Point Dume Nature Preserve Malibu Beach Day Trip

Point Dume Nature Preserve has one of the best views across the Southern California coast. On a clear day, you can see the Malibu coast to Santa Monica. The preserve is 32 acres and has several fenced trails, one leading to the summit of Point Dume and the other to the beach below. Stay on the path. This is a protected area. Keep a close watch on children. There are many steep drops to the ocean below.

Hike to the Summit of Point Dume

A viewing platform along the boardwalk below the summit allows you to sit and enjoy the million-dollar view. The summit trail branches off to another trail, which leads you down a steep set of stairs to Dume Cove. If you decide to hike down to the beach, remember the climb back up is steep. Due to its remote location, the beach is usually quiet, even in the summer. Some tide pools are near the stairway to explore, or you can walk along the coast and enjoy the views.

Pirates Cove, Planet of the Apes, Final Scene

On the North side of Point Dume, there is a small and secluded beach known as Pirates Cove. This beach was used to film the final scene of the original Planet of the Apes movie in 1968. Several other scenes from the movie were also filmed at nearby Malibu Creek State Park. The main Ape City set was built next to Century Lake at Malibu Creek State Park, where the filming site for M.A.S.H. can still be seen today.

View of Zuma Beach From Point Dume

The drive along Pacific Coast Highway (P.C.H.) from Santa Monica will take you past the beachfront homes of movie stars and through the world-renowned Malibu Beach. You can expect to see exotic cars and enormous mansions overlooking the beach during your journey. The trip to the preserve is almost as enjoyable as the destination. There will be new photo opportunities at every turn of the road.

Parking Point Dume Nature Preserve

A small parking area is on the bluff along Cliffside Drive. There are only about 15 parking spots, so it’s a matter of luck if you get one unless you go early in the day.

All the streets have no parking, and you will get a ticket if you park on the road. Multi-million dollar estates surround the reserve, and the locals do not want visitors parking in front of their homes. Point Dume can also be reached via a steep trail from Zuma Beach, which has a large parking lot.

Getting to Point Dume

Point Dume is located at the northernmost tip of Santa Monica Bay. To reach it from Santa Monica, you must follow Pacific Coast Highway for 18 miles west until you reach Westward Beach Road. Turn towards the ocean and continue driving until you reach the very end of the road. A trail will lead you to the Point Dume Preserve.

Point Dume Nearby Attractions

Zuma Beach is a California

If you’re in Southern California, don’t miss out on visiting Zuma Beach in Malibu. It’s one of the cleanest beaches in Los Angeles County, and it’s not hard to see why. With three miles of white sand and comfortably warm Pacific water during certain seasons, it’s a preferred choice for locals and tourists alike.

Neptune’s Net Seafood Restaurant

Neptune’s Net Seafood has offered fresh seafood from its Malibu Beach location since 1974. The restaurant has been mentioned in several movies, including Point Break and The Fast and the Furious. The ambiance at Neptune’s Net is relaxed, with surfers in their wetsuits, bikers with leather chaps, couples, and families.

Paradise Cove Malibu Beach

Paradise Cove is a beautiful beach in California. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was a private RV campground. Nowadays, it is advertised as a budget-friendly alternative to paradise, and some mobile homes there are valued at over a million dollars. Mobile homes are one of the most cost-effective options for experiencing the luxury of residing in Malibu.

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