There are 6 options for group visits to Torrey Pines, available to specific groups as follows:

Please note: Free public hikes offered on Saturdays, Sundays & holidays are not available for groups to join in and are limited to about 10 persons. Any organized group must schedule at least 3 weeks ahead with one of the options listed below.

1. Docent-led Children's Program

A hands-on experience: listen to a 20 minute subject presentation under Torrey pine trees and overlooking the ocean. Hike the trails in small groups led by a docent naturalist for a personal encounter with nature tied to the presentation topic. Visit the Lodge Museum to see the animals you may have missed on the trail. Many schools walk to the beach level via the park road for a picnic lunch at the end of the guided walk.

Group size: no more than 70 total, plan to split into groups of 10 for guided walks, 1 chaperone per 10 children

Fees: Free. Donations to the Docent Society are appreciated and help keep programs available. Bus Grants are available for Title 1 schools. For pdf on Bus Grants click here. Approved groups will receive a pass at the entrance kiosk. If the kiosk is not staffed, you must contact staff at the Lodge/Ranger HQ, located in the Visitor Center to receive a vehicle pass for your dashboard. No photocopied passes will be accepted.

Preparation: please review the Reserve regulations with all children and adults. Click here for Information for All Groups. Upon confirmation of your field trip date, we will send you a list of helpful tips. Click here for Educational Resources.
Booking Requirements: All slots are full for this school year. Reservations for each school year start August 15th and spaces fill up quickly. No telephone requests will be taken. Reservation Request Form (reopens Aug. 15, 2012)

2. Naturalist Talk/Self-guided Program

The Naturalist Talk/Self Guided Program is a good choice for groups that want a short introduction to the Reserve before exploring the Reserve on their own. All K-12 groups visiting the Reserve must attend a Naturalist Talk before hiking, both for their own safety and for the protection of the Reserve.

Group size: no more than 70, split into groups of 12 or fewer on the trail; 20 or fewer in the museum at one time.

Program length: 20 minute introduction to the Reserve, plus hiking time, allow 1.5 hours

Days/Times offered: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, September–June This program is not available during summer months (June, July and August) due to high visitor volume. Schools planning beach trips must obtain a beach permit. Contact Julia Miura 619-688-3385 for a beach permit. Click here to email

Fees: Free to K-12 schools if request is made at least 3 weeks in advance. Donations to the Docent Society are appreciated and help keep programs available. Bus Grants are available for Title I elementary schools. For pdf on Bus Grants click here. Approved groups will receive a pass at the entrance kiosk. If the kiosk is not staffed, you must contact staff at the Lodge/Ranger HQ, located in the Visitor Center to receive a vehicle pass for your dashboard. No photocopied passes will be accepted.

Preparation: Please review the Reserve regulations with all children and adults. Click here for Information for All Groups. No food is allowed in the upper Reserve area; plan to eat lunch at the picnic tables near the beach. Click here for Educational Resources. Trail packs with self-guided tours and class activities may be borrowed from the Visitor Center for use during your trip.

Booking Requirements: At least three weeks before your planned trip, complete a school group request form, signed by the school principal. Click here for the request form. No telephone requests will be taken. You will be contacted to confirm the trip.

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3. College Classes/Other Non-profit Organizations

These groups hike independently under the direction of their instructors and are expected to acquaint themselves with the Reserve rules before the trip

Days/Times offered: Monday-Friday, afternoons preferred to avoid conflict with the younger school groups.

Fees: $100 weekdays/$150 weekends (limited dates) Fees includes parking for 3 cars or one van. Approved groups will receive parking pass(es) for three cars or one van at the entrance kiosk. Additional vehicles pay day use fee. If the kiosk is not staffed, you must contact staff at the Lodge/Ranger HQ, located in the Visitor Center to receive a vehicle pass for your dashboard. No photocopied passes will be accepted.

Preparation: Please review the Reserve regulations with all participants. Click here for Information for All Groups. No food is allowed in the upper Reserve area; plan to eat lunch at the picnic tables near the beach.

Booking Requirements: Submit a group request form and insurance verification information at least three weeks before your trip. Click here for the request packet. No telephone requests will be taken. You will be contacted to confirm the trip.

4. Scouts and Senior Groups

We offer a very limited number of weekday afternoon programs for small groups of scouts or seniors for a nominal fee of $25. Scout programs can be tailored to badge requirements. Seniors enjoy nature at a pace that suits them. Please click here to email a request for a program at least three weeks in advance. Scout or senior groups that would like to visit on a weekend or independently must arrange a permit using option #3 (scouts) or #6 (seniors) or may book a Special Walk, option #5.

5. Special Walks with a Docent Naturalist

For a fee, you may be able to arrange a Special Walk to suit your schedule and interests through the Docent Special Walk Coordinator. These walks provide a focus or topic of your choice and a docent naturalist leader, usually 1 leader per 10 people.

