The J. Paul Pebble Rock Climbing

The mighty J. Paul Pebble – a locally known Santa Monica beach bouldering venue.

Rising majestically out of the sand, partially in the surf especially during high tides, the pebble is a fun diversion on a visit to the area.

As evidence by an old, untrusty bolt ladder and some anchors on the slightly overhanging steep face, the east side most likely sees the most action.

Summit is covered in bird poo and a couple of dubious anchors. Rock quality may be less than inspiring.

J. Paul Pebble was locally known at the turn of the century as Haystack Rock as part of the Family Group. The mighty Pebble has so far resisted erosion and is located below the now gone Castle Rock.

Castle Rock (formerly above the J. Paul Pebble) was a prominent feature on the old Roosevelt Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu which succumbed to the dynamite of a road crew in the mid 40’s. West of J. Paul Pebble is the location for the long gone Arch Rock, which folks actually drove through. Arch Rock crumbled down (or was blown up) in 1906 and its site is now the parking lot for a restaurant on the point between Rocky and Ratner Beach.

The beach and rocks were a location of an early photo shoot for then Norma Jeane Baker (Marilyn Monroe) in August 1945.

A brief moment of fame for the J. Paul Pebble was an article penned by John Long in the October 1986 issue of Climbing magazine. Probably has recovered from the resulting onslaught of humanity.