When it’s time to disconnect with screens and be one with nature, Malibu hikes are welcome reprieves. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, these trails harness so much power and tranquility from their views of the water.

“Meet me where the sky touches the sea.” -Jennifer Donnelly

Although no Malibu hikes have bad views, per se, there’s something about the glimmering Pacific that motivates even the most novice walkers. The trails on this list of the five best hikes in Malibu with an ocean view will reward your effort with postcard-worthy vistas and a sense of both calm and achievement.

Point Dume in Malibu
Photo credit: Austin Neill, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Point Dume Natural Preserve

Among the most well-known coastal overlooks in Malibu, Point Dume is a promontory that juts into the Pacific and provides panoramic views of the ocean, Santa Monica Bay, and Paradise Cove. It’s just nine miles straight up the Pacific Coast Highway from Malibu Beach Inn’s front door, and is the ideal Malibu hike for beginners given the trail to the panoramic overlook is around one mile long. Insider tip: From December to mid-April, it’s one of the best hikes in Malibu from which to watch the migration of California gray whales.

Charmlee Wilderness Park

2. Charmlee Wilderness Park

Near the western edge of Malibu, about a 20-minute drive from Malibu Beach Inn, you’ll find the scenic Charmlee Wilderness Park, a 532-acre park with more than eight miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, and native plants, making it one of the favorite hiking places in Malibu. For a hike that will let you see the town from a bird’s eye view, opt for the trail that traces the outer loop of the park, which is just over three miles long and will take you to an ocean overlook and past the ruins of a ranch that once occupied this land.

Zuma Ridge Trail

3. Zuma Ridge Trail

Those looking for more of a challenge before a big ocean view payoff will do well to start the day early at the Zuma Ridge Trail. The moderate-level, 5.6-mile hike starts about ten miles west of Malibu Beach Inn and takes explorers on a steady uphill journey to an overlook featuring both mountain and ocean views. Experienced locals advise visiting hikers to arrive early and pack plenty of water and sunscreen because of the lack of shade, but for those looking to put in a little more effort, Zuma Ridge is one of the best Malibu hiking spots.

Willow Creek trail to the beach, one of the best Malibu hikes

4. Willow Creek Trail

One of the highlights of Leo Carrillo State Park, this trail can be treated as either a seven-mile trek out into the Santa Monica Mountains or as a more moderate, two-mile loop with Nicholas Flats Trail. Both trails start at the Carrillo State Park parking lot along Pacific Coast Highway, a 20-minute drive from the Inn, and head north into the hills. The first outlook, about a mile into the journey, is a stunning ocean vista that can, like Point Dume, double as a hidden whale-watching spot during their migration season.

Carbon beach in Malibu

5. Malibu Beach Hikes

Not every great hike needs a trail! Starting from Carbon Beach in the Inn’s backyard, stroll in either direction along the sand for great views up and down the coast. Malibu Lagoon State Beach is just steps to the southwest, while the town’s titular beach is only a mile to the east, and both are picturesque. Low tide, in particular, gives you plenty of space in which to walk without getting splashed.

No matter their skill level, any visitor to Malibu can find a trail suited to their needs. And when the reward for finishing your hike is a spa treatment at Malibu Beach Inn and oceanside lunch at Carbon Beach Club, the miles will fly by.