Our Malibu Beaches

Our Malibu Beaches Our Malibu Beaches Our Malibu Beaches

The Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority helps members of the public “reach the beach.”

By Nicholas Mattson

Of the many beaches along the 21-miles of scenic beauty on the coast of Malibu, California, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) manages 12 beach access ways and two coastal overlooks, as well as three Malibu beaches — Lechuza, Escondido and Carbon-La Costa beaches. MRCA is “dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring public access to public parkland,” and “is committed to providing maximum public coastal access to the spectacular Malibu coastline where the Santa Monica Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.”

To accomplish its goals, which include coastal access for all, MRCA launched a public information program to help the public navigate and enjoy the Malibu beaches, access ways, and Santa Monica Mountain coastal trails. This summer, you can access that information in the palm of your hand with the Our Malibu Beaches mobile app. As a steward of public funds and private donations, MRCA implements coastal access projects to increase the public’s ability to reach the beach. “The coast is for everyone — a right guaranteed by the California constitution — irrespective of who you are, such as where you are from, what your income is, what you identify as your race, social-economic class, sexual and/or gender preference or what language you speak. Everyone is invited to recreate at and along the spectacular 21-miles of Malibu coast.” With the Our Malibu Beaches app, that access is more available than ever, including information on parking, low-tide access, homeowner boundaries, public access hours, other special conditions, and the all-important tidbits on sunset walks on the beach. Along with the app, MRCA provides information through social media platforms, MRCA’s website mrca.ca.gov/ coastal access,, print media like What to do in Malibu, or onsite at the beaches and access points themselves. At one of the 12 beaches or coastal parks MRCA serves, you can find helpful signage, onsite information, QR (Quick Response) codes, or pull out the Our Malibu Beaches app to get comprehensive information about the beach, park or trails around Malibu and in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Whatever you read, discover, uncover, or realize about our Malibu beaches or yourself while you are here, the message is always the same — you are welcome here. Onsite, when you find a QR code, scan it with a mobile device to discover information, including: • Where Can I Go on this Beach: all of the additional public lands are on the sandy beach. For example, an easement — the right to use someone else’s land for a specified purpose — may provide the public with the right to travel vertically from PCH or the first seaward road to the beach. These are known as

“vertical easements” as these public easements allow people to get to the beach from PCH or first seaward road such as

Broad Beach and Malibu Road; easements that allow the public to move and/or recreate along a beach are known as

“lateral easements” as they allow the public to move, fish, sunbathe and recreate on the beach parallel to the ocean. • Notice About High Tide Conditions: Some beaches are more constrained during high tides. Once the tide rises, people may face challenges in easily returning to their entry point to leave the beach. This QR code provides information on the daily high tides to let people plan their beach visits and avoid high tides. • How Do I Get to the Park/Beach: This QR code informs people of beach to coastal mountain trail connections. • MRCA is in the process of creating a 4th QR code: Your Coastal

Access Rights and Beach Safety. When visiting any Malibu beaches, or Santa Monica Mountain trails, take care to carefully read signage. Many visitors and nature lovers have been cooped up in a car and fighting traffic for parking and just can’t wait to get into the sun, sand, trails, surf and nature, but things can change from one visit to another and signs are there to provide important information about the area that help all the Malibu visitors enjoy the space together, safely and securely. Please abide by the beach and trail rules, such as, “No alcohol, No fires, Respect Private Property/ Neighbors, Operating Hours” and enjoy responsibly. MRCA signs always have contact information for 24-hour Ranger Services along with the rules provided for your enjoyment of our spectacular Malibu beaches and Santa Monica Mountain recreation areas. Please enjoy responsibly and leave the coast better than you found it! Thank you for coming to the Malibu coast. You are welcome here.

Discover Our Malibu Beaches