El Matador State Beach

A Truly Magical beach!!! Great caves, photo ops, etc. Not easy access, so not handicap friendly! Watch your steps!!!

Hands down, my favorite beach. Discovered this once secret, hidden gem about eight years ago. Parking is limited, but even the walk from PCH doesn’t add much ground to cover. The view overlooking this beach is phenomenal. Love the staircases going down to the sand. Clean, private and beautiful spot for photos. I’ve often done a few photo shoots here related to work.

Only down side POLICE EVERYWHERE. Pitched a tent for a one night stay further down the road. In the morning as we were heading back toward LA. We took a little detour to what would become the highlight of our trip. This place is awesome. As we made it down the beaten path my entire group scattered looking for all the nooks and crannies throughout the rock formations. We eventually met up under a cave were we took some group photos and called it a day. One of the most memorable beaches in Southern Cali.

This is my favorite beach in so cal. Super clean (for socal standards). Tons of photo ops. So lots of «models» and bridal parties doing photoshoots here in the morning/​early afternoon. I’ve seen starfish from time to time and medium sized crabs on the north part of the beach by the rocks on a regular occasion.

Well, the beach itself is beautiful. Stunning, really. The huge rocks make for great photo ops, and beautiful shadows casting at sunset.
The major issue with El Matador, is that the State doesn’t seem to do anything to look after it. The trail leading down the beach is ridiculous. It’s washed out trenches, and definitely not accessible for anyone with even a small mobility issue. Kind of pathetic, but perhaps funds are low.
But if you’re fully able to walk on uneven ground, and jog the odd trench, it’s worth it.

This is a very fun beach to explore and visit. It is pretty rocky so beware of stepping down. And there is a lot of sea life all over the rocks.
The only downside of this beach is the parking and that’s about it. It’s really difficult to find for this beautiful gem. Otherwise I would come here all the time.

Beautiful beach and a great spot for taking photos and watching the sunset!
To start-​off with the downside, the beach requires you to make a decent hike down, has limited facilities (portapotty, small parking lot), has dead kelp along the shore, and is crowded. As we arrived, there was a party bus with a group of drunk people. They were loud and obnoxious. Thank goodness they left quickly. I was surprised they survived the hike down… Honestly though, don’t come here if you’re drunk — do yourself and everyone else a favor. You have a good chance of dying from falling down the steep cliff. Consider yourself warned.
The beach is well known for its rocky landscape. A lot of photo-​taking spots, and we found quite a number of professional photographers down at the beach, and even a wedding going on! The sunset was phenomenal. Because the waves crash into the large rocks, there is a light mist down by the sand, and as you watch the sunset in the distance, the horizon becomes hazy and dreamy. Glad we made a side trip from Zuma Beach to here. The sunset was worth it!

Finally got to come check this beautiful beach out on a day off. Located far and above the tourist-​heavy Zuma Beach and south Malibu, El Matador has a nondescript sign that leads you down a winding driveway to a paid parking lot — $ 8 for all-​day is not bad. There you will find only portable bathrooms, with some sinks, but no water fountains.
The beach can be accessed via a few staircases and some not-​so-​easy walks on dirt. Some paths have eroded, so hopefully they get refilled soon. The path is not for the faint of heart or physically challenged, which probably explains why the clientele of the beach itself are usually easy on the eye.
There are constant models being shot as well. The beach area is pretty narrow, but you should be able to find a spot to settle. Lots of mini grottos and rock formations as well.
What I loved the most was the view. Stunning in a 180* panorama on your iphone.
Kids may be not the best choice since there are lot of rocks and ragged edges from all the rocks/​grottos.

