12 Dog-Friendly Beaches in Malibu, California 2023

Pet friendly beaches are great for having fun with our furry friends. Every dog parent feels the pain of leaving them before the holidays. Fortunately, Malibu has some great dog-friendly beaches where dogs can run, play and jump around the water.

Every dog-friendly beach has some basic rules. Every owner must follow them before bringing the pets. You can also spend some days near the beaches.

1. Staircase Beach – Malibu, CA

Staircase beach is situated at the North end of Leo Carrillo State beach. It’s a small used place where surfers are the major visitors. The best way to explore this beach is by walking. It’s narrower in the North than in the South. A zig-zag trail goes down to the bluff face from the parking lot.

This beach is quite a rocky location. The South end of the beach is good for relaxing on the sand. The place has a beautiful nature view. The rock formations are gorgeous for photoshoots. The area has public restrooms, but facilities and amenities are fewer on the beach.

• Dog rules: The North beach of Staircase allows dogs with leashes. The owners must be responsible for the cleanliness of the area. 
• Timings: From sunrise to sunset.
• Entry fee & Parking: $3 per hour is charged. 

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels: 

• Malibu Country Inn.
• The M Malibu.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.
• Hyatt Regency Westlake.

Address: 40000 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, CA.

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2. Little Dume Beach

Little Dume is a famous California beach among the surfing community. The beach is secluded and sandy, with rocks backed by stiff cliffs. It’s a smaller and lesser-known place protected by private guards. It’s located near Point Dume and is known by two other names, Malibu Riviera II Beach Easement, and Little Dume Beach Club.

Apart from being dog friendly, this beach has plenty of other activities. It includes surfing, scuba diving, swimming, tide pooling, and beach combing. It takes 30 minutes, 1.5 miles from Big Dume Beach. Point Dume is an excellent tourist attraction only six minutes away by car from here. 

• Dog rules: The furry kids must wear their leashes. The dogs are not allowed in the water beyond the mean high tide level. Keep poop bags with you.
• Timings: From 7 am to 10 pm. 
• Entry fee & Parking: No payment is required.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Malibu Country Inn.
• The M Malibu.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.
• Hotel June Malibu.

Address: 29208 Cliffside Dr, Malibu, CA 90265, United States.

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3. Leo Carrillo State Beach

Leo Carrillo is famous for surfing and windsurfing and is one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Malibu. It has a Pacific beach lined with caves & tide pools. The South side of the beach is rocky. During low tide, fabulous tide pools and sea life get visible. 

People can enjoy different activities here, like – swimming, surfing, windsurfing, beach combing, and surf fishing. You can explore the coastal caves and reefs around the beach. The Leo Carrillo State Park has a backcountry hiking trail. The Giant Sycamores are the main campgrounds here. 

• Dog rules: Dogs with leashes are welcome here. They must stay above the main high tide level.
• Timings: From sunrise to sunset.
• Entry fee & Parking: No entry fee is charged.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Thousand Oaks.
• Hyatt Regency Westlake.
• Malibu Country Inn.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.

Address: 35000 West Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265.

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4. Coral Canyon Trail

Coral Canyon Trail is a great spot for dogs and hikers. This trail is full of natural beauty and vegetation. It has stunning views of sunsets and the ocean. It’s a 3.9 km loop trail near Malibu. The trail is considered a moderately challenging route and takes almost 1 hour and 14 minutes to complete. The best time to go hiking here is between October to March. 

The place remains open for the whole year for 24 hours and is famous for running, hiking, and bird watching. You can also explore the surrounding areas of Coral Canyon Trail. The evening is an excellent time to spend here, and the local restaurants have delicious seafood options. 

• Dog rules:  Dogs are always welcome but with a leash.
• Timings: Open all year round.
• Entry fee & Parking: $12 is charged for Parking.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Hilton Garden Inn Calabasas.
• Malibu Country Inn. 
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Thousand Oaks.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.

Address: Malibu, CA 90265, USA.

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5. Topanga Beach 

Topanga Beach is one of the most popular surfing spots in Malibu. The place is full of cobblestones and reefs, but it’s not suitable for swimming. Apart from surfing, people also enjoy scuba diving, fishing, and sunbathing here. The beach is spread over 21.5 acres and has over a mile of ocean frontage. 

Topanga is the first natural beach in Malibu and offers 96 parking spaces and beach wheelchairs. The beach also has restrooms, picnic spaces, and showers on site. Topanga Canyon it’s straightforward to reach from here. You have to cross a small mountain range for that. 

• Dog rules: Dogs are always welcome but with a leash.
• Timings: Open for 24 hours. Gates are accessible from sunrise to sunset.
• Entry fee & Parking: The Parking costs $2 on weekdays and $5 on weekends.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Hilton Garden Inn Calabasas.
• Hilton Woodland Hills.
• Cambria Hotel Calabasas.
• Best Western Plus Carriage Inn.

Address: 18700 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu, CA 90265.

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6. Rosie’s Dog Beach

It’s among the rarest beaches in Malibu, with an off-leash area for dogs. The beach is spread across 4 acres of land, and the dogs run here on the sand. The place is excellent for walking or having family time. There are showers, restrooms, and water fountains for the pups and us. 

Bags and pooper scoopers are available here, but owners are advised to bring their own. Dogs are not allowed after a particular time zone. This area is not fenced; hence the pup’s parents must be careful enough. 

• Dog rules: Dogs should be on leashes on their way to the dog beach. Inside the dog beach, they have an off-leash area. Only one dog per adult is allowed. 
• Timings: From 6 am to 8 pm, every day.
• Entry fee & Parking: They charge 25 cents every fifteen minutes from 6 am to 8 pm.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• The Pacific Inn.
• Golden Sails Hotel.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Seal Beach.
• Residence Inn by Marriott Cypress Los Alamitos. 

