Dume in Bloom

Hike Point Dume for Beautiful Ocean Views and Seasonal Flowers

During wildflower season, nature puts on a spectacular show, and one the best places to see it is at Point Dume Natural Preserve in Malibu. 

On this 2-mile loop, you’ll encounter wild beaches, knockout panoramic views, and California poppies plus beach primrose in bloom. But the leading lady is the giant coreopsis, whose vibrant yellow flowers carpet the cliffside for only a few weeks each spring. 

Start your hike on the left side of the Cliffside Drive parking area until you reach an impressive staircase on your left.

Newly constructed in 2022, the 193 steps cascade down to Big Dume Beach, a secluded cove perfect for exploring tide pools along the rocky sand.

Back at the top of the stairs, continue on the path, bearing left onto the boardwalk. Stop by at the overlook to see if you can spot any gray whales during their migration (best viewed from November through April).

Resuming the loop will take you on top of a rocky headland that juts out over the ocean in dramatic fashion. It’s no surprise this scenery inspired one of the most memorable moments in film: Follow the trail down to Westward Beach below to see the spot where the wrecked Statue of Liberty emerged from the sand at the end of Planet of the Apes.

Retrace your steps back to the loop where eventually you’ll pick up the high trail that you skipped when you did the boardwalk. This final stretch delivers seemingly endless fields of giant coreopsis, along with sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Malibu coastline—an ending that deserves a standing ovation.

From Santa Monica, take the Pacific Coast Hwy. north for 19 miles, and make a left onto Zumirez Dr. (which turns into Wildlife Rd). Turn right onto Fernhill Dr., and then another right onto Cliffside Dr. Drive about a half mile to find limited street parking on your left. If full, continue on Cliffside Dr. to Birdview Ave. until you reach Westward Beach Rd. Additional street parking is available on Westward Beach Rd. or find a paid parking lot on the left which offers easy access to Westward Beach and the trail. No dogs.

Story and photos by Yvonne Paquini, @yvonne_pasquini

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View