Palos Verdes Peninsula Beaches

Malaga Cove

Malaga Cove is immediately south of Torrance County Beach. Several surfing spots are popular here, including RAT Beach (Right After Torrance) and Haggerty's. Divers like the area. The sand and rock beach makes a good place for exploring. There are outdoor showers, but no restrooms. Tide pools are found at the south end. a partially paved road leads from the parking lot down to the beach. Other steep paths can be found.

Palos Verdes Peninsula beaches, Los Angeles County, CA

Palos Verdes Estates Shoreline Preserve

The 130-acre Shoreline Preserve extends 4½ miles along the Pacific coast from Malaga Cove to just south of Resort Point. This undeveloped park has numerous trails that wind along the bluff overlooking the ocean. In some places steep and hazardous trails lead down to the rocky coast.

The shore is most popular with divers and surfers. Tide pools along the base of the bluffs make interesting places to investigate. As a marine preserve, nothing can be disturbed or removed, including shells. The shore is a wintering area for shorebirds such as willets, marbled godwits, and plovers.

Bluff Cove

One of the most popular spots along the Shoreline Preserve is Bluff Cove. Visitors will find overlooks with views of the shore, ocean, and distant islands. A bluff trail provides a short tour of the area. At nearby Flat Rock Point a path leads down to Bluff Cove. Parking is available in a small parking lot at Paseo del Mar and Palos Verdes Drive West and also along the streets.

Several city-owned homes above Bluff Cove are slated to be demolished in 2013 due to landslide danger. The land will be left vacant as part of the preserve.

Lunada Bay

The point north of Lunada Bay is one of the top surfing spots along the coast. In the winter the surf can rival many of the more famous spots in California and Hawaii. Stories of fierce localism abound. Sections of bluff-top trails give visitors a scenic path to follow and overlook the ocean. A few steep, hazardous trails lead down to the shore, but they are not recommended.

Other Palos Verdes Peninsula
Beaches and Overlooks

Frank A. Vanderlip, Sr. Park

Location: 6500 Seacove Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes
Features: This half-acre, bluff-top park provides benches overlooking the ocean. There is a short path and a safety fence at the edge of the cliff. No other facilities are available nor is there beach access. The park is open from dawn to dusk.

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park

Notice: "As of July 9, 2024, Abalone Cove Beach, Sacred Cove Beach, and all beach access trails in the Abalone Cove Reserve are closed to the public until further notice due to impacts of accelerated land movement in the Portuguese Bend Landslide complex."

Location: 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes
Hours: Summer and weekends year-round 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, off-season weekdays noon to 4:00 PM
Fees: $5 per car, seniors free during off-season
Features: Two beaches - Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove - are the areas main attractions, although the bluff-top park area sees plenty of use. Trails, picnic areas, and restrooms are found along the bluff.

For a map and complete information, see our page
ABALONE COVE.

Ocean Trails Reserve

Location: 6500 Seacove Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes
Features: This half-acre, bluff-top park provides benches overlooking the ocean. There is a short path and a safety fence at the edge of the cliff. No other facilities are available nor is there beach access. The park is open from dawn to dusk.

Ocean Trails Resere Map, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles County, CA

Lunada Bay

Vicente Bluffs Reserve

Near Point Vicente, several convoluted parcels of land around the point are protected as part of the Vicente Bluffs Reserve. The largest section covers 69 acres.

South of the Point Vicente Lighthouse is a 9-acre fishing access. A prominent rock here named Toveemor is an important part of local Native American culture. The rock is considered to be the embodiment of a Tongva Indian deity and is associated with the local tribe's creation story.

Parking lots and restrooms are situated along Palos Verdes Drive West and South and along connecting Calle Entradero. Parking is also available along some of the streets. Near the lighthouse is an interpretive center.

Hikers enjoy a trail that winds along the bluff with several vista points. Among the unique features of the Reserve are hexagonal shaped columns of rock. The discovery of the endangered El Segundo butterfly there helped to confirm the importance of preserving the coastal scrub habitat.

The Alta Vicente Reserve, located inland of Palos Verdes Drive, contains another 55 acres with trails (not shown on our map). See Alta Vicente Reserve for more information about the area.

Public Transportation around the Palos Verdes Peninsula

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority buses connect the coastal (and inland) areas of the peninsula with adjoining Torrance and San Pedro. The buses only run on weekdays. Fares are $2.50 ($1 for seniors or disabled).

Gold and Orange Lines: The Gold Line begins at Miraleste School on Palos Verdes Drive East and follow Palos Verdes Drive South along the coast to Point Vicente School. The Orange Line follows the same route but extends at either end, beginning near Western Avenue and going out to Palos Verdes High School.

Lines 225 and 226: Connect Torrance and San Pedro to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority

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Ocean Safety

California State Parks and Recreation cautions that "large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly." Learn more about ocean safety at CA State Parks: Ocean Safety

Palos Verdes Peninsula Beaches

Los Angeles County

Palos Verdes Peninsula Beaches

Los Angeles County