We all know there is no shortage of breathtaking hikes in San Diego. At the top of this list is the hike at Torrey Pines. The scenery is beautiful, and the hike is excellent for kids and adults.
My boys aren’t exactly hiking enthusiasts per se, and the announcement of a hiking day is usually met with groans and whines. However, they inevitably enjoy the day, as Torrey Pines offers a great combo of hiking and beach time.
If you are searching for picturesque scenery and a kid-friendly adventure, add hiking Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve to your list of San Diego must-dos.
Getting There
Torrey Pines is nestled in between Del Mar and La Jolla and from the 5 freeway, you’ll take the Carmel Valley Road exit. Head west till you reach Coast Highway (aka the 101) and hang a left.
You’ll then be driving parallel to the water, and there will probably be a mess of cars parking and/or trying to park. This parking is free, and you will be tempted, but parking here will make your walk into the park SO.INCREDIBLY.LONG. If I were hiking solo and looking for a good workout, I would snatch one of those spots in a heartbeat. But those fancy-free and footloose days are behind me as I now have kids in tow — and so do you, sister, so keep driving.
Parking
About a mile down Coast Highway, you will come upon the main parking lot for the reserve. This is where you will pull in and pay for parking.
The park uses a demand-based pricing structure, and you can expect to pay around twenty dollars for day use. Now, my recommendation for this lot is the same as my recommendation for the street parking. The hike into the park from this lot is TOO FAR and straight uphill. In my opinion, it is not worth doing with kids unless they are a bit older (like teenagers). Even then, I would brace myself for an uphill battle – both figuratively and literally.
Instead, I would drive through this parking lot and head up the hill to the reserve. You’ll soon see a few parking spots on a dirt shoulder on the right-hand side. Parking here is a more manageable walk into the reserve if you decide to grab one of these spots. Otherwise, drive a bit further till you hit the two main lots near the Ranger Station and Visitor Center. You have arrived!!
Hiking Torrey Pines with Kids
Before you begin your hike, check out the Visitor Center and the different informational signs posted around the start of the trails. My boys especially liked the info about local reptiles and insects. There are a couple of trail options that are kid-friendly and begin near the main parking lot near the Ranger Station:
Razor Point Trail: A half-mile hike to the lookout point. Offers great views of the gorge, trees, and ocean. Definitely manageable for little legs.
Beach Trail: This is my personal favorite and is the hike we do every time we visit. It is a 3/4 mile hike (1½ mile round trip) that ends at a staircase leading to the beach. Some parts may require slow going with kids (a few steep areas and a few areas where stairs are cut into the trail) (we started taking our boys on this hike around ages 5 & 6). The hike back is uphill, mainly as you’re making up for the nearly 300-foot descent you made, getting from the top of the reserve down to the beach.
However, the views are incredible, and the hike ends on the beach near the flat rock where (tide permitting) you can climb up top and check out the tide pools.
Bathroom tip: There are public restrooms at the bottom of the hill where you pay to enter the parking lot. At the top of the hill, where the trails begin, there are port-a-potties.
One important note: When you reach the beach, please avoid walking under or setting up near the bluffs. They are unstable, and dangerous slides or collapses can happen anytime.
Check Before you Go:
Tide: https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/San-Diego-California/tides/latest
Conclusion
Hiking Torrey Pines with the kids is always a great family day in San Diego. The hike is kid-friendly and the Beach Trail is easily broken up by lunch on the beach and time spent exploring the tide pools. I mean, honestly, is there anything more San Diego than that?
