Escondido State Beach

Escondido is Spanish for “hidden” and is tucked away along a gorgeous section of Pacific Coast Highway, stretching from Escondido Beach Road to the west. It is one of the smaller and narrower Malibu beaches with good sand and a dense kelp forest close to shore. Not always passable at high tide, it is a popular entry point for kayakers and scuba divers, but not known for great surfing. This entrance is not recommended for use after a rain due to the runoff pollution from Escondido Creek. It is really one of the only dog friendly beaches in Malibu. Just west of Geoffrey’s restaurant, the western entrance is located at 27400-27420. It is a set of long, steep, and numerous stairs (not for the faint of heart) that is a popular spot for surf fishing. The eastern entrance is located at Escondido Creek and Pacific Coast Highway between Malibu Cove Colony Drive and Escondido Beach Road. On street parking is very limited and there are no facilities.

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COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

No data available
Current Status
This status is based on the latest sample. LA Waterkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available.

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Current Weather

21°C

Clear and sunny

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Beach water is tested either once a week or 5 days a week by the City of Los Angeles Environmental Monitoring Division (EMD), County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services (LACDHS), and Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD). Freshwater swimming holes, falls and creeks are tested by Council for Watershed Health (CWH) approximately once a week in the summer. Sample results are emailed from EMD and CWH to LA Waterkeeper, who updates the swim status and information in Swim Guide.

In California, maximum levels for bacteria are established for recreational open beach waters. Single sample maximum levels are 104 Enterococcus /100 ml; and 400 fecal coliform/100 ml; and 10,000 total coliform /100 ml. In waters designated for contact recreation, the median fecal coliform density based on the five most recent samples for any 30-day period shall not exceed 200/100 ml, Fecal and Enterococci density shall not exceed 35/100 ml. Monitoring frequency varies across jurisdictions, most popular beaches are often monitored 5 days a week.

In Los Angeles County bacteriological objectives for freshwater recreation are based on e.coli density. The 30 day geometric mean e.coli density shall not exceed 126/100ml and a single sample limit not to exceed 235/100ml.

Swimmers are advised not to swim within 100 feet of a flowing storm drain. Swimmers are also advised to stay out of the water for 72 hours following a rain event in the area.

Water Quality Graph