Leo Carrillo State Park – South Beach

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

Links

Water Quality
Water Temps
Tide Chart
Surf Report