Leo Carillo State Park

by Doug
(Gualala, CA)

Leo Carrillo is a great State Park, just north of Malibu and the famous Zuma beach. It has a number of clean and spacious campsites situated in a canyon to the east of Pacific Coast Highway. In addition is has plenty of parking for day use at both the "main" beach and the north end beach.

The beach areas are split by a point that results from the stream (Arroyo Sequit) coming out of the canyon that holds the campground. North of the point there is a small cove, additional rocky tidepools which then open up into the large north beach. Each of the rocky reef result in both left and right breaks that are great for surfing. The most commonly surfed area is the south side of the first point with a right break that seems to go on forever. There are a few areas with underwater reefs that you have to look out for!

Leo Carrillo is also great for diving, tidepooling and beach combing.

You can book camping reservations with the state park system. They also have Wi-Fi at the camp store for those who can not get to far from their electronic world.