Address: 5000 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803, United States.

7. Corral State Beach

Corral State Beach is among the less popular ones, located right off the highway, and has plenty of parking spaces. Food and drinks are available right across the street at Malibu Seafood. 

The beach has plenty of amenities, like – toilets, showers, dressing space, a beach bar, lifeguards, and a few boats. It’s a good option for surfing and relaxing. It also includes a short hiking trail across it. Besides all the excellent facilities, Corral State Beach has a high risk of sharks. 

• Dog rules: Dogs under four months are not welcome. Bring your dogs with a leash and dispose of the waste before leaving.
• Timings: From 7 am to 10 pm.
• Entry fee & Parking: $12 per person is charged. 

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.
• Malibu Country Inn.
• The M Malibu.
• Hilton Garden Inn Calabasas.

Address: Malibu, CA 90265, USA.

8. Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Malibu Lagoon State Beach is also known as Surfrider Beach, dedicated as the First World Surfing Reserve in 2010. This site is known as an established California State Park. All types of rentals, bird scooters, and bikes are available here.

You can enjoy hiking, boating, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, or windsurfing. It also includes nature or wildlife viewing and several picnic areas. The beach is wheelchair accessible and also has outdoor shower facilities. 

• Dog rules: Dogs are allowed here but only till the parking lot. 
• Timings: From 8 am to sunset. 
• Entry fee & Parking: The entry fee and Parking depend on the duration. Like – $12 for all day, per car, $2 for one hour per car, etc. 

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Best Western Plus Carriage Inn.
• Ocean View Hotel.
• The M Malibu.
• Malibu Country Inn.

Address: 23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265.

9. Point Dume

Point Dume is known for being a promontory on the coast of Malibu. People enjoy the facilities of swimming, surfing and scuba diving here. It’s also the perfect place to watch California white whales. December to mid-April is the best time for this; hence it’s the migration period. 

Point Dume is the perfect spot to spend a beach day. It includes all the adventures like rock climbing and cave exploration. The beach has a mile of ocean frontage and is protected by headlands, cliffs, and rocky coves. There are amenities like restrooms, showers, restaurants, and parking spaces.

• Dog rules: Keep your dog on a leash and away from the high tide levels. Carry dog poop bags and water.
• Timings: Every day from 5 am to 7 pm.
• Entry fee & Parking: It costs $8 per car.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Hotel June Malibu.
• Hyatt Regency Westlake.
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
• Malibu Country Inn.

Address: Cliffside Dr & Birdview Ave, Malibu, CA 90265, United States.

10. Dan Blocker Beach Malibu

Dan Blocker is nice, clean, and is one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Malibu. This particular beach in Malibu has the reputation of having the cleanest public restrooms. The place also includes tables and benches to eat lunch. Many surfers, divers, and scuba enthusiasts visit this place regularly. Activities like swimming and fishing are famous here. 

This beach was once donated to the state of California in memory of Dan Blocker. He was famous for acting in a popular TV show, “Hoss.” Necessary amenities like ADA Compliant restrooms and parking spaces are here. It also includes a public viewing area and ocean-facing benches.

• Dog rules: Any dog older than four months old is welcome here. The owner should take responsibility for cleaning the dog’s poop. It should be on a leash. 
• Timings: Open to visit from sunrise to sunset. 
• Entry fee & Parking: Entry fees or parking charges are free.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.
• Malibu Country Inn.
• Hilton Garden Inn Calabasas.
• The M Malibu.

Address: 26000 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265, United States.

11. El Matador Beach

In Malibu, Robert H. Meyer State Beach has three beaches. El Matador Beach is the most famous and closest one to Malibu. Located between Leo Carrillo Beach and Point Dume Beach, it’s worth a visit. The place is trendy among visitors during summer. 

The place is full of beautiful rock formations and scenery. On the weekends, it gets crowded. Early morning is the best time to visit here, as, after 11 am, the crowd starts to build up. One fun fact is that the famous movie “The Notebook” was filmed here. 

• Dog rules: Try to keep your dog at home if it’s aggressive. Otherwise, dogs on leashes are allowed. 
• Timings: Available for a visit every day, from sunrise to sunset. 
• Entry fee & Parking: No entry fee is required.

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Malibu Country Inn.
• Hyatt Regency Westlake.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Thousand Oaks.

Address: 32350 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265, United States.

12. County Line State Beach

If you travel to Ventura, County Line is the last major beach to visit. The beach is easily accessible at the South end. As moving up on the beach, there is a sharp drop-off from the road. This area has lots of large boulders. Apart from the main Parking, there are few PCH basis parking on sideways. 

County Line is a state beach, so it allows alcoholic beverages. The beach has lots of food options nearby. Though drinking alcohol is not permitted in the parking lot. Many surfers and bikers are found on this beach. This one is a crowded place, so try to avoid the weekends. Lifeguards are always present. 

• Dog Rules: Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash for the whole time. 
• Timings: It’s open 24 hours but preferable from sunrise to sunset. 
• Entry fee & Parking: The parking lot is small, no charges are required. 

Nearby Pet-Friendly Hotels:

• Malibu Country Inn.
• The M Malibu.
• Hampton Inn & Suites, Thousand Oaks.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills. 

Address: 11690 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265, USA.

Conclusion

Dog-friendly beaches are lovely for spending your day off with your pet. Dogs love outdoor fun, and it’s excellent for their health. The water, sand, and open air are relaxing for our pets. Sometimes it gets tough to travel with dogs. Some places don’t welcome them, but Malibu has beautiful dog-friendly beaches.