After two decades of legal battles, the public can now gain easier access to Malibu Colony Beach as of June 14.
The new accessway, located at 24038 Malibu Road — just up the coast from Malibu Lagoon State Park — involves a stairway that will allow visitors to descend a 30-foot bluff to the beach below. There are three to four parking spots at the top of the stairway, as well as street parking.
Before the construction of the stairway, which began in late March, surfers still accessed the beach’s break, but had to do so by climbing down large boulders supporting the road, according to California State Coastal Conservancy South Coast regional manager Joan Cardellino.
The project has been in the works for over 20 years, but took some time due to lawsuits, which caused the California State Coastal Conservancy to adjudicate legal ownership of the property. The accessway opening is considered a victory for advocates of public beach access across the State of California.
The Malibu Colony Beach is most popular for surfers and walkers, and visitors are encouraged to check the tides, as the beach sometimes gets inundated at high tide. There are no restrooms available and no barbecuing allowed on the beach. The accessway is open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.