Every Trail Tells a Story
Malibu Lagoon State Beach S
To walk the beach that defined surf culture and still makes waves-literally.
To birdwatch in the lagoon while surfers ride and movie stars hide.
To savor the absurd mix of wild beauty and human theater that could only be Malibu.
When Southern Californians say “Malibu Beach,” this is the spot. The birthplace of surf culture, immortalized in 1960s beach-blanket movies, Beach Boys tunes, and generations of sandy-haired locals, Malibu Lagoon State Beach is as iconic as it gets. Today it’s part surf break, part birdwatching haven, part movie-star backdrop-a heady Malibu cocktail that goes down easy on a sunny afternoon.
Before Malibu meant surfboards and stratospheric real estate prices, it meant land-lots of it. “The Malibu,” shorthand for the Topanga-Malibu-Sequit Rancho, stretched from Topanga Canyon clear to Ventura County, tideline to mountaintop. Imagine that as your backyard. Frederick Hastings Rindge, who owned a big chunk of it a century ago, rhapsodized in his 1898 memoir Happy Days in Southern California: “The ennobling stillness makes the mind ascend to heaven.” Not bad PR for beachfront property.
The Lagoon itself is no slouch either. More than 200 bird species have been spotted here-herons, egrets, pelicans, sandpipers-all doing their best to ignore the nearby paparazzi. On one side you’ve got cobble-stone surf beach, on the other, the flat alluvial plain deposited by Malibu Creek, now covered with chic cafes, pricey boutiques, and the city of Malibu itself. It’s a place where nature, history, and Hollywood collide-with a few seagulls squawking overhead to keep things honest.
And yes, surfing. Malibu Point’s famous break, where a southwest swell refracts against a reef to form long, peeling waves, has drawn generations of surfers to its lineup. If you’ve never seen a dozen surfers all vying for the same perfect wave-it’s part ballet, part demolition derby, and pure California theater.
Not all the drama here is in the water. For decades, beach access was the stuff of courtroom battles and political skirmishes. The now-legendary “Zonker Harris Accessway” sign-named for a Doonesbury comic strip character obsessed with the perfect tan-summed up Malibu’s peculiar blend of high culture, low humor, and sunburn. Today, the public has more access, but remember: respect the tide, and respect the beachside homeowners who live with sand in their flowerbeds.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach is located at 23200 Pacific Coast Highway on the ocean side of (PCH), directly across from Cross Creek Road, in Malibu.
Start with a mellow stroll around the lagoon on short nature trails, where interpretive signs clue you into the birdlife and wetlands. Then head down-coast to the historic Malibu Pier-700 feet of planking, pilings, and people-watching, first built in 1903 and still a favorite of anglers and daydreamers.
Turn north (up-coast) along the beach to Malibu Point, then past the exclusive Malibu Colony, where homes teeter on stilts above the surf. You’ll probably see a few famous names behind those gates-though they may be wearing flip-flops instead of red-carpet gowns. Keep going and the beach broadens again at Corral State Beach, backed by canyons and cliffs.
For a short outing, a loop around the lagoon and pier is plenty. For a longer, quintessential Malibu experience, keep striding up-coast as far as your legs-and the tides-will let you.