After final exams this summer, my friend and I decided to celebrate our freedom by going to El Matador. Despite living in West LA and having even done a road trip along the PCH, we’ve somehow always missed this spot.
But alas, we made it, and it was worth it! We went early morning on a weekday, and not surprisingly, there was only one car besides ours in the parking lot. Parking is $ 8 for the entire day, but there is limited parking along the highway if you don’t want to pay that extra $ 8. There is also a short, albeit steep, flight of stairs that one must take to go down to the beach, but they’re not that bad at all.
The beach itself is very beautiful and clean. The morning sea breeze felt so good, and we had lots of fun exploring the small caves.
We spent most of our time walking barefoot along the beach. My friend mostly contemplated quietly, and I did the same, while taking lots of photos of the cool rock formations that many people have already mentioned. It was a quiet, peaceful time for the both of us, since our brains were frazzled as an aftermath of testing after testing. I’m sure it’s more crowded during the weekends and during sunset times, but in the early morning, it felt very much secluded. I highly recommend coming here when it’s not crowded to enjoy it on a more intimate way.
WARNING: In one of the caves (it was like a thru-​tunnel), the entire wall is lined with worm-​like insects. My friend and I entered from opposite ends, crawling for the most part because the tunnel was tiny. When we met at the center, we took out our phones for a bit more light, and he (nonchalantly) pointed out that the entire wall was covered with wriggling worms. I FREAKED OUT and crawled as fast as I could back outside but tripped, fell, and dropped my DSLR (which then led to my second panic episode.) In the end, I didn’t get any worms on me, and my camera was fine, but in case you’re not the most comfortable with bugs, I’d make sure to check the walls are worm/​insect-​free before charging ahead.

Beautiful views, a dream for photographers, easy free parking on the PCH, and it’s never overcrowded. It’s very rocky, so some people might not find it perfect for swimming, but you can walk about a half mile south when the tied is low to a smoother section.
Be prepared for a hike down to the water, but the views are beautiful from both up top and down below. In the early evening this is a very popular place for wedding photos.
This is the perfect getaway from typical California/​LA beaches and it’s well worth the drive! While you’re in the area there are tons of great seafood places in Malibu like Paradise Cove Beach Café and Malibu Seafood.

Perfect for a hot summer day (or cold winter day, really). There isn’t a lot of beach space (i.e. sand), but it’s cool that you’re near rocks and caves and other unique stuff to look at.
Protip: park on PCH then walk to the beach. I’d also recommend bringing shoes for walking down to the beach area since you’ll need to take a sort-​of rocky path and stairs. Much easier to do in shoes. Trust me.

Beautiful beach off of PCH and not very crowded. Look out for the parking lot/​signs because you might miss it. We parked on PCH because the parking lot is tiny and was full. The view from up top is breathtaking. If you’d rather just enjoy the view from afar, they have a couple of picnic tables. There are two staircases that lead down to the beach and the view all the way down is amazing. The coast literally sparkles and the beach is a gradient from deep blue to a bright turquoise. It was scorching hot the day we went and I don’t like being in the sun for too long so I really appreciated the shade from the caves. Yes, caves… gorgeous.

This beach is very well worth the drive from Santa Monica! I left around 12 and there was no traffic at all heading there.
There’s street parking or self pay park $ 6 near the bottom. Make sure you wear proper shoes because it’s a very minor hike down to the beach.
As you are walking down, you’ll get a beautiful view of the sea and the beach! It’s honestly breathtaking.
When I went it had pretty big waves to boogie board on. I even wiped out pretty bad on one…
The beach here is pretty clean and just make sure you take your trash with you when you’re finished.

We finally made it out to this beach today as a first time visitor. :)
The parking area is rather small, but that’s fine since it’s $ 8 per car, for all day parking. We only stayed about 30 minutes or so, since we wanted to check out the rock formations, etc.
There were so many photographers + models, who were taking photos in the area. It must be a popular location for family photos, engagements, modeling portfolios, etc.
The beach is a bit small, you can finish walking through the entire area within 15 minutes. No dogs allowed. There are some «shade areas» where you can hide from the sun, but the shade is provided by the rock formations. :)
It was getting quite crowded by the time we were leaving (around 11:00 am or so). Porta-​potties are only located near the parking lot, there are none available on the actual beach below.
More photos here:

Heaven on Earth.
Come before noon to avoid the stresses of parking. Luckily, when I came here on a Sunday with my friend, a girl was just leaving and gave me her parking space. Parking is $ 8. The girl who gave me her spot also gave me her parking pass for $ 5. When my friend and I were leaving, we did the same thing for another car who just arrived and was looking for parking.
I came for the first time on a beautiful summer day in July. It was about 75 degrees Fahrenheit out. The water was perfect. It was a cool, crisp blue color and felt refreshing when I stood in it. Everything, from the entrance, walking paths, picnic tables, and the beach itself is really well-​kept. At one point while I was there, a couple of lifeguards walked up and down the beach to pick up trash.
Other Unilocalers aren’t lying — the rock formations are gorgeous. My friend and I explored the beach and enjoyed the rocks by taking pictures of, with, and on them.
Bring snacks or pack a light meal. You might find yourself there longer than anticipated. It’s so refreshing and beautiful you may never want to leave. There are no trash bins down at the beach. There are trash bins and picnic tables near the entrance. But I suggest eating at Neptune’s Net afterwards, which is a yummy seafood place a little further down PCH that is family– and biker-​friendly.

