The Malibu Lagoon is where Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. Malibu’s Surfrider Beach has a long standing as a premier surfing beach.
On the east side of Malibu Creek Bridge, the famous Malibu Pier allows for excellent saltwater fishing. On the west side of Malibu Creek Bridge, visitors will find picnic tables and a nature area, excellent for bird watching and the study of a unique eco-system, a Southern California saltwater marsh.
The Adamson House at Malibu Lagoon State Beach overlooks the Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach. This blufftop showplace of Malibu historical artifacts is a California Historical Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Stiles O. Clements in 1929, this Spanish Colonial Revival home contains the best surviving examples of decorative ceramic tile produced by Malibu Potteries. The home was built for Merritt Huntley Adamson and Rhoda Rindge Adamson, daughter of Frederick Hastings Rindge and May Knight Rindge—last owners of the Rancho Malibu Spanish grant.
The adjacent Malibu Lagoon Museum allows visitors to walk through the history of the area from the days of the California Indian “Chumash” tribe, to the gentlemen ranchers, and finally to the birth of the surfing era. Museum docents give delightful tours filled with local legends and anecdotes.
Guided tours of the wetlands and other natural elements such as grunion, the monarch butterfly, tidepools, and the gray whale are scheduled seasonally. The Malibu Lagoon beach features wetlands, flower gardens and a sandy beach.
Location-Directions
From Santa Monica, follow the Pacific Coast Highway 13 miles west. From the 101 Freeway, exit at Las Virgenes Road, proceed 10-miles west through Malibu Canyon, turn left at Pacific Coast Highway, travel 1.5-miles east. Entrance for parking and the nature area is at Cross Creek Road. Walk east across the bridge and follow the dirt lane at to the Adamson House.
The State Beach parking lot is located on the west side of the Malibu Creek Bridge. A county parking lot is located directly in front of the Adamson House.
