The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, located within the San Diego city limits, is an incredible area of wild land close to the Southern Californian coast that truly does not feel like it’s such a short distance to the center of city living. An area of 2,000 acres that has been preserved and protected since the earliest days of San Diego’s development, it is now an oasis of calm and natural beauty, perfect for time spent relaxing and exploring the outdoors. It is home to the rare Torrey species of pine, from which the reserve takes its name, plus the community of chaparral plants, beaches that stretch for miles and the lagoon which is a habitat for a number of migratory seabirds. A visit to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is almost a step back in time, a glimpse at what the California region might have looked like when the first settlers arrived and before modern life built towns and changed the landscape. Historically, the Torrey pine could be found across a much larger area, but today the reserve is one of just two remaining sites where it can thrive. If you will be at one of the hotels near Torrey Pines San Diego, take a day out of your schedule to enjoy mother nature!
Within the reserve, trails cover eight miles and are clearly marked. It makes an ideal starting point for joining the many trails or co-ordinating to meet up with friends. Picnics are able to be enjoyed on the beach, but no food can be taken into the reserve so as to protect the delicate ecology. Guests are recommended to bring their own bottles of water.