Malibu is a wealthy beachfront city in northwestern Los Angeles County. It is located northwest of Santa Monica, west of Pacific Palisades,  and south of the Santa Monica Mountains, Agoura Hills, Topanga, and Calabasas. Malibu is known for its 21 miles of beaches, movie stars, and its connection to the entertainment industry. Malibu beaches include Broad Beach, Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Paradise Cove, Point Dume State Beach, Topanga State Beach, and Zuma Beach.  Malibu Lagoon is part of the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. The Robert Mayer Memorial State Beach is west of Malibu. Malibu is home to the 830 acre Pepperdine University. Neighborhoods in Malibu include Carbon Beach, Malibu Colony, Serra Retreat, Malibu Road, Malibu Cove Colony, Broad Beach, Las Flores Beach, Point Dume, La Costa Beach, Winding Way, Encinal Bluffs, and Paradise Cove. Malibu Creek State Park is just north of Malibu.

 

Point Dume

Point Dume is a promontory on the coast of Malibu that extends out into the Pacific Ocean. The point forms the northern end of Santa Monica Bay. Point Dume provides an excellent view of Catalina Island, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and Zuma Beach. The northwestern tip of Point Dume has been designated Point Dume Nature Preserve. Point Dume has been an important landmark for ocean navigators since it was discovered by the English explorer, George Vancouver in 1793.

 

 

Malibu Creek

Malibu Creek is a year-round stream in the Santa Monica Mountains that flows from the dam at Malibou Lake through Malibu Creek State Park to Malibu Lagoon which is part of the Santa Monica Bay and Pacific Ocean. Malibou Lake was created in 1926 after a dam was constructed at the confluence of Triunfo Creek and Lobo Creek. Water that regularly overflows the dam is the headwater of Malibu Creek. Malibou Lake is not spelled like the name of the stream and city.

 

Malibu Lagoon State Beach Park

Malibu Lagoon State Beach, also known as Surfrider Beach, is a 110-acre site established as a California state park in 1951. Malibu lagoon is an estuary at the mouth of Malibu Creek at the Pacific Ocean in Malibu which is in Los Angeles County. The famous Adamson House is located within the Malibu Lagoon State Beach Park near the Malibu Pier.

 

Malibu Pier

The Malibu Pier, which is adjacent to Malibu Lagoon State Beach, formerly Surfrider Beach, is a destination for surfers from around the world. The views from the pier are magnificent. They include the Channel Islands including Catalina Island, Santa Monica Mountains, the local surfing Malibu beaches, and the coastline west to Point Dume, east to Santa Monica, and Southeast to Palos Verdes.

 

Malibu Bluffs Park

Malibu Bluffs Park is a six acre community park, over looking the Pacific Ocean, located at the intersection of Malibu Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The community center can be rented for private parties, company picnics, and other activities. The park is owned by the City of Malibu.

 

Leo Carrillo State Park

Leo Carrillo State Park is a 2,513-acre state park established in 1953 along the coast in Malibu. With 1.5 miles of beach, the state park is partially located in the Santa Monica Mountains and covers parts of Los Angeles County and Ventura County. The beach offers swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and fishing. Camping is permitted in the Santa Monica Mountains. The state park is administered by the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

 

Malibu Colony

Malibu Colony was one of the first areas in Malibu made available to the public in 1929 and is a famous ocean front gate guarded community. Malibu Colony is south of Malibu Road, west of Malibu Lagoon Sate Beach, and east of Malibu Bluffs Park. Homes in Malibu Colony have spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the coastline from Point Dume to Rancho Palos Verdes.

 

 

Malibu Bluffs Open Space

Malibu Bluffs Open Space consists of 84 acres adjacent to, and west of, the Malibu Bluffs Park. The open space area provides spectacular views both east and west along the coast, as well as views of the Santa Monica Mountains. The area includes several trails and access to Malibu Beach.

 

Malibu Equestrian Park

The Malibu Equestrian Park is a public park owned by the city of Malibu located adjacent to Malibu High School at 6225 Merritt Drive. It features two riding rings, a picnic area, and restrooms. The facility is open to the public for practice and recreational riding and is available to be rented for horse shows.

 

Ramirez Canyon Park

Ramirez Canyon Park is a 22.5 acre state owned park located in Malibu. The park, which is owned and operated by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservatory, has lush vegetation, several streams and ponds, and lots of wildlife. The park connects to both Escondido Canyon and Corral Canyon.

 

Malibu Golf Club

Malibu Golf Club located in the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu is a privately owned, public golf course. The 18 hole course, designed by William Francis Bell, is located in a truly majestic setting at 901 Encinal Canyon Road. Memberships are available.

 

Dan Blocker State Beach

Dan Blocker State Beach is a Santa Monica Conservancy owned public beach offering swimming, surfing, kayaking, fishing, and scuba diving. It is located in Malibu between Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Road. The beach, also known as Corral Beach, is about 1.5 miles long.

 

Paradise Cove Beach and Pier

Paradise Cove Beach is a privately owned beach in Malibu that is available for use by the public for a fee. The beach is absolutely beautiful and the views of the Santa Monica Bay and coastline are incredibly beautiful. Paradise Cove Beach is located south of Pacific Coast Highway, just east of Kanan Dume Road and northeast of Point Dume and Point Dume State Preserve.

 

Las Tunas State Beach

Las Tunas State Beach is the beach at the far east end of Malibu. It offers surfing, swimming, diving, and fishing. Free parking is available along Pacific Coast Highway.

 

Nicholas Canyon County Beach

Nicholas Canyon County Beach in Malibu, also know as a Zeros by local surfers, is a popular beach for surfing, body boarding, swimming, and bodysurfing. It is one of the few beaches where parking is relatively easy for the handicapped. The beach can be reached from Pacific Coast Highway, just west of Decker Canyon Road.

 

County Line Beach, Malibu

County Line Beach is located in Solromar, an unincorporated beach community in Ventura County at the county line with Los Angeles County. While Solromar has a Malibu zip code, it is located northwest of Malibu between Whaler’s Village Condominiums to the east and the Marisol homes to the west. The one-half mile beach is located at the mouth of a canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains that lead to the California Coastal Trail. The beautiful beach is popular with surfers and scuba divers. Wildlife includes whales, dolphins, seals, and several species of birds.

 

Corral Canyon State Park

Corral Canyon State Park consists of over 1,000 acres of hiking areas in the Santa Monica Mountains between Dan Blocker Beach and Malibu Creek State Park. It is the only coastal canyon in the Los Angeles County section of the Santa Monica Mountains that is totally undeveloped from the top of the ridge down to Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Corral Canyon Park was acquired by the Santa Monica Conservancy in 1998.

 

Charmlee Wilderness Park

Charmlee Wilderness Park consists of over 532 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains. The park includes more than 8 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, panoramic views, and volunteer docent programs. A nature center is open most weekends. Charmlee Wilderness Park in Malibu, can be accessed at 2277 Encinal Canyon Road, just north of Pacific Coast Highway.

 

Tuna Canyon Park

Tuna Canyon Park is a 1,255 acre protected open space in the western Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu. It links over 18,000 acres of contiguous open space from Topanga State Park west to Las Flores Canyon, making it an important wildlife corridor. It provides 360 degree views from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Santa Monica Bay.

 

Decker Canyon Camp

Decker Canyon Open Space

Decker Canyon Camp is a 38 acre tent camping site located in the Santa Monica Mountains just north of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on State Highway 23, which is Decker Canyon Road. Reservations can be made through the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

 

Malibu Pier Sports Fishing

Malibu Pier Sports Fishing has been operating from the Malibu Pier since 1934 offering sports fishing from its 48 foot sports fishing boat specifically designed for a successful fishing experience. The boat usually leaves the Malibu Pier at 7:00 am each morning with a maximum capacity of 32 passengers. The boat is also available for private charters and sightseeing.

 

Malibu Playhouse

The Malibu Playhouse, formerly the Malibu Stage Company, is a community theater that provides high quality, live entertainment in Malibu.

 

Serra Retreat - Malibu

Serra Retreat, sometimes referred to as Serra Canyon, is an affluent, highly wooded community of approximately 96 homes on lots ranging from one-half acre to more than four acres, located in the heart of Malibu adjacent to Malibu Creek in lower Malibu Canyon. The exclusive Malibu community is named after the Franciscan friars who acquired a lot in 1942 and later built a spiritual retreat known as the Serra Retreat. The retreat was named after Junipero Serra, the founder of the California missions. The guard-gated community is maintained by the Serra Canyon Property Owner’s Association.

