Southern California beaches that locals love, some off the beaten path

When readers shared their favorite Southern California beaches with us, most of their recommendations were beaches that made our recent Top 50 list. Picking the best beaches from the roughly 200 in Southern California was an ambitious task, and it's gratifying to be on the same page as so many beach lovers.

That said, locals also recommended other prized beaches to us, some of which we considered but didn't choose. Here's a sampling of those suggestions in alphabetical order. Some are harder to reach than the ones we prioritize in our guide, which tends to highlight beaches with easy access and special amenities. Note: Some of these aren't regularly tested for water quality, but you can check Heal the Bay's online ratings report for updates.

Wide beach

One reader said he likes Broad Beach because it is less crowded than other Malibu beaches.

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Claire Weglarz of Hollywood put it simply: “Broad Beach is just a nice beach with fewer people.” This Malibu spot has no amenities like bathrooms or parking. Plus, when the tide is in, there’s little to no sand to walk on. Entered via a staircase between houses, this is one of those Malibu beaches that looks private but isn’t.

There are tide pools to the north near Lechuza Beach, which are also not on our list, but were mentioned.

Capistrano Beach Park

A person on a jet ski in the ocean with seagulls and sailboats.

Leslie McGee of Los Angeles suggested Capistrano Beach Park in Dana Point because “it's not too crowded and [is] “Family friendly.” There is easy access to this beach from the parking lot and fishing is allowed, according to the Orange County Parks Department. In July, 20,000 cubic yards of sand were added along the north end.

El Pescador State Beach

White foam waves kiss the sand with a blue sky above.

Jonathan Palmer of Los Angeles said he likes the secluded El Pescador State Beach for its “quiet natural beauty.” This small beach is close to El Matador State Beach, which did make our list. El Pescador is usually less crowded than El Matador, which is a popular spot for photo shoots.

Beautiful beach

A man pushes a girl on a sled down a sand hill.

Several readers raved about Hermosa Beach. Volleyball and surfing are popular sports here.

Clarke Mallery of Hermosa Beach said it’s a wide, sandy, clean, charming and casual beach with “plenty of restaurants and entertainment at Pier Plaza.” Mallery pointed out the nearby Lighthouse Cafe, a beloved jazz spot that was the filming location for “La La Land.” (It also appeared in our guide to the best jazz spots.) Shelby Forier, who grew up in Hermosa Beach, said, “I love this beach with all my heart and would love to share it with everyone.”

Hueneme Beach Park

Andrea Massion of Port Hueneme, a small coastal town in Ventura County, recommended Hueneme Beach Park, which she described as “a quiet beach for middle-class families with a pier and a cafe.” The beach also has volleyball courts, grills, picnic tables and walking trails.

Lunada Bay

This Palos Verdes Estates beach kept popping up in my inbox. Many readers said they enjoyed surfing at Lunada Bay and described it as a nice, secluded beach.

But there’s a sordid history here: The Lunada Bay Boys surfing clique has harassed outsiders for decades by throwing rocks, cutting leashes and blocking beach access. In 2016, two surf-loving lawyers sued the city of Palos Verdes Estates and members of the group. Since then, more than a dozen individual defendants have settled: Some agreed to stay off the beach for a year or more, others paid monetary settlements, the highest being $90,000. As of this writing, two defendants remain: an individual and the city of Palos Verdes Estates. (The city manager’s office did not respond to requests for comment by time of publication.)

A jury trial is scheduled to begin next week. One of the attorneys, Kurt Franklin, said Lunada Bay may be beautiful, but it is not always a welcoming place for everyone. This winter, he received complaints from people who were harassed, and he said the situation is worse during the surf season, which runs from October to March.

Mandalay Beach

Pink and orange skies during sunset over the ocean.

Linda Gorman recommends all the beaches in her hometown of Oxnard, and particularly Mandalay Beach and Silver Strand. She says they are quiet and offer beautiful views of the Channel Islands.

Mandalay Beach, also known as Oxnard State Beach, has spectacular sunsets over its dunes. A 900-foot paved loop provides wheelchair access to the beach. Behind the dunes are a playground, bike, skating and jogging trails, and volleyball courts that are part of the Oxnard Beach Park, also known as the eponymous “Olol'koy Beach Park.” Locals who enjoy surfing and kayaking often visit Silver Strand.

Oceanside City Beach

A fisherman casts his catch from a rock jetty near Oceanside Harbor Beach.

Dawn Renee, of Vista, loves Oceanside City Beach because it has nice sidewalks along the beach, fire pits, beach wheelchairs and playground equipment. She'll see people fishing and surfing in the water, she said.

“I thought maybe we had been left out because of our current injury, the remnants of the pier fire,” he said, noting that he enjoyed his first senior discount “while watching dolphins frolic from the windows of the now-closed Ruby's.”

In fact, when we were researching for our guide, we dropped this beach from the list due to the April fire that closed the pier. Part of it has since reopened, but a full reopening isn't expected until 2027.

Pirate's Cove Beach

Two people pull a yellow kayak into the water.

Elena Moore of Huntington Beach nominated this secluded beach that's connected to Corona del Mar State Beach, which did make our Top 50 list.

You have to climb a wall of smooth rocks to reach this sandy spot overlooking expensive homes and boats making their way out to sea. Moore recalled spending countless days as a teenager at Pirate's Cove with her friends. She once made a bet that she could swim across the choppy waters of the canal. She was the only one who succeeded, and won lunch at Ruby's Diner and an ice cream cone from Dairy Queen. She still visits Pirate's Cove from time to time. “Every time I do, I stand at the edge of the water, look across the canal and smile from ear to ear. [and] And suddenly I feel like eating a Ruby burger and ice cream.”

Redondo Beach

Fishermen stand at the end of a pier at dusk.

Carla McCue of Los Angeles described Redondo Beach as “quaint and clean.” She praised the playground, the restaurants on the pier and nearby Veterans Park, where she and her husband attend Memorial Day services. It’s also a “great place for picnics,” she said.

To the south, Torrance Beach made our list with a mention to Redondo Beach, particularly for a special night diving experience that happens here from December to March: the squid race.

T Street Beach

A boogie boarder enters blue water with white waves.

Chris Duncan of San Clemente praised his hometown beach, noting that it is frequented by “some of the best surfers in the world.” He also noted that there is a train station near the pier. Service to the train station resumed in March after being interrupted in January by a landslide; it was the fifth time in three years that erosion closed this stop.

This palm-fringed beach is certainly a popular spot. With all that being shared, Duncan asked, “How could you leave it out?” If that counts for anything, it was considered T-Street.

West Beach

People sit on towels along the sand as waves of white foam form in the ocean.

This beach, tucked away off the Pacific Coast Highway, is “less crowded and quieter than most beaches,” said Kimberly Maxwell of Reseda, who loves the view of Santa Monica Bay, the Santa Monica Mountains and Zuma Beach. “The Sunset Restaurant is also a treat after a long walk,” she added.

Also known as Free Beach, Westward was mentioned in conjunction with Point Dume State Beach.