Leo Carrillo State Park – South Beach
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About Leo Carrillo State Park – South Beach in Malibu, California
South Beach at Leo Carrillo State Park is located at the mouth of a creek that flows out (rarely) of Arroyo Sequit and drains part of the Santa Monica Mountains in Western Malibu. This park is popular for hiking, camping, surfing, and tidepooling.
The beach created at this location is narrower than the park’s North Beach and is therefore less suitable for sunbathing. The waves at South Beach break around a picturesque point called Sequit Point and are popular for surfing.
Several sea caves and tunnels can be found in the rock walls at Sequit Point and they are the real highlight of this beach. Some of these caves are only exposed at low tide and others are higher above the surf, but watch your kids if they are exploring the point. At low tide there are excellent tide pools to explore at South Beach. The southern part of this cove is Nicholas Canyon County Beach which you can walk to, except at high tide.
South Beach at Leo Carrillo State Park is across Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) from the main parking lot just inside the toll booth entrance. Near this parking lot there is a popular large campground and a beach access trail that goes under PCH to South Beach.
Hiking trails also start at this parking lot and take adventurers up into the hills of the state park. The easy trail, known as Yellow Hill Trail, is an old road with a moderate grade. The harder option ascends a single-track trail called Nicholas Flat Trail for several miles and eventually reaches Nicholas Flat Natural Preserve with high elevation viewpoints. Near the campground there are trails that are wheelchair accessible.
Dogs are not allowed at South Beach, but they are at North Beach north of lifeguard tower number 3 as long as they are on a leash.
Note that if you don’t want to pay the entrance fee, and if you get lucky, there might be free spots along PCH near the park entrance.
- Address
- 35000 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265 - Phone
- 310-457-8144
- Park Name
- Leo Carrillo State Park, Nicholas Flat Natural Preserve
- Other Names
- Sequit Point, Arroyo Sequit
- Owner
- State Park
- Pet Details
- No dogs allowed on the beach
- Fees
- Fees for parking in state park lots (free spaces on shoulder of PCH)
- Activities
- Hiking, Surfing, Tidepooling, Fishing, Scuba Diving, Camping, Swimming
- Amenities
- Campground, Trails, Lifeguard, Restrooms, Showers, Sea Caves, Tide Pools, Accessible Features, Seashells
Nearby Beaches
Leo Carrillo State Park – North Beach
0.5 miles away
North Beach at Leo Carrillo State Park is a wide family friendly and dog friendly beach in western Malibu....
Nicholas Canyon County Beach
0.8 miles away
Nicholas Canyon County Beach is a long beach in western Malibu that is run by Los Angeles County. Surfers...
Leo Carrillo State Park – Staircase Beach
0.9 miles away
Staircase Beach is a little-used area within Leo Carrillo State Beach in western Malibu. Surfers are the main visitors...
Nearby Attractions
Solstice Canyon Hiking Trail
9.2 miles away
Hiking the Solstice Canyon Trail takes you up into the Santa Monica Mountains from Dan Blocker Beach (Corral Beach)....
Malibu Creek State Park
11.5 miles away
About six miles inland from the beaches of Malibu you’ll find Malibu Creek State Park. This park is a...
Nearby Lodging
Malibu Country Inn
6 miles away
A short walk from the beach and surf, the scenic Malibu Country Inn provides the luxury of sand and...
Malibu Vacation Rentals
6.6 miles away
Renting a vacation home in Malibu is one of the best ways to stay and enjoy this stretch of...
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