Basic Information

Torrey Pines State Reserve is a wilderness island in an urban sea. This fragile environment is the home of our nation's rarest pine tree - Pinus torreyana. Once this tree covered a larger area. It now grows only here and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast near Santa Barbara.

Torrey 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.

Photo by Todd Nordness

Location

Torrey Pines State Reserve is located between La Jolla and Del Mar, California, north of San Diego. From Hwy 5, exit on Carmel Valley Road and drive west for about 1.5 miles till you reach the Coast Highway 101. Turn left and proceed along the beach for about a mile. The park entrance is on your right just before the highway begins to climb the Torrey Pines grade.

12600 North Torrey Pines Road, San Diego CA 92037

GPS: 32.92183, -117.2497

Phone

(858) 755-2063

Mailing Address:

Torrey Pines State Reserve
California State Parks San Diego Coast District North Sector
2680 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad CA 92009

Fees

There is a parking fee for any car entering Torrey Pines State Reserve.

General: $8 (everyday)

Senior (62+): $5 weekdays, $7 weekends & holidays
Disabled:$4 (with qualified Dept Parks Recreation pass)

Bus with 10-24 people: $50 all days
Bus with 25+ people: $100 all days
Annual pass: $125 State Park Online Payment

If there is no staff person in the kiosk at the park entrance, the parking fee can be paid at Visitor Center at the top of the mesa. No reservations or permits are required.

Operating Hours

Torrey Pines State Reserve is open daily from 8 AM until sunset. The Visitor Center hours are daily 9 AM to 6 PM for the PDST season and 10 AM to 4 PM during PT (winter) season.

Interpretive Services & Guided Nature Walks

Be sure to visit the museum at the Visitor Center to see the exhibits of the natural and cultural history of the Reserve. Weekends and holidays there are interpretive nature walks at 10 AM and

at 2 PM. Check at the Visitor Center for other programs which may be offered. Requests for group interpretive and educational programs should be made two weeks in advance.

Click here for Group Field Trips.

Rules

Fire, erosion and off-trail hiking can damage fragile natural features beyond repair. To help preserve natural features, and for your own safety, you must observe these basic rules:

Stay on officially designated trails. Cutting across switchbacks and between trails, going into closed areas, and climbing cliffs are activities that cause severe environmental damage and can be dangerous. These activities are prohibited.

All smoking and fires are prohibited in the Reserve. Smoking is permitted at the beach.

No picnics are allowed in the Reserve. You may picnic on the beach. Do not take food or drink (except for water) on any trail except to carry them to the beach. Fires are permitted at the beach in your own BBQ. No fire pits are available. No alcohol is allowed.

Dogs and horses are prohibited from the Reserve and from the beach.

No bicycles. motorcycles. or any other vehicles except baby strollers and wheelchairs are permitted on any trail.

All natural or historic features are protected by state law. Do not collect pine cones. Do not pick wildflowers. They must be left to produce seed to grow new plants and as food for animals. Leave plants, animals, and rocks for the next visitor to enjoy.

Park only in designated parking lots. Stopping on road shoulders is not permitted.

Keep small children with an adult at all times. The cliffs and canyons can be dangerous places.

Updated 06/28/2008

return to top

Aerial photos of Torrey Pines State Beach