Sand Dune Park

There are 206 steps! It has a hike feel to it, which is why I love it. I didn’t do the sand part, but will next time!

Last week I came here on my lunch break, I was craving a stairs workout. Before I made it here I was a little discouraged at the other Unilocalers complaining about making some kind of appointment, but I tried to brush that off and came by anyway.
I found parking without a hassle and it was not metered. I quickly realized all the complaints were all about the sand dune that was being policed by two young park employees. I walked past them and found the glorious set of stairs.
I climbed up quickly and all the the other stair workout enthusiasts were very cordial and we all happily climbed up and down. I made my way down so ecstatic about finding an easily accessible outdoor stair workout.
I will be back Sand Dune park! Thanks for the sore legs!!!

Red tape and regulations. This once popular attraction is a ghost town because of it’s unnecessary steps in order to secure a measly hour here. The residents of Manhattan beach who hardly use this sand dune park rather this place be empty then see certain types of people here. I won’t go into specifics, but the demographic of MB is fairly homogenous and the popularity of the park brought varying demographics across class and racial lines and so some of the MB residents lobbied to create rules for this once free PARK.
Some of the rules are 1) making a reservation online at least hour in advance, with limited time slot availability. 2) a separate reservation has to b made for each individual in group. 3) Id info required. 4) paying a $ 1 fee, and your sand dune reservation is only a hour. 5) Also you can’t be a certain amount of time late to your reservation to this once FREE public park. Too many steps when someone just wants to work out especially on a whim. Now this once popular sand dune park is empty majority of the time while someone has a useless job of checking in the handful of people that come here.
Side note: The accompanying steps don’t require a reservation but majority people come for the sand dune not the steps.

If you want to workout where its not way too over populated this is the place for you. Not only do you have the stair cases but the best part is that you have the sand, you will definitely get a workout with that. And if you want to run the beach its just 2 blocks away. Best place to workout by the ocean

This is the hardest thing I’ve done as far as doing stairs this beats it when I was young I used to come to this park to ride my bike but now I do the dunes once a every two weeks and I tell you my respect to those that do this all the time

Great place for an outdoor workout. I would suggest going after work so it’s not as busy like on weekends. Bring sand socks if you have them.

This park is located in Manhattan Beach, on Bell Ave. There is parking on that Street but your normally aren’t going to find parking there so you will have to find it on one of the small streets near by.
As you have to make reservations online in advance, because they don’t want it to get too crowded. When you get there you will see someone sitting at a desk with a sign in sheet. You sign in, put your permit number and pay the $ 1 fee. Just a heads up you don’t have to print it out the sheet just look at the permit number on your phone or have it memorized.
Now getting to the sand hill this was probably the hardest workout I have ever done. I went up all the way to the top two times. Then I went half way the third time I couldn’t make it. As when you walk in sand at the beach it isn’t easy, this is with that and incline.
Overall this was a great experience and I will definitely be back.

Make your online reservation. Bring your permit number and a dollar and plenty of water. My kids are 12 and under and were free. My son tried it in his socks, but those came off before he made it to the top on our first climb up. Barefoot was the way to go, but my daughter did get a small cut on her foot. After that, we grabbed a few rocks on each trip for the «Toss a rock, save a toe «bucket.
Apparently, the local professional athletes come here for workouts.
It was a kick– butt workout. We made it up and down 5 times, which took me about 35 – 40 minutes. Great view from the top! Woo hoo!

This is not for the faint of heart!!!
I started on the stairs. Plenty of room for one person to truck up and one to come down. The stairs are wooden so they are not exactly geometrically spaced, which is good! Makes you take double steps at times and just single steps at others. There are a few landings but not enough room to rest at one if there are others working out. There are signs posted prohibiting running and prohibiting dogs. The stairs are a good place to warm up. (5 trips up and down with 25pushups at the bottom took me 22minutes. This hopefully will let you know what time to arrive.) The stairs are free and no need for a reservation.
Now for 100ft of HELL!!! The sand dune is insane!!! At first glance, you shrug your shoulders and don’t think much of it! As you start up, delusional thoughts of grandeur go through your head. This dune is like a marathon… It cannot be won in the first steps, but it sure can be lost! The last 20−30ft get very steep and the top becomes a mirage!!! There is plenty of space for people of all different fitness levels. The left area has a smaller area coned off for kids. (I should have stayed there!!!) The main problem with the left side was the shade. My feet froze in the cold sand. Getting to the top takes a lot of will and determination… But it is very attainable. Coming down does NOT hurt your joints at all! (I have had a torn medial meniscus and tore each hamstring.) Very low impact with a VERY difficult work is an added bonus!
(6 trips up & down, all under 5minutes. About 1−2minute rest between sets.)
You will need to register. Look up «Sand Dunes Manhattan Beach» and the registration comes up. You will create an account (have your Drivers License # and license plate handy as you need the info.) A day costs only $ 1. There are set times to train so it does not become overcrowded!
All in all… It was a blast… To my legs! Haha

Want to get a bomb ass workout?.. Come workout at the dunes. Great place to have leg day, then run to the beach and relax. Make an appointment online ahead of time.

