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emailTorrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Within this 2,000-acre oasis of wildlands inside San Diego City limits are 200-foot-high carved sandstone bluffs; woodlands containing the nation's rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine (pinus torreyana), often twisted into fantastic shapes by the omnipresent wind; a beach, freshwater lagoon, and salt marsh; and coastal scrub and chaparral plants and animals. A pueblo-style structure built in 1922...
Within this 2,000-acre oasis of wildlands inside San Diego City limits are 200-foot-high carved sandstone bluffs; woodlands containing the nation's rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine (pinus torreyana), often twisted into fantastic shapes by the omnipresent wind; a beach, freshwater lagoon, and salt marsh; and coastal scrub and chaparral plants and animals. A pueblo-style structure built in 1922 as a restaurant now serves as the visitor center. Currently, only one half-mile loop trail in the reserve’s eight-mile trail network is accessible. Picnics are not allowed in the reserve.
Visitor center: Housed in the former Torrey Pines Lodge, the center has videos about the history and biological shaping of the reserve, animal specimens of the area (birds, coyotes, a mountain lion, rattlesnakes), and items such as pine cones and animal bones to touch and examine. Guided hikes are offered weekends and holidays at 10 am and 2 pm, and with advance notice can be tailored to meet accessibility needs.
Visitor center: Housed in the former Torrey Pines Lodge, the center has videos about the history and biological shaping of the reserve, animal specimens of the area (birds, coyotes, a mountain lion, rattlesnakes), and items such as pine cones and animal bones to touch and examine. Guided hikes are offered weekends and holidays at 10 am and 2 pm, and with advance notice can be tailored to meet accessibility needs.
Trail/Pathway Details
Discovery Trail
Trailhead: At visitor center and from west parking lot
Length: Under one mile total
Typical Width: 4 ft. & above
Typical Grade: Level
Terrain: Hard
Description
Picking up this half-mile trail from the visitor center, you see Torrey pines amongst coastal sage scrub and chaparral plants, including California buckwheat, laurel sumac, Mojave yucca, deerweed, chamise, and sage, which was sacred to Kumeyaay people. To the east you can see Los Peñasquitos watershed and, in the distance, the University Town Center area. In about .2...view full description
Accessibility Details
The facilities listed below meet all of our access criteria unless otherwise noted.
Bench along Discovery Trail (Kristen Meneke)
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Additional Information
| View Map |
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| Website: | www.parks.ca.gov |
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| Managing Agency: | California State Parks |
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| Address: | 12600 North Torrey Pines Rd., San Diego |
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| Nearest City: | San Diego |
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| Phone: | (858) 755-2063 |
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| Hours: | Reserve: 8 am-5 pm Visitor center: Daylight saving time: 9 am-6 pm. Winter standard time: 10 am-4 pm. |
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| Fees: | Parking |
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| Dogs: | Not allowed Service animals allowed only at beach and visitor center; please notify a ranger or staff at entrance station if you have a service animal |
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| Public Transportation: | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System |
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| Useful Links: | Torrey Pines Docent Society |
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Did You Know?
There are only two native stands of Torrey pines in North America, one at Torrey Pines State Reserve and the other on Santa Rosa Island near Santa Barbara.
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Reviewed by Kristen Manecke, May 7, 2008
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 This web guide is a project of Access Northern California.  Thanks to our partner the California Coastal Conservancy |
