Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → San Diego Area → San Diego Coast → Torrey Pines State Reserve

Location: La Jolla/Del Mar area, central coast of San Diego

Time Required: 1 – 4 hours

Red Tape/Notes: Open year round, from 7:15am to sunset. Day use fee of $10 – $20 per vehicle (price depends on the day of the week and whether or not its high season). Parking can be difficult to find during high season. Note that Torrey Pines has a Natural Reserve status, meaning it has more stringent use restrictions than a State or National Park would have. For more information, visit their website.

What’s Nearby?: Sandtrap Canyon, Gliderport, San Elijo Ecological Reserve, Annie’s Canyon

This coastal state park covers 2,000 acres and hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna, including the rare Torrey Pine, which is the rarest pine in North America (it can only be found here). The area was granted National Natural Landmark status in 1977 and has benefited from ongoing conservations efforts; due to its status as a Natural Reserve, there are much more stringent restrictions on visitors – for example, you can only bring water with you into the reserve (although food and other non-alcoholic beverages are allowed on the beach). The reserve includes 8 miles of trails providing views of various parts of the reserve, including the local landmark “Broken Hill”, and also providing access to the beach below; there is also a small museum. Living here, I probably don’t give this park the respect and appreciation it deserves – while pretty, I don’t find it particularly remarkable, although the Broken Hill and the jagged landscape around Razor Point are both very picturesque. If you’re not from here, you’ll probably find these two areas to be very impressive and you’ll love the sweeping coastal views and rugged ravines.

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → San Diego Area → San Diego Coast → Torrey Pines State Reserve