Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

The Park is currently OPEN WITH RESTRICTIONS IN SERVICES AND/OR FACILITIES.

Please check the hours of operation.

Reservations

TORREY PINES EXTENSION Trail Closure Order Due to Wildland Fire – Dated 8/14/2024
To provide for public safety, security, safeguarding, and preservation of resources, the Margaret Fleming Nature Trail in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Extension in San Diego Coast District, outlined below in red on the map, is hereby declared a prohibited area and temporarily closed to all public use.

Torrey Pines SNR Extension-Wildland Fire Closure Posted Order 935-630-003 (10/17/2024)

All trails in the main reserve are open.

Contact Number

(858) 755-2063

Park Accessibility Information

View the Park Accessibility Information

Park Hours

Gates open at 07:15 a.m. and close at Sunset.
The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Trail Conditions:

All Trails Open.

TP Extension: Maragret Fleming Trail is closed. ETA for re-opening mid-2025

Park Activities

Are Dogs Allowed?

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

Park Facilities

EV Information

E-Bike Locations
EV Charger Icon

EV Charger Locations

Other Facilities & Visitor Information

Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

Park Directions

Get directions through Google Maps

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.

Visitor Center and parking lot closures:

Monday, May 5th - Friday, May 9th: Visitor Center parking lot will be closed.

Parking lot will be reopened that weekend: May 10th & 11th

Monday, May 12th - Friday May 16th: Visitor Center parking lot AND Visitor Center will be closed. Please plan accordingly.

West parking lot (next to the beach trail) will not be affected.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Welcome to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve!

State Natural Reserves have outstanding or unusual natural or scenic values. 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. Picnicking and camping are prohibited in the reserve. 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.

Annual Parking Passes are now sold at the entrance kiosk station operated by our concessionaire, LAZ Parking. The entrance kiosk station is open from 9:00 a.m. to approximately a 1/2 hour before sunset 365 days a year.