A Walk Around Paradise Cove Beach, Malibu, California

Paradise Cove in Malibu is a public beach in front of a privately-owned facility by the same name. The property and the restaurant has surfboards all around and the outside seating area has wooden lounge chairs, palm trees, and thatched umbrellas that almost has a Hawaiian feel. Ironically though with all the surfboards around the owners banned surfing for years until the California Coastal Commission forced them to allow it. The CCC also forced the owners to quit charging fees for visitors who park outside the property and walk in to the beach, but they still charge for parking on-site. If you are here for under four hours and eat at the Paradise Cove Cafe, the parking fee is cheap or free depending on the day of the week, but all-day parking at any time of the year is quite steep (see the Paradise Cove website for current parking rates). But this is a nice place and it’s worth the price of admission to use this wide sandy beach with lifeguards, clean facilities, and a private pier.

With such a name you’d expect a pretty stunning spot. It lives up to it’s name and has even been the setting for many beach scenes in Hollywood movies. Paradise Cove is a great starting point for long beach walks. Heading east you’ll walk below some Malibu mansions and find some private beaches. Heading west you can walk below steep sandstone cliffs all the way to Little Dume Beach and Big Dume Beach in Point Dume State Beach. The entrance to Paradise Cove is clearly signed at the address 28128 Pacific Coast Highway.