Torrey Pines Natural Reserve, La Jolla CA
• 5-star hikes
• 1 to 5 mile options
• Easy & Medium | Gain 70 to 730 feet
• La Jolla, CA | San Diego Region
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Southern overlook on the Guy Fleming Trail.
A rare preserved parcel of Southern California wilderness, the extremely popular Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve welcomes visitors to enjoy its coastal landscape of ocean, cliffs and chaparral. Even rarer is the Torrey Pine, the most critically endangered pine tree in North America, which survives only here and on the remote Santa Rosa Island.
Three distinct hiking opportunities branch off from the park's dead-end road, and we describe them to you below. Due to the popularity of the park you may not be able to drive directly to a trailhead, but may instead have to leave your vehicle at the South Beach parking lot by the park's entrance. In this case, we also describe the additional distance and elevation gain you'll need to add to your journey.
During low tide it's also possible to hike along the beach and access the park's trails at a beach access point some 0.8 miles south of the main entrance. The park describes this route as inaccessible two to three hours before and after high tide, and also cautions beach-goers to keep away from the unstable sandy cliffs.
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5★ Broken Hill Loop
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX? |
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3★ Parry Grove Trail
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions |
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4★ Guy Fleming Loop
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions |
⬤ 5★ Broken Hill Loop
+1.7mi 320ft o&b if starting at lower parking.
Our favorite trail is a loop at the south end of the park that showcases the best of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. A clockwise journey along this route begins with a half-mile stretch of asphalt, up a gently inclining section of Torrey Pines Park Road that is now closed to traffic. This road was once part of the main highway between San Diego and LA. Where the road meets the golf course you will join the flat and sandy South Fork Trail toward the Broken Hill viewpoint.
As you head west through sandy scrubland and chaparral, the white noise of the nearby highway is gradually overpowered by the sounds of the waves of the Pacific Ocean against the beach below. The trail so far has been flat and wheelchair-accessible, but beyond the spur to the Broken Hill Overlook, expect some small steps and switchbacks. The trail next passes by the beach access area, then continues past a couple of spur trails to Yucca Point and Razor Point before looping back towards the trailhead.
Torrey Pine trees at the Broken Hill viewpoint.
⬤ 3★ Parry Grove Trail
+1.2mi 290ft o&b if starting at lower parking.
All visitors may want to explore the first part of this trail, which features a native plant garden and the EB Scripps Overlook that is wheelchair-accessible. Beyond this however, the Parry Grove Trail is only accessible to those willing to tackle the 100 steps that lead to a short coastal looping trail.
Though there's little to see on this trail that isn't already apparent on either the Broken Hill or Guy Fleming loops, the Parry Grove Trail does benefit from one thing - tranquility. The threat of the cliff steps often keeps the crowds away on this trail.
⬤ 4★ Guy Fleming Loop
+1.0mi 230ft o&b if starting at lower parking.
This shorter, mostly flat looping trail is an excellent option to experience Torrey Pines park for those with less time or less inclination for a longer hike. Including ocean views and dramatic overlooks both to the south and north, this easy nature trail winds its way through both pines and coastal scrub.
Beach access on Broken Hill Loop.
There are three parking locations within the park - two accessed by driving up the park road, and a third massive lower lot by the park entrance that will still fill up completely every weekends and holidays. If you're extremely early or extremely lucky you may also find free roadside and beachside parking along North Torrey Pines Road. There's no charge to enter the park on foot, so you may also want to consider the public bus service that stops at the park entrance.
Expand our park map and add the 'Other Points of Interest' layer to see all the parking options, restrooms, visitor center along with other viewpoints and waypoints. These details are also included on our downloadable GPX file that you can download to your smartphone for navigation.
Walking the quieter Parry Grove Trail.
100 steps on Parry Grove Trail.
Tangents:
• Official: CA State Parks
• AllTrails Public: Beach Loop, Broken Hill, Fleming
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us
California Coastlines
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California coastal hikes and beaches to check out.
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