 

Serra Retreat Center - Malibu

The Serra Retreat Center is a Catholic retreat and conference center located on top of a 23 acre knoll in Malibu just north of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Lagoon State Beach, and east of Cross Creek Road. The center has incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains. There are two large conference rooms that can accommodate 100 and 300 people, plus two smaller meeting rooms. The Chapel seats 100. The location and facilities make the Serra Retreat Center a popular place for both weddings and a place to celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed on.

 

Monte Nido

Monte Nido is a small unincorporated community located in the western part of Los Angeles County about three miles north of Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains.

 

Malibu Arts Festival

The Malibu Arts Festival is a two day annual summer event that takes place at the Malibu Civic Center. For more than 42 years over 200 award-winning artists, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, and other unique artisans gather and display their work. The festival is an opportunity to meet the artists and learn more about various forms of art. The arts festival also includes an entertainment stage where musicians perform on a rotating basis, and a children's workshop where kids work with artists to create their own art. The festival is always great family fun.

 

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art is a first class art museum on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu. Constantly changing exhibitions are generously provided by the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation.

 

 

Latigo Point Beach

Latigo Point Beach, a private beach in Malibu, is located east of Paradise Cove and Escondido Beach, and west of Dan Blocker State Beach. Since the beach is private, visitors are required to stay below the mean tide line. Public access stairs are located off of Latigo Shore Drive south of Pacific Coast Highway. There are no public restrooms on the beach. The water is usually clear.

 

Sostomo - Deer Valley Loop

Solstice Canyon Park

The Sostomo - Deer Valley Loop, in the Solstice Canyon Park, is in the Santa Monica Mountains north of Malibu, just north of Dan Blocker State Beach and Latigo Point. The Sostomo - Deer Valley Loop can be accessed by hikers via the Solstice Canyon Trail which follows Solstice Creek along the floor of the canyon. The starting point is from Pacific Coast Highway. The park offers incredible views of Malibu Bay and the surrounding mountains, picnic areas, beautiful oak and walnut groves, and the historic Keller House, a stone house built in 1865.

 

Adamson House

Malibu Lagoon Museum

The Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum is located just south of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu where Malibu Creek meets the Malibu Lagoon portion of the Pacific Ocean. In 1929-30, the present home was built for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and Merritt Huntley Adamson on the 17,000 acres and 20 miles of Malibu coastline owned by the family. At that time, the estate was referred to as Vaquero Hill. The estate is currently within the Malibu Lagoon State Beach Park, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and was designated a California Historical Landmark in 1985. It is famous for its architectural design, extensive use of ceramic tile, original furniture, museum, and location. Docents are available to provide tours.

 

Chumash Indian Trail – Malibu

Chumash Indian Trail – Malibu is also known as the Old Indian Trail. It starts at Trancas just to the west of Zuma Beach and ends where it meets the Ridge Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. The trail was named in honor of the Chumash Indians who inhabited the area for thousands of years.

 

Zuma Canyon

Zuma Canyon Trail

Zuma Canyon Trail, one of the most popular trails in Malibu, is a 2.8 mile hiking trail in the Santa Monica Mountains that explores the Zuma Canyon. Both the Ocean View Trail and Canyon View Trail can be accessed from the Zuma Canyon Trail. The Zuma Canyon trailhead is at 5875 Bonsall Drive in Malibu. The hiking trails offer great views of Santa Monica Bay, Malibu, and the Santa Monica Mountains.

 

Trancas Canyon Park

Trancas Canyon Park is a 6.7 acre community park in Malibu that features covered picnic tables, a large western themed children's play area, a multiuse sports field, restrooms, and lots of open space. The park is located about one-half mile north of Pacific Coast Highway on Trancas Canyon. The park is surrounded by beautiful hills. Fires are not permitted in the park.

 

Trancas Beach

Trancas Beach is a beautiful beach located west of Zuma Beach and east of Lechuza Point. The Chumash Trail, also known as the Old Indian Trail, can be accessed from Pacific Coast Highway at Trancas.

 

La Piedra State Beach

La Piedra State Beach is a public beach just west of Malibu and is part of the Robert Meyer Memorial State Beach. The beach offers beautiful sandstone cliffs, and reefs and kelp forest for divers. Lobster season opens in October and large white sea bass are right off shore.

