Exploring Point Dume

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. Park at Point Dume Beach and pick up the trail at the cul-de-sac at the end of Westward Beach Road. Limited alternate parking is found on Cliffside Drive up near the top of the bluff. Access the Cliffside Drive parking by taking Birdview off Westward Beach Drive.

The trails from Point Dume Beach or Cliffside Drive lead up to an ancient coastal bluff sand dune with an amazing view. From the summit visitors 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.

Caution: Check with rangers or lifeguards that conditions are safe for your planned activities.

A boardwalk leads to an observation platform which is often more sheltered on windy days. It makes a great place to watch for whales during their annual migration, anytime from December through March. Often, park visitors spot sea lions, harbor seals, and dolphins swimming just offshore.

Another trail traverses off the eastern side of the bluff to a stairway that descends to an isolated beach at Dume Cove. The old stairway was recently removed and a new one was started in 2020. The project was expected to be complete by summer 2021. Tide pools await those who take advantage of the new stairs and arrive at the beach at low tide. Look for sea stars, mussels, crabs, sea urchins anemones, and perhaps even a shy octopus.

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.

Park rangers ask that visitors stay on the fenced park trails to avoid damaging wildlife habitat. Dogs are not allowed in the park.

Check to see if the new stairs have been opened to the public: Point Dume State Beach.

Point Dume Surfing

A popular surfing spot off Point Dume is accessed via the trail on Cliffside Drive. Follow the trail to the stairs and down to the beach. Good surfing is found at the point between Dume Cove and Paradise Cove. The right point break can be crowded almost any time.

Point Dume Diving

Divers set out from Point Dume Beach to explore the amazing underwater world around the point. Close offshore the bottoms angles down into the depths of Dume Submarine Canyon. A long swim out takes divers to one of the most popular destinations on Point Dume - the Point Dume Pinnacles tower 25 to 50 feet. A myriad of sea life inhabits the area, including rays, sharks, sea lions, whales, cabezon, treefish, and rockfish. At low tide both pinnacles break the surface. During low tide divers can hike around the cliffs to Pirate's Cove, making the swim out shorter.

Currents are strong around the point, making it a hazardous place to dive. Always check with the lifeguards before setting out to find out about current conditions.

Point Dume Rock Climbing

The cliffs along the face of Point Dume are popular with experienced rock climbers. Most of the routes are 5.9 or lower. Bolts are in place for some ascents and at the tops of many climbs, but some of the bolts may be unreliable. Because of the good protection, Point Dume is considered an excellent place for beginning and intermediate climbers to develop their skill under the guidance of experienced climbers.