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All the United States California La Jolla Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
AO Edited

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

A dramatic coastline that’s home to a rare pine tree.

La Jolla, California

Added By
Marian Bull
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Visitors enjoy the views of Torrey Pines Cliffs.   | Dirk Hansen
The park is full of well-maintained walking paths and trails   | CK Golf
The cliffs at Torrey Pines dip right into the beach.   | John Apps
The park stretches across over 2,000 acres, which makes for rugged views.   | Dirk DBQ
A beach at Torrey Pines Nature Reserve.   | Chad Davis
Sandy cliffs at Torrey Pines Nature Reserve.   | Bryan Pocius
Torrey pines often resemble oversized bonsai trees.   | Sergei Gussev
A dramatic beach view at Torrey Pines.   | atramos
Surfers at Torrey Pines Beach   | Brianda Maldonado
The park’s trails offer beautiful views of the beach.   | Patrick Fore
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About

Perched above a long expanse of beach is Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, a sprawling stretch of wilderness just north of the city of San Diego. With 8 miles of trails, it’s a wonderful way to get up close and personal with San Diego’s diverse nature. 

The park’s preservation began in 1899, when a city ordinance protected 364 acres. A decade later, local philanthropist and journalist Ellen Browning Scripps bought up some adjacent land and subsequently donated it to the city. More land was added in 1923, making the park over 1,000 acres, and it soon opened to the public. In the last decade, the protected land has nearly doubled in size to 2,000 acres. 

The park’s titular tree, Latin name Pinus torreyana, is the rarest pine in all of North America. This critically endangered species only grows on the coast of San Diego County and on an island off of Santa Barbara. They often resemble oversized bonsai trees, thanks to the way that coastal winds twist and turn their branches. Set against the seaside cliffs of the park, they make for a dramatic and visually striking landscape. 

The park’s trails are well maintained, and many of them are accessible to hikers and walkers of all ages. The Guy Fleming trail, a breezy ⅔-mile loop, takes visitors through the greatest variety of cacti, wildflowers, and habitat diversity of all the trails, and its two scenic overlooks both offer panoramic views of the sea and surrounding land. Razor Point Trail, which sounds more hazardous than its meandering route really is, offers dramatic views of the park’s sculpted sandstone gorge, and leads up to Yucca Point Overlook, which boasts yucca flowers in springtime and year-round views of tafoni, a type of sandstone erosion that makes some of the surrounding rocks look like honeycomb or Swiss cheese. 

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Strollers and wheelchairs are allowed on all accessible trails. Dogs are not allowed. The visitors center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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marianbull1

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traceywilson

  • traceywilson

Published

February 13, 2025

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Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
12600 N Torrey Pines Rd
La Jolla, California, 92037
United States
32.92569, -117.265177
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