Original Muscle Beach

Original Muscle Beach is a free outdoor gymnastics and workout area on the sand just south of the Santa Monica Pier, past the volleyball courts. It has rings, parallel bars, chin-up bars at several heights, a padded gymnastics area and a small jungle gym for kids, with Slackline Park next to it. Popularized in the 1950s, it is where Jack LaLanne and other well-known bodybuilders trained.

Where It Is

Walk south from the Pier along Ocean Front Walk, the beach path that runs past oceanfront cafés and hotels toward Venice. Muscle Beach is on the sand side, just south of the volleyball courts below the Pier. The closest parking is in Lots 1 South to 3 South along Appian Way; see parking.

What You Can Do There

Santa Monica's tourism office describes a fully restored workout area that now serves gymnasts, acrobats and kids:

• Rings and parallel bars, the classic Muscle Beach equipment.
• Chin-up bars at different heights.
• A padded gymnastics area on grass.
• A small jungle gym for younger children.
• Slackline Park, with poles set up for slacklining.

It is open to anyone and costs nothing.

Rules

These come from the City's park rules for Muscle Beach:

• Do not modify or alter the equipment.
• If you are on the gymnastics grass but not doing gymnastics or acrobatics, make room for people who are.
• No dogs on the gymnastics grass. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at all; see dogs.
• Slacklines go only in the Slackline Park area, not on the Muscle Beach equipment. The poles are first come, first served; ask politely if you want a turn.
• In Slackline Park, children must be supervised and smoking is not allowed.
• No paid fitness classes or personal training at Muscle Beach Park.

Original Muscle Beach vs Venice Muscle Beach

The name confuses people. Santa Monica's is the original, popularized in the 1950s, and today it is about gymnastics and bodyweight work. The weightlifting pen most people picture is a separate site farther south in Venice.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: a free workout with an ocean view, kids who like to climb, and anyone curious about the beach where the fitness craze started.

Maybe skip if: you want barbells and weight machines. Those are not here.

Nearby

The Santa Monica Pier is a few minutes' walk north. The beach bike path and Ocean Front Walk pass right by, and the volleyball courts are next door.