Dockweiler Picnic Area — Attraction in Los Angeles

WARNING: DON'T GO TO DOCKWEILER BEACH. Dockweiler Beach is right next to the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant, look it up. And see Dockweiler Beach in the pre-dawn (if its anything like it was when I drove past on my way to work daily in the 1980s). They have long lines of 18 wheelers that one by one line up and dump waste soil (all that is left after incineration, sometimes plastic items get missed and imbedded in the beach). They drive right along the shore, right on the tide line. The SOIL is a dark color of sand, and they never allow Swimming, and I am shocked that they allow anyone. The smell from the Hyperion Treatment Plant (burning of waste) fills some areas of El Segundo CA, glad I didn't live there. The beach is Unique due to the dark color of sand, and it has an unusual smell, if you realized what it was, you wouldn't want to be there, and I think its not very nice of the government to have...

I love the fact that this place is close to Los Angeles international airport, because I can imagine getting on one of those airplanes and flying somewhere with better beaches. If you are stuck in LA, then this beach is okay. The parking lot is $8. If you get here early enough you can park for free on the street. Be careful of the homeless folks, especially if you have kids with you. They are not afraid to creep up on your family. The beach is fairly clean, or as clean as it can be with homeless folks urinating all over the lifeguard towers and the occasional drug needle getting caught in the kelp...

Dockweiler Beach is a good beach, with some things to know.

First, it's good that it's not a long sandy area walk to get to the water. There are plenty of restaurants around, and at the western end of the 105, it's easy to access.

Secondly, it's just west of LAX, so planes are constantly flying overhead, which could be unnerving and loud.

Finally, when we got home, all of our feet were very black. I aint being racist, there is a lot of carbon in the sand, likely from the campfires, so be prepared to scrub your feet once you get home -- unless you're into that...