La Jolla residents are blessed to have some of the most beautiful Pacific Ocean coastline on the west coast and with the end of summer, what a perfect time to spend a day at the beach! Torrey Pines State Beach is located just west of Carmel Valley and north of La Jolla Shores & Black's Beach in La Jolla. Adjacent to the Torrey Pines State Beach is the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
The State Reserve is a 1,750 acre reserve which remains home to a lagoon that is a sanctuary for migrating seabirds, trails with chaparral plants, the rare Torrey Pine trees (thus the name). It is said that the Torrey Pine is one of the rarest pine in the United States. The Reserve has eight miles of trails, a visitor center and guided nature walks on weekends. Many of us have spent our weekends enjoying, what I call, the "bump and grind" steep hill that takes you up to the
Reserve from the State beach parking lot below. This park road leads to a coastal wilderness of pine forests, sandstone canyons and a network of hiking trails on the steep bluffs overlooking the sea.
Torrey Pines enjoys the protection of the State of California, from the Penasquitos river valley on the east side of the highway, to the State Park lands on the west, to the Underwater Ecological Reserve offshore. The world famous Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla helps to safeguard the southern end of the bluffs from development while the rugged cliffs where the Torrey Pines Gliderport is located; do their part to discourage overuse.
The Torrey Pines State Beach is a long & wide beach, popular with surfers, swimmers and boogey boarders, which stretches 4 ½ miles from Del Mar past Los Penasquitos Lagoon to the base of the sandstone cliffs at Torrey Pines Mesa. Carmel Valley Road will take you to a popular beach right off the highway, with bathrooms, showers, lifeguards and a safe spot for young children to play by the lagoon.
Plan on spending at least one more lazy day of summer enjoying a beach picnic in La Jolla with your family, playing in the surf, walking the sandy shores, or simply reflecting on another beautiful La Jolla sunset.
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