Palos Verdes Coast: Long Point and Point Vicente

Long Point, on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, was home to Marineland of the Pacific from 1954 to 1987, and Terranea Resort opened on the land in 2009. You don't need a room to walk this stretch of coast. The city lists public trails, overlooks, a beach and free parking as part of the site, so a walk along the bluff costs nothing. Point Vicente, with its whale-watching center and lighthouse, is just up the road.

What's Worth Seeing

The resort map names three trails. The Bluff Top Trail runs along the ocean edge, the Flowerfield Trail follows the golf course and joins it, and the Discovery Trail heads toward the lighthouse. The city's list of public features also includes interpretive signs, benches and public restrooms.

The cove below the resort is open to the public. It's largely rocky with a sandy section, so wear sturdy shoes. A sea cave at Hudson's Bluff can be reached only when the tide allows, and there are no lifeguards.

The Point Vicente Interpretive Center is the city's museum of the peninsula's natural and cultural history, with a focus on the Pacific gray whale. It has a sperm whale jaw nearly 11 feet long and the original Fresnel lens from the lighthouse next door. The city calls it the top shore-based site in Southern California for watching the gray whale migration, which passes from December through mid-May. There are bluff-top trails outside, but no way down to the beach.

The Point Vicente Lighthouse is a white 67-foot tower from 1926 on a 130-foot cliff. The Coast Guard runs it, and public access is limited, so look for it from the trails or check ahead.

Good to Know

This coast moves. East of here, the Portuguese Bend landslide has closed Abalone Cove Beach, Sacred Cove and their access trails since July 2024, and the open space and trails east of Inspiration Point since that September. Check the city's trail alerts before you plan on anything past Long Point.

The city says to use authorized trails only, and most of the ways down to the water are steep. Dogs aren't allowed at the beach, though the resort allows leashed dogs on its public trails. Fishing is prohibited at Pelican Cove and Long Point, and the water off Point Vicente is a no-take conservation area.

How to Get There

From the north, take the 405 to the Hawthorne Boulevard (CA-107) exit and follow Hawthorne south for about 13 miles. Turn left on Palos Verdes Drive West, go 1.2 miles, and turn right on Terranea Way. The resort's directions page also covers the route from the south. The Interpretive Center is at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West.

For free parking, use the Pelican Cove lot next to the resort, which has beach access and connects to the coastal trail. The city's list also shows free parking at Long Point, while the resort charges for visitor parking and lists limited public day parking, so read the signs when you pull in. The Interpretive Center has its own free lot.

Nearby

• Vicente Bluffs Reserve and Ocean Trails Reserve are on the city's coastal access list. Vicente Bluffs has a bluff-top trail, and Ocean Trails has four trails down to the shore.
• The Redondo Beach Pier is up the coast if you want restaurants and a walk over the water.