1 min
Overview
A short and easy beachside hike and stroll along the Pacific Ocean to some of the gems of coastal Southern California – including a beautiful lagoon filled with birds, one of the world’s landmark surfing beaches, and the historic Adamson House. From surfing and sunbathing to birdwatching, sportfishing, tidepool exploration, and a taste of local history, there’s a bit of something for everyone here – even those who don’t really hike. I’ll admit I wasn’t really that excited to write this trail up. Drive all the way out to Malibu for a tiny little park that’s a strip of sand on the coast? But on an unseasonably warm day in November, I headed west toward the beach and was very pleasantly surprised by what I found. After arriving at the small western parking lot, I laced up my sandals and unpacked my camera while those around me zipped up wetsuits and grabbed their boards. The first thing you see when you walk out of the parking area is a small overlook of the salt marsh – it’s enough to take you back to memories of Cape Cod – if you’ve ever had the privilege of exploring the cape’s salt marshes. There are some built-in beach chairs here if you just feel like soaking up some sun, but if you’re intent on exploring, walk past the small picnic area and look for a short, broad dirt path crossing some boardwalk bridges. When you reach the beach, you’ll see a lifeguard station and probably a decent number of surfers and paddleboarders. This is a pretty small stretch of sand as far as beaches go, but it’s still popular with the locals. Hang a left and walk along the coast. To your left, you will see Malibu Lagoon – and it will probably be full of birds. Depending on the tide, you may be able to walk out a decent distance into the lagoon itself – just be careful not to step on or disturb any of the wildlife. Just grab a seat on the sand (and maybe a pair of binoculars) and enjoy the company of creatures for a little while. When you’re done, walk back across the sand toward the coast and continue toward the mouth of the lago
Trail Stats
3.2 km
4 m
6 m
0 m
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Beach hiking in California
Beach hiking in California
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hiking on the beach near malibu
hiking on the beach near malibu
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