The 6 Best Beaches to Go Sand Sledding In LA
While Bing Crosby and Michael Bublé dream of a white Christmas, here in L.A., we yearn for sand sledding. Although playing in the snow is a wonderful experience for kids, it wouldn’t be a true SoCal winter without sand dune sledding. Sand berms are erected in November and remain until February, meaning you have three months full of endless fun at Los Angeles’ beaches.
Where to Go Sand Sledding
Grab your saucer or boogie board and check out the top beaches near you for sand sledding.
Venice Beach
Undefeated king of Californian winters, Venice Beach’s sand dunes and berms are the most popular sledding slopes in the area, yet they are vast enough for you and your kids to slide to your heart’s content.
Address: 2700-3100 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Parking: Three paid public parking lots available, or snag a metered spot along Washington Blvd. Lots are open from 6:00am to 10:00pm.
Hermosa Beach
With smaller and less abrupt dunes, Hermosa Beach is the perfect choice for families with very young kids, especially since you’ll be doing a lot of climbing in the sand before you sled down.
Address: Hermosa Avenue & 33rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Parking: Plenty of parking lot and street parking options. Visit the Hermosa Beach website for detailed information.
Manhattan Beach Sand Dune Park
Manhattan Beach is unlike the other entries on this list—it’s not at the beach, but close by at this family friendly park and you can visit year round! The park’s name comes from the 100-foot-high sand dune that can be found there. It’s a popular hangout spot for youngsters of all ages. As a trail, steps and switchbacks lead up into the nature area, providing many routes to the top. The trail winds through a variety of plant species and makes for a fun and educational nature stroll. The summit of the dune offers a panoramic view of the city from the east.
A gated little children’s play area with swings, a merry-go-round, and climbing equipment is also included in this three-acre park. The park offers two covered picnic areas that can accommodate up to 20 people each, as well as an open pavilion and two picnic tables. There are also restrooms and drinking fountains.
Address: Bell Ave. & 33rd St., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.
Parking: It is a residential area, so the parking lot is more restricted, but there are a handful of public parking spaces if you come early.
Dockweiler State Beach
Spacious yet inconspicuous, Dockweiler is the perfect spot for a less crowded sand sledding experience. It also has an RV park—the only one in front of the beach within L.A. County.
Address: 12000 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293.
Parking: Public parking is never short at Dockweiler. Monday through Thursday lots open from 6:00 am to 8:30 pm, while Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays hours are from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Zuma Beach
Make your way to Malibu for one of the best sand sledding spots to social distance. Zuma Beach’s sand berms are larger, less trafficked, and feature multiple dunes making them the perfect option if you want some space.
Address: 30000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265.
Parking: Even on warmer winter days parking is easy to snag at the eight public lots available. Open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Bonus: Point Mugu (Year-Round Sand Dune)
SoCal’s sand dune sledding season lasts through winter, but who says you can’t do some sand boarding during the summer as well? Point Mugu is a year-round dune, which makes it perfect for satisfying a craving mid-year, but keep in mind it is pretty steep, so this spot is best left to your older thrill-seekers.
Address: 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265.
Parking: Fees range from $3 for one hour to $12 for all-day parking per day.
Do you have any sand sledding tips to share? Or maybe a favorite secret spot we didn’t mention? Share your tips on this iconic SoCal tradition in the Local Anchor Facebook group.