 

The Great Sand Dune

The Great Sand Dune is a large naturally formed sand dune on the north side of Pacific Coast Highway. It is located west of Malibu and east of Point Mugu. It was formed over thousands of years by the wind and has become a popular place to hike. Views of the beach and Pacific Ocean from the top are absolutely spectacular.

 

Luchuza Point - Luchuza Beach

Luchuza Point is a small promontory extending into Santa Monica Bay. The unusual rock formations make the point a favorite site for geologists to explore. It is located just west of Trancas Beach and east of Luchuza Beach. Access to the beach is from Broad Beach Road south of Pacific Coast Highway where it meets Trancas Canyon.

 

Malibu Civic Theater

The Malibu Civic Theater, located at the Malibu Civic Center, is available for musicals, concerts, company training, lectures, and more. The theater seats up to 253 people.

 

Michael Landon Community Center

The Michael Landon Community Center, located at the 6 acre Malibu Bluffs Park, is available to rent for private parties, company picnics, and sports events.

 

Legacy Park - Malibu

Legacy Park is a 17 acre open space community park and preserve located in Malibu adjacent to the Civic Center and just north of Malibu Lagoon State Beach. It features a large pond that captures storm water, a hiking trail, several large mosaic animal statues, and native vegetation. There are also plaques that explain each of the five habitats that exist in Malibu.

 

Sara Wan Trailhead at Corral Canyon

The Sara Wan Trailhead at Corral Canyon provides convenient access to the 1,000 plus acre Corral Canyon State Park in Malibu between Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Dume Road. 

 

Wishtoyo Chumash Discovery Village

The Wishtoyo Chumash Discovery Village is an authentic re-creation of a Chumash Indian Village. It is located in Malibu on a four acre site at Nicholas Canyon County Beach on a bluff overlooking Malibu Lagoon. The history of the Chumash People can also be explored at the Chumash Museum and Interpretive Center in Thousand Oaks and at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Center just south of Newbury Park. Both are located in nearby eastern Ventura County.

 

God’s Seat

God’s Seat is a popular rock formation and overlook located north of Malibu in Ventura County approximately two miles east of the Circle X Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. God’s Seat is famous for its truly spectacular views of the Conejo Valley, Lake Sherwood, Sandstone Peak, and the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

Malibu Springs

Malibu Springs is a scenic area along the Backbone Trail in the central Santa Monica Mountains, north of Malibu and Leo Carrillo State Park. It is located on the boundary between Ventura County and Los Angeles County. The Circle X Ranch is to the northwest.

 

 

Las Virgenes - Malibu

Council of Governments

The Las Virgenes - Malibu Council of Governments (COG) is comprised of the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, and Westlake Village. COG was established by its members to provide a vehicle for members to engage in regional and cooperative planning and coordination of government services and responsibilities. The members from the five cities meet monthly.

 

Malibu Library

The Malibu Library is a 16,530 square foot library operated by the County of Los Angeles Public Library. It includes a children's area, teen area, and reading garden.

 

Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit

Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit was the 13,316-acre Spanish land grant given in 1804 to present day Los Angeles County that included Malibu, parts of Topanga, and a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains. Adamson House, built in 1929, is a historic site in Malibu.

 

Escondido Falls

Escondido Falls are magnificent waterfalls located within Escondido Canyon Park in Malibu. Castro Crest located off of the Backbone Trail in Malibu, offers spectacular views of the Channel Islands and Pacific Ocean. Arroyo Sequit Park and Cold Creek Canyon Preserve and Trail are also in Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains.

 

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University a private research university, established in 1937, has its main campus on 830 acres in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Other campuses are located in Calabasas, Irvine, and West Los Angeles. There are also several international campuses. Pepperdine is affiliated with the Church of Christ. The university is composed of an undergraduate liberal arts school and four graduate schools including a school of law.

 

Malibu Campus - Santa Monica College

Santa Monica College, which started offering courses in Malibu in the late 1970s expanded its operations with a new campus in 2023. Santa Monica College, established in 1929, is an accredited public community college with more than 30,000 enrolled students. The founder of Pacific-Realtors.net Michael Chulak, has been an instructor in both Malibu and Santa Monica. Classes he offered included legal aspects of rear estate, real estate finance, and property management and leasing.