Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

The park is currently Open with restrictions in services and/or facilities.

Please check the hours of operation.

Fall Junior Ranger Programs are coming!

Check our News & Events for program dates and guided hike schedule.

Park Hours

Gates open at 07:15 a.m. and close at Sunset.
Visitor Center Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Park Road/Upper Parking lot Closure: 3rd Wednesday of every month 7am-1pm

Trail Conditions: All trails are open

Contact Information

(858) 755-2063

Are dogs allowed?

Reservation Availability

No upcoming camping/lodging reservations at this time.

About Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

This majestic reserve nestled within urban San Diego is the home of the nation's rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine, as well as of one of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California. This park features hiking trails, a visitor center and various interpretive programs for visitors of all ages.

View the park accessibility information

Maps and Park Directions

Torrey Pines State Natural 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, where you can pay to park. You can also enter the park from the North Beach parking lot. From Hwy 5 going southbound, exit on Carmel Valley Road and drive west for about 1.5 miles until you reach McGonigle Road. Turn left on McGonigle Road to enter the parking lot where you can self-pay to park and walk to the reserve by walking towards the beach and going underneath the bridge to access a ramp that will lead you to a sidewalk to get to the trails at the Reserve.

From Hwy 5 northbound, exit Genesee Ave and turn left. Continue on Genesee Ave, veering to the right onto N. Torrey Pines Road for approximately 4.5 miles. Turn left when you reach the bottom of the grade to enter the park. To access the north end of Torrey Pines State Beach, continue northbound on N. Torrey Pines Road until you reach Carmel Valley Road. Turn right until you reach McGonigle Road then turn right into the parking lot.

To access the trails at the Extension, free public parking is allowed near the trail heads.

Brochures

News and Events

Upcoming Events

Sep 4: Guided Nature Hike
Sep 5: Guided Nature Hike
Sep 5: Junior Rangers: Beach Wrack- Biodiversity at the Beach!

All events for Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Passes Information

This park accepts the following passes:

List of all California State Park passes

Activities and Facilities

EV Information

Other Facilities

Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

Day-Use Activities & Facilities

Historical/Cultural Site
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Vista Point
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Museums
Family Programs
Geocaching

Trail Use

Hiking Trails

Concessionaires

Parking

LAZ Parking (opens in new tab)

Mobile Food Truck

Curbside Bites (opens in new tab)

Welcome to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve!

California has 280 state park units and contains the largest and most diverse recreational, natural and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation. Only 16 have the "reserve status". A natural reserve status is assigned to an area of importance, and typically is one that contains threatened plants, animals, habitats, or unique geological formations. Torrey Pines State Natural 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. The park preserves not only the trees, but also one of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California. The reserve features high broken cliffs and deep ravines on headlands overlooking the ocean. Hikers can follow trails through stands of wind-sculpted pines. A picturesque, pueblo-style structure that served as a restaurant when it was built in 1923 houses the visitor center, featuring interpretive displays. The reserve's rich plant community features wildflowers in the spring and visitors can see the California quail gathered in coveys in the early mornings of fall and winter. For a deep dive on the history and ecology of the reserve, visit the Torrey Pines Docent Society Nature Center and Reserve History pages.

Picnicking and camping are prohibited in the reserve.

Torrey Pines State Beach can also be reached by trail from the Reserve.

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