Nicholas Canyon Beach

Nicholas Canyon Beach is located North of Decker Road on Pacific Coast Highway (between El Pescador State Beach and South of Leo Carrillo State Park and Beach). It is $10.00 to park in the lot during summer and $8.00 during the winter. There is a Pay and Display machine to purchase the parking ticket to put on your car dashboard - it takes credit or debit cards or cash. The lot is a fairly decent size for a good number of cars and has picnic tables and benches with shade trees as well as trash cans and lighting in case you are there still trying to leave at dusk and it is dark. Parking on PCH is OK, too. Just check signs for No Parking anytime to be sure. There are no concession stands at this beach, so you will need to bring your own food and beverages to the beach for your picnic. Vintage Grocers near Trancas and Zuma Beach is the closest market to pick up goodies on PCH to the South. Neptunes Net restaurant is North of Leo Carrillo on PCH at Ventura County Line and has burgers, sandwiches, and seafood if you are looking for some food to-go.

Nicholas Canyon Beach
Nicholas Canyon Beach

Nicholas Canyon Stairs to Lifeguard Tower
Nicholas Canyon Stairs to Lifeguard Tower

From parking lot down to the bluffs, you can choose to descend on the wooden stairs or go right a bit to the asphalt driveway down to the lifeguard tower, port-a-potties, & more picnic tables and benches - no shade trees here, but the view is wonderful. The road allows you to drive your car down to this location and pick up little kids and beach gear. Currently, the only way to continue down to the beach is via a set of concrete stairs. There was a paved road leading to a custom made ramp down to the beach which is washed out and blocked off with chain link fencing and Road Closed signs.

Concrete Stairs to Beach
Concrete Steps to Beach

Sign for Ramp - Road is Closed in the Distance
Sign for Ramp - Road is Closed in the Distance

Fencing and signs where the bluffs and road to the ramp washed out
Fencing and signs where the bluffs and road to the ramp washed out

Nicholas Canyon Beach is also known to surfers as Zeros surf spot. Anytime you come down, you may see a bunch of surfers catching waves here, or carrying their boards to or out of the water. There are also tide pools here - from the location of the picnic tables near the lifeguard tower, there is a concrete bench near the head of a small trail leading to the ocean. The coast is rocky and to the left there are some pools to look at - be careful in heavy surf conditions.

Nicholas Canyon Beach to Leo Carrillo View
Nicholas Canyon Beach to Leo Carrillo View

The views from the cliffs are breathtaking, even on a cloudy day, so be sure to stop and take a moment to look out at the gorgeous views that this beach has to offer in Malibu!

View from the top Nicholas Canyon to Point Dume
View from the top Nicholas Canyon to Point Dume

 

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