Saturday, January 21, 2012

TORREY PINES STATE NATURAL RESERVE (San Diego County, CA)

It's been 20 years since our last visit to Torrey Pines. Crap, how time flies! I was a spring chicken back then, so it hurts me to look back to a time when I was thin, had no gray hairs, was wrinkle-free, and generally care-free. I'm sure Gil feels the same. Sigh. Anyhoo, it was and, I imagine, still is a beautiful respite from the general  hustle and bustle of urban SoCal. 


Torrey Pines SNR is a coastal state park that's home to the rare & endangered California native Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana). There are 8 miles of trails within the reserve, traversing stands of Torrey pines, coastal chaparral and cliffs that overlook Torrey Pines State Beach. And, if you're so inclined, there's also San Diego's 'unofficial' nude beach (Black's Beach) at the southern end of TP State Beach (binocs...they're not just for birding anymore...).


9/7/92 Gil at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR.

9/7/92 Torrey Pine.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR.

9/7/92 A toppled pine at Torrey Pines SNR.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR, overlooking Torrey Pines State Beach.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR.

9/7/92 Torrey Pines SNR.


STATS:


Location: Between La Jolla and Del Mar, north of San Diego


County/State: San Diego County, CA


Management: CA Dept. of Parks & Recreation


Size: 2,000 acres


Closest City/Town:  San Diego


Directions: From I-5, exit Carmel Valley Rd. and drive 1.5 miles west until you reach Hwy. 101. Turn left and drive along the coast about 1 miles. Park entrance is on the right, just before the highway climbs the Torrey Pines grade


Reserve is located at 12600 N. Torrey Pines Rd., San Diego, CA 92037. Tel (858)755-2063


Websites: http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=657 (Cal Parks)
http://www.torreypine.org/ (Torrey Pines SNR website)


Map: http://www.torreypine.org/activities/hiking-trails.html 


Hours: Gates for vehicles open at 8:00am and close at 5pm (reserve closes at sunset). Visitor center 9am-6pm summer, 10am-4pm fall, winter & spring


Fees: Parking fee $10.00 paid at the South Beach kiosk


Pets: Not allowed


Visitor Center: A historic 1922 building http://www.torreypine.org/parks/visitor-center.html 

No comments:

Post a Comment