One of the highlights of our family trip to San Diego was our visit to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Located along the rocky coast of the Pacific Ocean between La Jolla and Del Mar lies a treasure: The 2,000- acre Torrey Pines Reserve, one of the wildest stretches of land along the Southern California coast. Named after the nation’s rare pine tree, the Pinus torreyana, this beautiful wilderness area offers several hikes affording spectacular panoramic views of the aquamarine ocean and craggy cliffs leading down to a vast, unspoiled beach. It is also home to several kinds of birds and waterfowl as well as magnificent, colorful wildflowers in the spring.
We headed to the park just as the midday sun was lowering, opting to drive our car up Torrey Pines Park Road to the Visitor Center on top and park there. You can also park your car at the bottom of the reserve near the South Beach entrance and walk up the road to the top of the bluffs- a distance of a little over a mile – but with children it was easier to park on top.
Driving up the paved road to the top of the Coastal Bluffs at Torrey Pines Reserve.
There is a nice visitor center with trail maps near the parking area on top, and on the weekends and holidays the reserve offers guided nature walks as well. Torrey Pines has over 8 miles of trails with many options depending on how far you want to go. You can hike the short half mile Razor Point trail to a gorgeous overlook of a gorge, badlands and wildflowers, or do what we did, simply find your way down to the beach.
View from atop the high, coastal bluffs.
The Torrey Pine is one of the rarest native pines in the United States.
I was mesmerized by the tranquility and beauty of Torrey Pines. The windswept trails meandered along the bluffs affording magnificent panoramic views of the expansive sea. I kept stopping to take photos along the way and before I knew if my kids were halfway down to the beach!
Finally I caught up with them to at least get a few family shots. But as soon as we were finished off they raced with my husband trailing not far behind.
I don’t think I could blame them. They had never felt the ocean waves across their bare feet. It was a first.
Yellow wildflowers lined the trail.
They were long gone by the time I reached the stairs leading down to the beach. Shoes and socks off, knee-high in the water and waves splashing their face.
Soaked wet and full of sand, we gathered them reluctantly to head back to the hotel. Had we known how much they would love it here we would have packed a picnic dinner. What a beautiful place!
My son Max enjoying the gorgeous beach at Torrey Pines Reserve.
The only downfall about parking the car on the top meant I had to hike back up the bluffs and drive it back down to the beach where I fetched my husband and two sandy and wet kids. It was worth it though.
For more information, please visit www.torreypine.org
Torrey Pines State Reserve Photo credit: http://www.torreypine.org
I would have stared at that sea all day long. How utterly gorgeous.
Yes it is spectacular. 🙂
You are so sweet to let us tag along on this outing! i loved the shadow image on the beach.
I remember the first time my nephew saw and experienced the pacific from his vantage point of his wheel chair. It was quite sobering. He said that it made him wish he could get up and walk into the surf….
Ah thanks Lisa! I can only imagine how your nephew felt. Yes sobering indeed.
We are full-time RVers and were just there on Friday. I wish we had had a sunnier day. Your pictures are beautiful. Isn’t that an amazing place?
Wow, that sounds like fun! 🙂
Wow, first time at the beach fur the kids – no wonder they were in a hurry. Looks like a wonderful walk. The cactus flower is lovely.
Thanks so much! They had been at the beach when they were very little but don’t remember. They sure did love the waves!
i have flown glider an sailplanes an remote control gliders there an hangliders an hanglider trikes also, jest south of where u were at off the hill at torrey pines gliderport! 🙂 grew up there landed in da’ mountains for now but sure miss da place kewl u walked down 🙂 love that place i do grew up there ,,splendid one to u an urs frum da Q
Wow that is pretty cool! I can’t imagine!
You have such cute kids. I love how you captured their joy!
Oh thanks Debbie! They are lots of fun and bring so much joy!
Such a stunning place, Nicole. I loved the joyous photos of your children at the beach. What fun they had. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia! I need to explore more of the California coast. It really is quite beautiful.
Torrey Pines was just down the road from where we work camped a couple of winters. We know her trails well…lovely!
Lucky you LuAnn! You have been living in some pretty wonderful places! 🙂
The beach looks absolutely beautiful and the weather great! Hope you guys had fun.
Thanks! It was wonderful and we had a great time! Perfect family memories!