Torrey Pines State Beach
San Diego, CA
Torrey Pines State Beach sits below the sandstone bluffs of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, home to one of the rarest pine species in the country and miles of real hiking trails above the sand. It's a genuine combination of beach and wilderness, unusual this close to a major city.
A genuinely rare combination of real wilderness trails and open beach this close to San Diego, worth the visit for the reserve alone.
How we score beachesPair the beach with a hike up into the reserve, the trails above offer real views back down over the coastline.
A parking area sits off McGonigle Rd.; shoulder parking also runs along southbound Torrey Pines Rd.
Dogs are not permitted anywhere within Torrey Pines State Beach or the adjoining State Natural Reserve, even inside a parked vehicle, aside from service animals.
San Diego County's water climbs into the upper 60s and low 70s by late summer, the most comfortable window for swimming.
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