Weekday Special Walk Donation/Charge

1 - 10 people $100
11 - 20 people $150
21 - 30 people $200
31 - 40 people $250
41 - 50 people $300

Weekend Special Walk Donation/Charge

1 - 10 people $150
11 - 20 people $200
21 - 30 people $300
31 - 40 people $400
41 - 50 people $500

Depending on group size, parking for a bus, minivans or a small number of cars is complimentary for a Special Walk group. The Torrey Pines Docent Society uses all proceeds for the benefit of the Reserve and for educational purposes. In general, you need to arrange for a Special Walk at least two weeks in advance. For further details and arrangements, email the Docent Special Walk Coordinator by clicking here.

6. All Other Groups

Groups of 25 or more people including, but not limited to day camps, summer tours, corporate groups, and exercise groups, should apply for a Special Events permit by contacting Julia Miura at 619-688-3385 or click here to email at least three weeks before their planned activity. No groups will be scheduled on holidays or holiday weekends.

Groups without reservations will be asked to leave the Reserve immediately and may be cited. The Reserve limits visitors to protect natural resources and for the safety of all trail users.

Please note: Anyone conducting business (profit or non-profit) within the Reserve (photographers, personal trainers, guides, etc), regardless of group size, must obtain a permit by contacting Julia Miura at 619-688-3385 or click here to email.

We hope you’re looking forward to visiting Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Torrey Pines is one of only 14 Natural Reserves among California’s 278 State Parks. A special place deserves special consideration. Our primary mission is to protect the animals and rare plants found here; humans are guests in nature’s home.

Please stay on the marked, wide trails. Cutting across switchbacks and going into closed areas causes erosion and damages native plants.

Split up into smaller groups of 12 or fewer while hiking to make the experience more enjoyable for yourselves, our other visitors, and the animals who live here. We recommend 1 adult chaperone for every 10 children.

To keep our animals wild and the Reserve trash-free, there is no food allowed in the upper Reserve, all snacks and lunch must be eaten at the Beach level. There are picnic tables available next to the Beach parking lot. Please leave lunches or snacks on the bus or in backpacks until you reach the beach level.

Everything in the Reserve is protected; do not pick or collect anything. Pinecones and flowers must be left to produce seed to grow new plants and as food for animals.

The Visitor Center Museum offers exhibits on the natural and cultural history and is staffed by knowledgeable docents who can answer many questions about the area and trails. Children enjoy visiting our Museum which includes many taxidermied animals found in the Reserve. Because the Museum is small, please bring no more than 20 people in at once.

If you plan a beach walk, please check the tide table first. During high tides, there may not be enough room to walk safely between the cliffs and the ocean. Always keep away from the bottom of the cliffs: rock slides can occur at any time.

Restrooms are available at the Beach level entrance and in the west parking lot at the top level, across the street from the Visitor Center. Water fountains are available at the Visitor Center, the restrooms, and on the Guy Fleming Trail.

Dress appropriately: Wear sturdy shoes or sneakers, not sandals. The coast is often much cooler than inland, so bring a warm layer. Hats and sunscreen are always a good idea!

Please contact us immediately if you have any changes in your plans (numbers, times, etc) or if you need to cancel. If you are running late, please let us know. Visitor Center phone: 858-755-2063

The DVD, A Walk in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, is available on request. This 27-minute DVD provides an introduction to the plants and animals you may encounter when you visit. The DVD was created by Torrey Pines Docents. Suggested donation of $5 to cover shipping and handling may be made during your visit or click here for PayPal.

Trail Packs for self-guided tours may be borrowed from the visitor center. These packs contain self-guided tours on Geology, Habitats, and the Kumeyaay as well as field guides and supplies for hands-on activities. You can also download tour information here:

The book, Torrey Pines State Reserve, is an excellent source of background information and is sold at the Visitor Center Museum Shop for around $5.00.

Webfilms produced by the Torrey Pines Association offer quick 3-4 minute introductions to a number of Reserve topics such as the trails, trees, wildflowers, insects, etc. torreypines.org/what-we-do/webfilm-series

Exploring San Diego’s Shrublands, a 4^th grade curriculum developed by the San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative, focuses on the chaparral and coastal sage scrub ecosystems while addressing California Content Standards for science and English language arts. sandiegoaudubon.org/index.php/exploring-san-diegos-shrubland

We are always searching for lesson plans to add to our resource files. If you have a study guide that has worked for you, please share it with us.

Parking fees are waived for K-12 educational groups on weekdays, provided a reservation has been made at least three weeks in advance. Approved groups will receive a pass at the entrance kiosk. If the kiosk is not staffed, you must contact staff at the Lodge/Ranger HQ, located in the Visitor Center to receive a vehicle pass for your dashboard. No photocopied passes will be accepted. Click here for fee information.

Group Field Trips and Hikes

1. Docent-led Children's Program

2. Naturalist Talk/Self-guided Program

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3. College Classes/Other Non-profit Organizations

4. Scouts and Senior Groups

5. Special Walks with a Docent Naturalist

6. All Other Groups