Point Dume is a promontory near Leo Carillo State Park in Malibu, California. I visited in March 2021 while on my camping trip in Leo Carillo. Point Dume Beach / Westward Beach is to the West and Big Dume Beach is to the East.
If you follow Google Maps directions up Cliffside Drive it will likely take you to a very small parallel parking lot which 9/10 times will be full even on a weekday. The surrounding neighborhood is entirely a no parking tow away zone.
However, don't fret if this is the case. Head back down Cliffside and Birdview Ave towards Point Dume Beach. You will find more free parking along Westward Beach Road. If that's all full or if you don't want to hike as far to Point Dume you can proceed to the pay parking that ranges from $3-$6 for most of the day depending on the day and time. Your view from the end of that parking lot will look like below.
Just to the right of the sign you can see the trail head to go up to the top of Point Dume
The trail to hike up to the top of Point Dume is well defined and actually has boardwalks on the Southeast side so you don't have to trudge through sand. There is one section along the South that is right on the cliff and is a little sketchy but they have installed metal guide ropes to help prevent accidents. I don't believe dogs are allowed and I wouldn't recommend you take one if you care about him/her.
As you progress up Point Dume Trail, parts of it are along the cliff edge. Take care to be extra careful as a fall would be almost certain death.
As you progress to the Southeast part of the trail it turns into a boardwalk that approaches the tiny parallel parking lot that was probably full.
A little before you reach the boardwalk section, Big Dume Beach comes into view shown below.
Along the Southeast part of the Point Dume Trail you get a view of Big Dume Beach. I only saw a couple people down there the whole time, I also didn't see an obvious way down so that could be the reason.
Now for our history lesson via the plaque at the top of the promontory. "On November 24, 1793, English Explorer George Vancouver, Commander of an expedition to determine the extent of settlement of the Northwest coast of America, named this rocky promontory, Point Dume. After his Franciscan friend, Father Francisco Demetz, at mission San Beuenaventura. Point Dume is the Western terminus of Santa Monica Bay and has been an important landmark for navigators since Vancouver's voyage in 1793.
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 965.
Plaque placed by the state department of parks and recreation in cooperation with the Malibu Historical Society and the Malibu Lagoon Museum October 10, 1988."
Plaque giving the history of Point Dume at the top of the plateau.
Google Maps location of Point Dume.