Carbon Beach
Malibu, CA
Carbon Beach has long carried the nickname Billionaire's Beach for the string of high-value homes lining the sand, though public access remains genuinely protected at several points including the well marked Zonker Harris Accessway. It's a real study in the tension between private wealth and California's public beach access laws.
A genuinely interesting beach for the access history alone, though the surrounding development means it doesn't have the wild scenery of Malibu's more famous blufftop beaches.
How we score beachesUse the Zonker Harris Accessway if you're unsure where public access is guaranteed, it's clearly marked and a direct result of a real fight over beach access here.
Free but limited on-street parking is available near the access points.
Paths lead from street-end access points, including the Zonker Harris Accessway, down to the beach.
Dogs are not allowed on any beach within the city of Malibu, including Carbon Beach.
Fog is common most mornings year round, typical of the Malibu coast.
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