La Piedra State Beach sits between El Pescador State Beach and El Matador State Beach. The three of them form Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. In order to reach La Piedra you have to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway until you reach its parking lot. From there you make your way down a short trail in a sandstone cliff that is studded with steps. On your way down, take a minute to enjoy the bluff’s diverse flora; wildflowers and shrubs skirt the edge of the pathway most of the way down. You will probably find fewer people here than at Malibu’s more popular beaches.
The beach itself fluctuates between sandy and rocky. You will find plenty of room to sunbathe, but many visitors are more interested in exploring the rock formations and tide pools. If you are hoping to go tide pooling, you will want to be at the beach during low tide. You will likely come across crabs, mussels, sea stars, and anemones. Other common activities at La Piedra include surfing, swimming, bird watching, and fishing.
While dogs are prohibited on the beach, you might just catch a glimpse of indigenous mammals such as dolphins, whales, sea lions, and harbor seals. Birds that frequent La Piedra include pelicans, curlews, cormorants, and gulls. Since there is a kelp bed just offshore, a skilled fisherman could walk away with a white sea bass. Divers enjoy checking out the kelp bed as well, and when October rolls around you will find people attempting to catch lobsters.
If you want to keep exploring after you have checked out La Piedra, head over to El Matador. It is larger, but it will likely be more crowded. You can also spend some time in Leo Carrillo State Park, which boasts both a beach and spectacular inland trails.
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