One of worst beaches for exploring, and cave exploring. The caves are too dark, air is too clean, the water too clear here. The beach goers are horrible, since everybody gets along.
Easy hike to shore, too sunny, too wind, too quite, clean water that you can’t drink. Damn you sea water in this time of drought.
Rocky cliffs with people who don’t trash the place.
Free parking along PCH opposite of the beach. It less challanging to do the whole crossy road or frogger walk since traffic is so low.
–Don’t go here, its heaven and you won’t wanna leave this island. Your get no work done and stay off your cellphone. Stay indoors and watch Netflix instead.
Once you look at my photos, your see what mean. Total dump, not worth the long drive.

I have been to many beaches in my time but this one is definitely at the top of the list!
It is absolutely beautiful.
We had no trouble at all finding parking. We arrived around noon on a Sunday and the lot was full (not a big deal) so we drove back up to PCH. Make sure you read the signs! We saw many cars get tickets. We ended up parking just a bit further but still pretty close to the entrance to the lot.
There was definitely a good amount of people but by NO means overcrowded. We live in Santa Monica so we know what an overcrowded beach looks like. I recommend walking up and down the beach and then finding your nook where you wanna spend your wonderful day!

If you’re a twenty-​something year old looking for a romantic beach to spend a couple of hours on the weekend, El Matador should do the trick. After you drive down some windy turns on PCH and pass by a few jaw-​dropping mansions, El Matador is tucked in its own little pocket on the Malibu coastline. I wouldn’t say it’s a hidden gem though. Lots of families come here, especially on the weekend. It can be difficult to stake out that little plot of sand with your beach towel when certain parts of the strand feel like Chuck E. Cheese.
But with that personal whiney-​ness aside, it’s definitely worth the trip. A nice area to get some sun with no piers or any form of civilization for miles. Everything just comes together; waves beating and retreating against the natural rock formations jutting out of the sea, a flock of seagulls getting some airtime on the thermal drafts, a lazy sun shining off in the distance. It’s one thing to wax poetic though – if you still need convincing, they shot part of this beach in The Notebook too. Just understand that a lot of other Los Angelenos will be aware of that as well when you go.

Hands down, one of my favorite beaches in California.
Private, clean, and just beautiful. Parking can get a bit tricky, just make sure you don’t get a ticket for not following the rules and signs. They are strict in this district.
This beach offers a romantic, calm vibe. A great place to visit. The sand is fine, the sea is clear and the rock formations with the birds make for great pictures. Definitely a great find!

Plage naturelle parsemée de rochers ou se posent les oiseaux. Pour s’y rendre il faut emprunter un sentier escarpé et des escaliers qui ont déjà été en meilleur état.

Want to visit a beach with breathtaking views and gorgeous rock formations? Go to El Matador! It’s in the Malibu area. (Fan# 58, thank you! I hope you like this review dedicated to you, whomever you are!)
There is something about the ocean, the beach, rock formations, birds, and beautiful scenic spots that soothes my soul. Life has not been the easiest for me over the last few months especially, but this place reset my soul to SUPERB. As I sat on the rocks, and watched the waves come in and out, I felt like the water didn’t wet my feet, it washed my spirit clean from the negative energy of past difficulties. I even cried with gratitude as I watched the sunset and captured the colors and life.
In terms of practical information: You can park on the street or in the self-​monitored lot for $ 8 (worth it). You have hike down via stairs and a short trail to the shore. There are tide pools. Great place to take pictures, sun bathe, swim, people watch, or hike around on the rocks. Bring your wet/​dry hiking shoes, camera, maybe a blanket and a picnic. I would not recommend flimsy flip flops unless you don’t want to enjoy the rock climbing or tide-​pool scavenging.
WARNING: They only have port-​a-​potties at the top near the parking lot, and they can get gnarly. So, bring hand wipes or hand sanitizer.
People are friendly, sunset is gorgeous. I will post my pictures later but was able to capture some beautiful scenic shots.
If you are in a romantic mood, there are lots of hidden caves during low-​tide were you can grab a smooch or two without too many on-​lookers.
My trip here on Sunday was magical.