Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve
add photosTorrey Pines State Reserve is a day-use park only. There is no overnight camping facility. Picnics are permitted on the beach only. No food or drinks (other than water) are permitted in the Reserve (i.e., the mesa above the beach and the Extension).
There is no place in the park to buy food or drinks. Hikers are advised to bring and carry drinking water on the trails - especially in the summertime.
8 Reviews for Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve
26
30 families found this helpful
"under the sun"
sunblock, sunblock, sunblock. i can't say more than sunblock. whether your family decided to hike, or just play around the beach, this part of san diego coast is more secluded than other beach. no stores around other than the visitor center open from 9am-6pm. compare to other beaches it is one of the nicest because it is not located near the city, there are only two ways to get here, through la jolla shores drive or exit 56 west/Carmel Valley Road from i-5, which both are local roads, and it is a reserve area, thus, not a lot of people coming here compare to ocean or mission beach. On the other hand not a lot of restaurant and stores. so prepare for lunch and possibly dinner (only at the beach) with addition, sunblock, sunblock, sunblock. If you decided to hike, start with the first and easiest route, in the middle of the hike you will find a wooden balcony-like, overlooking the beach below. very nice. if you have an older kid, you can try the more challenging route, just be very careful, because it is a natural route, and there are occasionally sign of cliffs on either side of the route and do not interact with rattlesnake (rarely seen but not impossible) . don't forget water and electrolyte, because it is close to the beach, hence the salty air makes you dehydrated easier,also southern california is well known for their desert weather, and the hike is about 4-5 miles in the middle of nature. no rest area with food and drinks guys. Restrooms are on top of the reserve and the one on the beach with showers. no bike and dogs on trails. only service dogs allowed but then you don't really want to hike that far if you need one because it is quite dangerous. bad news is the beach isn't wheelchair accessible. but that's all so if you wanna enjoy one of the cleanest beach in the county, then look at no other place.
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0 families found this helpful
"Love the scenery and a great place to jog"
This is a lovely place to jog, surf, and relax. Sometimes you have to pay a couple of bucks for parking, but it's worth it. A lot of surfers come here early in the morning, so be aware of where the surfing zone is. There's a lot of beach, so talk a walk with your family along the coastline. It's beautiful at sunset.
'11
1 family found this helpful
"Nice beach"
You can either park in the free parking located along the beach and to the east of Torrey Pines Road or if you plan on going up to the Torrey Pines trails there is paid parking to the south, just before ‘The Hill’. The beach itself is clean with moderate waves for the kids. I don’t recall there being a lifeguard presence while we were there. What’s great about this beach is that you can walk south to see the cliffs and trails just north of the Torrey Pines Golf Course. There are some coastal rocks that older children might enjoy climbing as well.
0 families found this helpful
"Beautiful!"
I work near by this beach and often find it hard to pass by. I bring my daughter here to look at shells and play in the sand. There is not much free parking close by but if you take a short walk they do have tons of parking with a covered walk way that accesses the beach. You can also hike though this area. I have gone alone but never with my daughter, if you have the appropriate gear I think it would be a great hike!
0 families found this helpful
"A beautiful forest in an unexpected place"
We love Torrey Pines. It is a wonderful state park located near La Jolla with sweeping views of the Pacific fromt he cliffs above that are covered with the rarest pine trees in the world. There are great hikes in this park appropriate for all ages and a cute little visitor center. After you explore the pines, head on down the hill and take a dip in the ocean. The beach is a great place for a picnic and some fun in the sun.
1 family found this helpful
"Great Beach"
Oh this beach was fantastic for the family!!! The kids all body surfed with mom and dad, played in the sand and searched for sea glass and pretty rocks. The waves were perfect as you could wade waist deep out in the water for a good 20 feet or more before the boogie boarders took their place out in the beach which was not a hinderance at all. Everyone was having a great time!! The water temp was perfect and very clean although there is alot of seaweed at this beach, alot but if that is no concern then you will LOVE this beach!! It stretched between LaJolla and Del Mar, you can park for free on the road and walk down or park in the parking area for $8 (worth it to be close) we chose to pay as we have 4 small kids and it made it easier for us. My husband and are are coming back with no kids in 2 weeks for a wedding and plan to do some boogie boarding here as this is the perfect beach!! It was a little more crowded than LaJolla Cove but really a fun beach!!
0 families found this helpful
"Gorgeous cliff-top walks"
There are multiple trails leading from the visitors centre all over the cliffs overlooking the beach. They are well-kept and there are many easy ones even for pre-schoolers (but not prams), leading to scenic outlooks facing the sea and surrounded by the stately Torrey pine trees.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
This beach/reserve stretches between La Jolla and Del Mar. Enjoy one of just two places in the world where the Torrey pine tree grows (the other is Santa Rosa Island, near Santa Barbara). A visitor center has interpretive displays, and there are miles of great hiking and nature trails. The beach below is a favorite for swimmers; the cliffs above are a popular take-off spot for hang gliders.
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