The headlands, cliffs, trails, and beaches of 63-acre Point Dume State Beach and Point Dume Natural Preserve make an exciting location for a day of exploring. Cliffs provide places for birds to roost. Over 100 types of birds are found here. Watch the sky for brown pelicans, falcons, and hawks. Other animals roam the park, including coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, and skunks.
We’ll start at free Zuma Beach and walk to Point Dume Beach where a trail leads up to an ancient coastal bluff sand dune with amazing views. From the summit we can look out to Santa Monica Bay, along the Malibu coast, and inland to the Santa Monica Mountains. In the distance Catalina Island is visible on clear days.
🦈A boardwalk leads to an observation platform. We may spot sea lions, harbor seals, and dolphins swimming just offshore. It makes a great place to watch for whales during their annual migration, anytime from December through March.
Another trail traverses off the eastern side of the bluff to a stairway that descends 100 feet to an isolated beach at Dume Cove. Tide pools await us if we can arrive at low tide. We’ll look for sea stars, mussels, crabs, sea urchins anemones, and perhaps even a shy octopus.
We’ll return to Sunset Restaurant via same stairs and along some alternate trails. Happy hour begins at 3pm
“Hike” is about 3.5 miles with 500 feet total ascent and is rate Easy+ due to 100 foot climb up the gentle stairs. See HWD Hike Rating Guide
DIRECTIONS
Park for free on Westward Beach Rd We meet in front of the Sunset Restaurant
