Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Despite being within San Diego city limits, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of the wildest patches of land on the California coast. The state park is open to the public and lies between La Jolla and Del Mar. It covers 2,000 acres of woodland, marsh, lagoon, sandstone cliff and sand dunes and runs along the Pacific Ocean.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve occupies an area that was first home to the native Kumeyaay people. Spanish sailors arrived in the 16th century and identified the area as Punta de los Arboles, or Wooded Point. It served as a useful landmark on an otherwise treeless coast. Torrey Pines was leased for cattle and sheep grazing in 1890 then was set aside as a public park. It became an officially protected state park in 1959. In 2007, its name changed to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
The state park is home to the Torrey pine, the rarest native pine tree in the United States. It grows only in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of Santa Barbara. Sand verbena, beach primrose and sea rocket grow on the sandy dunes, while coastal sage grows on the edge of the cliffs. The reserve is home to thick chaparral scrub bushes, and various types of sea grass grow on the salt marsh.
Visitors can often spot the soaring red-tailed hawk as well as the Northern Mockingbird, Anna's Hummingbird and the California Quail. Though most are reclusive, it is possible to see bobcat, coyote and raccoon as well as gopher and mule deer. Eight species of lizards and eight species of snakes live in the reserve. From the viewing platforms on the bluff visitors can observe gray whales and dolphins in the ocean.
Artists and photographers take an interest in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for its dramatic and photogenic landscape. As the sea rose and fell over millions of years it created sandstone terraces and shelves that visitors can observe when walking through the reserve. Compacted and eroded dunes, wind-bent trees, crashing waves and the abstract sandstone formations combine to create an interesting landscape that is constantly changing.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has 8 miles of trails to explore on foot. The Guy Fleming Trail is the easiest, a relatively level 2/3-mile loop. Get your heart pumping with the Parry Grove Trail that has a steep start, or climb down an incline to access the beach on the 3/4-mile Beach Trail. Guided nature walks start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays from the visitor center.
Visitors pay $10 per car to enter Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Seniors pay $9 and the disabled $5. You can purchase an annual pass for $125. The reserve is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset, and the visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter.