Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Hike from La Jolla Shores Beach to Torrey Pines State Beach

Miles of beach with shore birds, cliffs, and some rock scrambling

La Jolla Shores on the way to Torrey Pines State Beach during low tide
La Jolla Shores on the way to Torrey Pines State Beach during low tide

This hike offers views of breaking waves, tall, stratified cliffs, and shore birds such as the marbled godwit, whimbrel, and Heermann’s gull. Flying just above the waves you may see individuals or long lines of brown pelicans. There is also an occasional osprey. Ospreys are large hawks with slender wings, long legs, and white feathered heads. They have a brown stripe through the eye and feed almost exclusively on fish, diving no deeper than three feet, then flying with the fish facing the wind with two toes clasping the fish on either side. The winter months offer more migratory birds along the coast.

Osprey overlooking the beach

This hike is easiest if you start when the tide level is zero or less at Scripps Pier. If you do not mind more challenges hiking closer to the cliffs, it can be hiked starting at a low tide as high as two feet. Winter beach erosion can mean more walking on patches of large stones, broken rock, and some climbing onto and off of rock outcroppings. Starting with a low tide much higher than two feet is likely to result in wet feet or worse on your way north. If you start the hike at a negative tide, you may be able to return south along the beach. Also, a negative tide will allow more walking on firm, moist sand instead of rocks. The one-way change of elevation is close to zero. It’s a beach walk. A nice option is to hike through Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and return to the beach on the “Beach Trail,” about 0.1 mile north of the visitor center. If you hike through Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve on the return, the elevation gain is about 350 feet.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Map: La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines State Beach

There is relatively little flora along the beach. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has several endangered plants. The reserve offers coastal plants in bloom in the spring and summer months. A warm day with a good onshore wind may produce colorful hang-gliders flying out of the Torrey Pines Glider Port. This walk does include Black’s Beach, a clothing-optional beach. Generally, there are none to only a few naked sunbathers. If that is a problem, hike on a cool, cloudy, winter day.

If you want to shorten the hike or need to escape rising tides, there are stairs, trails, or roads up from the beach that can be used as hike starting points. These are found at the following distances from the La Jolla Shores main lifeguard station: (1) Scripps stairs at 0.5 mile; (2) a road at 1.5 miles — the top of the road is gated at the intersection of Blackgold Road and La Jolla Farms Road; (3) stairs and a trail to Torrey Pines Glider Port parking lot at 2.2 miles; (4) stairs and the Torrey Pines Beach Trail at 4.2 miles. This trail leads to the parking lot near the visitor center. The Blackgold Road location has very limited parking. Torrey Pines Glider Port and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve have good parking.

Distance from downtown San Diego: 12 miles. Allow 20 minutes driving time. (La Jolla). From I-15N, take exit 26A onto La Jolla Parkway, then continue onto Torrey Pines Road. Turn right onto La Jolla Shores Drive, then left onto Calle Frescota and park in the lot. Parking may be a challenge, as this walk needs to start at low tide.

Hiking length: One way, beach to beach is 5 miles. The round-trip hike is around 11 miles. Except for the Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, the return hike is generally on park and city streets because of the rising tide. It takes a good negative tide to be able to return on the beach.

Difficulty: Moderate, with less than 50 feet elevation loss/gain if one way, to strenuous difficulty if hiked round-trip. Facilities in parking lots at both ends of the walk.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Dating Sites For Little People: Best Platforms & Tips

Next Article

Taco Taco Poway still has 99-cent fish tacos

Tacotopia prizewinner is well known among Powegians
La Jolla Shores on the way to Torrey Pines State Beach during low tide
La Jolla Shores on the way to Torrey Pines State Beach during low tide

This hike offers views of breaking waves, tall, stratified cliffs, and shore birds such as the marbled godwit, whimbrel, and Heermann’s gull. Flying just above the waves you may see individuals or long lines of brown pelicans. There is also an occasional osprey. Ospreys are large hawks with slender wings, long legs, and white feathered heads. They have a brown stripe through the eye and feed almost exclusively on fish, diving no deeper than three feet, then flying with the fish facing the wind with two toes clasping the fish on either side. The winter months offer more migratory birds along the coast.

Osprey overlooking the beach

This hike is easiest if you start when the tide level is zero or less at Scripps Pier. If you do not mind more challenges hiking closer to the cliffs, it can be hiked starting at a low tide as high as two feet. Winter beach erosion can mean more walking on patches of large stones, broken rock, and some climbing onto and off of rock outcroppings. Starting with a low tide much higher than two feet is likely to result in wet feet or worse on your way north. If you start the hike at a negative tide, you may be able to return south along the beach. Also, a negative tide will allow more walking on firm, moist sand instead of rocks. The one-way change of elevation is close to zero. It’s a beach walk. A nice option is to hike through Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and return to the beach on the “Beach Trail,” about 0.1 mile north of the visitor center. If you hike through Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve on the return, the elevation gain is about 350 feet.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Map: La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines State Beach

There is relatively little flora along the beach. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve has several endangered plants. The reserve offers coastal plants in bloom in the spring and summer months. A warm day with a good onshore wind may produce colorful hang-gliders flying out of the Torrey Pines Glider Port. This walk does include Black’s Beach, a clothing-optional beach. Generally, there are none to only a few naked sunbathers. If that is a problem, hike on a cool, cloudy, winter day.

If you want to shorten the hike or need to escape rising tides, there are stairs, trails, or roads up from the beach that can be used as hike starting points. These are found at the following distances from the La Jolla Shores main lifeguard station: (1) Scripps stairs at 0.5 mile; (2) a road at 1.5 miles — the top of the road is gated at the intersection of Blackgold Road and La Jolla Farms Road; (3) stairs and a trail to Torrey Pines Glider Port parking lot at 2.2 miles; (4) stairs and the Torrey Pines Beach Trail at 4.2 miles. This trail leads to the parking lot near the visitor center. The Blackgold Road location has very limited parking. Torrey Pines Glider Port and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve have good parking.

Distance from downtown San Diego: 12 miles. Allow 20 minutes driving time. (La Jolla). From I-15N, take exit 26A onto La Jolla Parkway, then continue onto Torrey Pines Road. Turn right onto La Jolla Shores Drive, then left onto Calle Frescota and park in the lot. Parking may be a challenge, as this walk needs to start at low tide.

Hiking length: One way, beach to beach is 5 miles. The round-trip hike is around 11 miles. Except for the Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, the return hike is generally on park and city streets because of the rising tide. It takes a good negative tide to be able to return on the beach.

Difficulty: Moderate, with less than 50 feet elevation loss/gain if one way, to strenuous difficulty if hiked round-trip. Facilities in parking lots at both ends of the walk.

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Pacific Beach – car thief's paradise

Take photos of your automobile and license plate
Next Article

India Hawthorne is common in coastal gardens, Citrus trees are in full bloom

The vernal equinox is on March 19
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.