Secret Los Angeles Dog Beach - Rancho Palos Verdes Beach

This hidden Los Angeles dog beach at Rancho Palos Verdes beach is a well-kept secret for local RPV residents. Most people in LA don't know about it and certainly no tourists.

It is truly hidden and takes some explaining to find it, but it is absolutely free and absolutely stunning. Plus, it is dog friendly and the tide pools are fun for the kids!

The beach is very rocky and full of life. If you are a beach comber, this is one of the best in the LA area for rocks and sea glass. It is very rocky, and there are tide pools to the left of the ramp trail as you enter the beach that are full of life and smooth sea glass when the tide is low. Not to mention that there are hundreds of smooth rocks with holes through them, which many people collect and believe to have magical properties or bring good luck.

It is with much hesitation that I share this "secret, hidden" beach with you so please respect this beach. Be a responsible dog parent if you bring the pup and pick up after your dog immediately - lots of families bring their children here. Take out any trash and for goodness sake, don't tell too many people about it - nature lovers only please.

To get there, you park for free right in the Trump National Golf Course parking lot (yes, this is allowed, the city planners made a deal that parts of Trump's course must be open to the public) but parking can be hard to come by on the weekends in summer. Walk around (stay off the green, just stick to the public park area) and facing the ocean, the trail runs off to the left, or south. Keep your dogs on leash! Follow this trail down, it is a bit of a hike and strollers won't work at the end as it is uneven and even rocky at parts.

Most people take their dogs off leash when they get down to the actual beach. However, there have been tickets issued for this since it isn't allowed. Play it safe and keep them on leash.

Along with dogs, many families come here with kids (like mine) to enjoy the tide pools and view. Some people call this beach "yucky" and "stinky" but that is because this Los Angeles dog beach is alive, unlike many beaches in Southern California. It isn't lifeless gleaming sand, it is rocks and algae, hermit crabs, star fish and more. It isn't a "sunbathing beach" or a "be seen at" beach, rather it is a nature beach and a rare gem of a find, that happens to be dog friendly too.