The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is committed to providing maximum public coastal access to the spectacular Malibu coastline where the Santa Monica Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. In partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the MRCA manages a robust Coastal Access Program within the City of Malibu that includes 12 Malibu beach accessways and two coastal overlooks along various Malibu beaches, as well as Lechuza Beach, Escondido Beach and Carbon-La Costa Beach. The MRCA is also planning for the development of several other beach accessways to be opened in the future. For more information about Malibu beach access locations please visit: https://www.coastal.ca.gov/YourCoast/#/map OR download “Our Malibu Beaches” for free on the App Store or Google Play.
Last Updated March 22, 2023
High Surf Advisory Malibu Beaches March 22 -23, 2023
Flood Advisory Malibu Beaches March 22, 2023
Additional Winter Storm Impacts on Beach Accessways:
- Latigo Beach; 26500 Latigo Shore Drive (Temporary Closure Due to Storm Damage)
- Hidden Beach: At beachside of accessway, the beach profile is steep. Caution is advised going down to the beach until the beach profile increases. For beach access in the area, use Cliffside (382 feet upcoast from Hidden Beach) or Escondido Creek access (1,165 feet downcoast from Hidden Beach).
- Escondido Creek access – do not use this access during Los Angeles County flash flood warnings and other emergency warnings due to increased creek flow.
MRCA Beach Accessways
CURRENTLY OPEN
Maritime Rocks (Big Rock Beach); between 20516 & 20466 Pacific Coast Highway (New)
Miramar Coastal Overlook (Las Tunas Beach); between 19620 & 19562 Pacific Coast Highway
Dolphin View Coastal Overlook (Big Rock Beach); between 19812 & 19768 Pacific Coast Highway
Carbon Beach East (Carbon Beach); 22126 Pacific Coast Highway
Carbon Beach West (Carbon Beach); 22500 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu Pier (Carbon Beach); 23000 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu Road East Access (Amarillo Beach); 24038 Malibu Road
Hidden Beach (Geoffrey’s Restaurant); 27400 Pacific Coast Highway
Cliffside (Escondido Beach); 27420-27428 Pacific Coast Highway
Latigo Beach; 26500 Latigo Shore Drive (Temporary Closure Due to Storm Damage)
Lechuza Beach at East Sea Level Drive; 31544 Broad Beach Road
Lechuza Beach at Bunnie Lane Entrance; 31736 & 31712 Broad Beach Road (pictured above – MRCA staff photo)
Lechuza Beach at the intersection of West Sea Level Drive and Broad Beach Road (continue south on West Sea Level Drive once through the pedestrian gate)
NOW OPEN!
Maritime Rocks Beach Access
Located between 20516 & 20466 Pacific Coast Highway, this beach public access site is now open! New public beach access improvements include an ADA accessible viewing platform with bench, stairway to the beach, view permeable gate and fencing, and decomposed granite footpath along the highway shoulder.
NEW COASTAL ACCESS
MRCA Stewardship Operations at Carbon – La Costa Beach:
MRCA Rangers and Site Operations staff patrol and maintain this beach and roadside DAILY.
Carbon-La Costa Beach
21704-21714 Pacific Coast Highway
Dismissal and Settlement of Malibu Residents’ Carbon La Costa Action, 06/20/2022
Judge Denies Malibu Residents Preliminary Injunction Requiring Re-Fencing of Public Beach 11/30/2021
CA Coastal Commission Letter to SMMC 07/28/21
Carbon-La Costa Unpermitted Fence Removal Fact Sheet
SMMC Response to Public Comment @ SCC 5/27/21
SMMC Correction to The Malibu Times and Mayor Grisanti
SMMC Presentation to CA Coastal Commission 05/12/21
SMMC Presentation to CA Coastal Commission 06/09/21
Presentation to SMMC Board 07/19/21
Penelope, Cole and Ava PCH Undercrossing (Escondido Beach)
West of the intersection of Via Escondido Drive and Pacific Coast Highway
NEW JOB POSTING
Coastal Planning Project Manager
MRCA-Managed Parks in the Coastal Zone
For more than 25 years, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and its partners the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Los Angeles County, California State Parks, California Coastal Commission, State Coastal Conservancy, National Park Service and non-profit and community-based organizations, cooperatively work to provide maximum public access to beaches, coastal trails and coastal resources along the 21-mile Malibu coast and the public trail networks and parklands within the 156,000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
View Map of MRCA’s Coastal Zone Parks and Projects
MRCA’s Coastal Access Program complements the MRCA’s park, natural resource habitat protection, and the LA River programs. In addition to beach accessways, the MRCA’s Coastal Access Program includes coastal parks and trailheads across 27,000 acres of open space in the coastal zone that extend from Malibu’s beaches inland to King Gillette Ranch. The Coastal Access Program also includes planning and development of future beach accessways, parks, and trails, such as the long-envisioned 73-mile Coastal Slope Trail, a part of the statewide California Coastal Trail.
Upper Escondido Canyon – Murphy Way Coastal Overlook
Most recently, MRCA acquired 88 acres of beautiful open space with spectacular views that include the tallest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains, Escondido Falls. Come see your newest addition to Escondido Canyon Park and enjoy a lovely day discovering all the public trails that take you from the Santa Monica Mountains to Escondido Beach. You can see the lower falls from the Edward Albert trail off of Winding Way. To safely view the middle and upper falls from the newly-acquired parcels, please use the hiking and equestrian trail over Murphy Way that offers spectacular views of the coast and the middle and upper falls.
We need your cooperation! Please enjoy the views of the falls but do not climb to the falls to preserve the fragile habitat and avoid the risk of serious injuries.
Map: Coastal Public Access Program – Escondido Canyon
Map: Escondido Canyon Park to Escondido Beach
Current MRCA parks in the coastal zone include:
Cameron Nature Preserve at Puerco Canyon
Corral Canyon Park – Sara Wan Trailhead
CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Ramirez Canyon Coastal Vista & Trailhead
In May 2020, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) acquired 24-acres referred to as the Ramirez Canyon Coastal Vista & Trailhead. The park is currently closed to the public. The existing approx. one-mile loop trail and proposed trailhead amenities are not yet open and awaiting permit approval.
Contact Us
Elena Eger
elena.eger@mrca.ca.gov
310.589.3230 ext. 136