu State Park. In higher tides, this area can be dicey, so be careful.

If you are looking for beachfront camping, try Thornhill Broome Beach, with just over 60 spots available for RVs and tents. No hookups here and only porta-johns available, but can't beat the views! And across the street you can't miss the Giant Sand Dune!

Day use parking at the various sites is available for $12. There is very minimal street parking at Sycamore Cove but plenty of street parking adjacent to Thornhill Broome Beach.

Dogs on a leash are allowed in the Park's day use areas, campgrounds and beaches. Dogs are not allowed on the back country trails or dirt roads.

Keep driving northwest on PCH and you'll past the famous Mugu Rock and see Pt. Mugu Beach, which also has day use parking, with some parking on PCH. Learn more at the California State Parks website at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630.

Mugu Rock up ahead, driving north on PCH from Thornhill Broome.

Lastly, let's cover some of the highest peaks in Point Mugu State Park. The Boney Mountain Wilderness Area, ever so prominent from the Conejo Valley, is located in the Park. But Boney Peak itself, at 2828 feet, is actually in the Circle X Ranch area managed by the National Park Service, along with Sandstone Peak, the highest spot in the Santa Monica Mountains at 3111 feet.

Boney Mountain range overlooks the western Conejo Valley.

Other peaks include Tri Peaks at 3010 feet, Laguna Peak (the peak which has equipment from Naval Base Ventura County below), La Jolla Peak and Mugu Peak. 

Map of Point Mugu State Park courtesy of National Park Service.

COMPILIATION OF ALL SORTS OF HIKES AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Rincon Point in Carpinteria

Rincon Point is home to one of the most popular surfing spots in the world. Accessible near the Ventura/Santa Barbara County line just a few miles east of Downtown Carpinteria. Take the Bates Avenue offramp off the 101 Freeway towards the ocean. On the right is access to the City of Carpinteria's Rincon Beach Park and on the left is access to the Rincon Point parking area. Open 6am to 9pm daily, with a not-particulary-nice porta-john available in the parking area.

There is a trail that takes you to the beach area from the parking lot. The area is also surrounded by beach homes.

A view toward the north from Rincon Point (in the direction of Rincon Beach Park).

THE BEACH BOYS INCLUDED A REFERENCE TO RINCON IN SURFIN' SAFARI:

At Huntington and Malibu

They're shooting the pier

At Rincon they're walking the nose

We're going on safari to the islands this year

So if you're coming get ready to go