I’m pretty fit, 4 Year varsity soccer and track, but damn this was by far the hardest workout I’ve ever done. Sprinted the first one all the way to the top and was gassed. Went halfway and back like 10 times. Amazing workout. Do this like once a week and I guarantee you boutta pull all the girls at the beach.
Reserve a spot online before coming here

Pain in the butt both literally and figuratively
The fact that you have to register online before coming is super duper lame. Even lamer is that it took me and my friends ½ hr with the help of the attendant to figure it out because it was a non-​mobile site and we were trying to make a reservation via our cell phones. I nearly had a breakdown.
It was worth it though since we actually saw Usher there with his trainer and got to walk the dune alongside him. My butt is still sore and I can’t wait to go back!

I haven’t been able to experience this workout yet. You must register on the city web site first
So I did. The registration is not that bad but trying to reserve a time (Yes you must reserve a time slot 1 hour at a time per day!) I couldn’t get any information! It took me 45 minutes on this reserving a time slot to only find out that the park is closed for the day (On a freaking Saturday!) for staff training! That makes no sense. Saturdays are the best days to get a good workout and they do staff training??? WOW… Well, I hope to experience this place sometime soon.

This park is great if you have kids and want to enjoy the swings and play equipment. But if you’re looking for a good new workout spot, this isn’t it.
You have to reserve in advance and parking is limited and frustrating.
Why not just go down the hill to the beautiful strand or soft sand on the beach? You’d get more from a pier to pier run than from the sand dune any day.

What a thrill, an unique outdoor gym specializing in cardio! Sand is great, going up will test you big time, down climb is a breeze! Options to climb stairs exist here, too, and free parking! It’s a must see if you’re in the area!

Finding time to exercise is always a challenge for me. However, since I work in DTMB, Sand Dune is the perfect workout that I can work into my work day in my lunch break. I enjoy climbing the south set of stairs. The steps are wooden planks that are nice and wide and not too high so you can double up. This area is also shaded by the trees so it’s nice in really hot days since there isn’t much of a breeze up in this area.
I haven’t been on the dune in years but I know that you must register online through the City’s Parks & Rec Dept., make a reservation and pay $ 1 to the attendant.

Went here for the first time this morning and I’m not gonna lie, I barely made it. It’s a very VERY intense workout. It’s way steeper than it looks like. It feels like you’re climbing upwards toward hell but I’m happy I went. I’m expecting huge results on the scale tomorrow morning… yes it was that intense lol jk jk.
Make sure you make your appointment online before you go because you have to sign in with your reservation number. It’s a stupid system and though this was the first time I worked out here, it was my 3^rd attempt. They really should reconsider this system.
MAKE SURE YOU BRING SOCKS!!! DO NOT GO BAREFOOT!
I saw a lot of people go without shoes on so I took mine off. The sand was really hot and painful. Even if the heat wasn’t a problem, the sand is not smooth. There’s a bunch of sea shells and rocks in there so again, it can get painful.
Overall, it’s a great place. Great crowd. People will encourage you to push harder. I will be back!!!

Kids-​focused review:
Good: Sunday is «kids day» and they block off a smaller part of the dune where kids and accompanying adults can play without a reservation (this is per staff who were there when we went today). It’s a great workout for everyone.
Bad: the whole playground at the bottom is «closed for repairs» as of 3÷29÷15. Also, the website for signing up and making a reservation (for some other day) is stuck in the 90s.

Didn’t get to do it when we got there because of some bee hive issue. Our first time seeing it and man looked like it would have beat us.
Wished they had their phone lines working or gave us a call about the situation. It’s already a hassle to reserve the time.

Fantastic little spot to bring your kids to play @. Dune access for kids 12 and under is FREE, 12+ adults is by reservation only and its 1.00 MB needs to update reservation page because you no longer need to bring a printout w you when you come and use the Dune. Screenshot, a dollar bill and you’re good to go. 1 hr is plenty for a nice work out on the dune, or a little playtime w your kids. Park also has a little playground, picnic area and restrooms. Parking is tricky, bring your bike. Stairs to the top are also reg used for «weekend warriors» but comes w plenty of restrictions so watch out. Got it? Good. Now go and enjoy this PUBLIC park, climb to the top, take pics and enjoy the view of the Chevron refinery