LINKS
Gay Beach/Swimming Holes
El Matador
Los Angeles, CA
United States
Phone: 800 Phone: Fax:
SUMMARY:
The rugged beaches of northern malibu are where Angelenos go for their fix of wild coastline-all of them, it sometimes seem. But somewhere along the Pacific Coast Highway, about halfway between the twin mob scenes at Zuma and Leo Carillo, a simple brown sign indicates you're passing El Matador State Beach. Don't. Instead, park in the tiny lot, follow the narrow trail, and descend the steep staircase down the 150-foot bluff. You'll discover a paradise only the locals know about. The crowds are small and mixed men/women and gay/straight. Towering, jagged freestanding rocks dot the shorebreak and the beach, creating tide pools and private pockets of white sand. They're the perfect spots for El Matador's prime actvity: just chilling and watching the waves break, preferably with the one you love. If it's a weekday, you'll likely have the place to yourselves. But if you're not alone head 100 yards north to a deserted quarter-mile strip of sand, where beach access is limited by the sprawling estates perched overhead.