Point Dume Hike ~ Malibu ⋆ Explore California with kids

California Perspective at the top of Malibu — California Perspective at the top of the Point Dume

Best place in Malibu to go out on a date – Point Dume Hike

Perhaps one of the most underrated yet one of the most picturesque hikes in all of Southern California not just Malibu is the Point Dume trail. Located at the tip of the peninsula the paths are relatively short, and have access to the beach on southward and northward aspects of the bluff.

Two men surfing at Point Dume in Malibu California — Couple of surfers catching the waves in Malibu

This hike is a perfect place to go out on the first date or take your parents to while they are in town. You won’t experience much of elevation along the paths; the Dume cove beach is easily accesible via stairs, although you will have to climb some man-made narrow paths if you will try to make it to the Point Dume State Beach located on the northern aspect of the bluff. We would recommend to do this hike with your children although you will have to exercise caution due to the sharp drops at the edges of the cliffs.

Alisa Hiked all the way from Point Dume State Beach without shoes to the top of the cliff

Besides the quick hike at the top of the hill overlooking the ocean you might like to descend to the Westward beach and circle around some rocks to reach your private Billion Dollar beach in Malibu that you can have all to yourself, typically on any weekday in the morning.

Billion Dollar Beach in Malibu that you can have all to yourself

Rock climbing/Surfing Point Dume

One of the unique places to go rock climbing in California would be at the Point Dume State Beach aka Westward beach. We didn’t extensively looked into whether you’d need a permit to set up the climbing equipment but it seems like there are rock-climbing clubs scaling almost vertical sheet of rock practially on any weekend.

Young people rock climbing on the beach in Malibu California — Rock climbing club at the north rock face, Point Dume State beach Malibu California

Furthermore, you will definitely see some surfers at the Dume Cove which has perfect waves almost all the time. If you’d like to sand surf – Point Dume State Beach would be a better place to do that.

Two girls rock climbing in Malibu near Pacific Ocean — Professional rock climbing scaling the rock sheet at the beach in Malibu

The Dume Cove beach has a relatively rocky bottom and is ideal if you’re planning to go tide pooling. Just remember not to collect any of the marine life including shells and corrals.

Coral found in Malibu while tide pooling — Marine artifact found while tide pulling at Dume cove, that we safely placed back

First of all it’s illegal and second you want to make sure that future generations have an opportunity to enjoy this unique Malibu’s biosphere as well. Leo Carrillo state beach on the way to Point Mugu is yet another cool spot to go tide pooling in Malibu.

California perspective at the Point Dume hike

Wild life at point Dume

Hiking the short trail in Malibu is ideal to take your kids to. Top of the cliff makes for an awesome observation point of the annual whale migration. You might want to check up on the official sources regarding the specific dates though.

A rookery of sea lions diving off the cliffs into Pacific Ocean in Malibu — A family of sea lions we met in Malibu near Billion Dollar beach

I guarantee you that you will see some dolphins and most likely sea lions on any given day. You will definitely see some pelicans and other marine birds.

Sea lions with pups at the Malibu beach — Young sea lion pups at the Pirate Cove beach learning how to swim

Some people go diving in the area although it might be a bit dangerous given the rocky nature of the ocean bottom and big waves .

Parking at Point Dume.

Malibu surfers - two guys — Couple of guys waiting for the waves to pick up

There are pretty much two options to choose form. See the map below for better location of the parking lots.

1. Park along Cliffside drive (houses about 10-12 cars) at the top of the cliff – free parking

Two parking option for Billion dollar beach and Dume cliffs — Parking for Point Dume hike

2. Westward Beach Parking along the westward beach at the button of the cliff -$12-15/ day

What else is there to do in Malibu?

Check out Getty Villa as you enter the Gold coast, although you might have to get the parking reservation ahead of time. Then you might want to swing by the Pepperdine University Alumina park. Stop for a hike to the water falls at the Solstice Canyon. Check out the El Matador Beach.

Obviously you will want to hike down to the Billion Dollar Beach at the Pirate cove bellow the Point Dume hike. Perhaps if you haven’t done enough tidepooling and hiking head out to the Leo Carrillo State Beach at Point Mugu.