Malaga Cove
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Malaga Cove is a cobblestone beach at the north end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where the sand of the South Bay gives way to the rockier, more dramatic shoreline that defines the rest of the peninsula. It's a known local surf spot, less crowded than the sandy beaches just north of it.
A real change of scenery from the sandy South Bay beaches just north, worth the stop for the rockier coastline alone.
How we score beachesThe cobble bottom means water shoes are worth bringing, it's not a barefoot-friendly entry like the sandy beaches to the north.
Limited on-street parking near the cove.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Malaga Cove, even on a leash, under Palos Verdes Estates beach rules.
Cool water year round is typical of the exposed Palos Verdes coast, with the calmest conditions in late summer and early fall.
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