CA - Torrey Pines

Apparently someone forgot to tell San Diego that it's December.

Torrey Pines - Parry Grove Trail

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I'm used to bare trees, grey skies and the occasional flurry of snow this time of year. SoCal apparently doesn't know what winter looks like... But hey - I'm not about to complain about 70 degrees in mid December! Especially if it means I can go hiking in shorts and and a tank year round. 

Pro Tip: Torrey Pines is a popular destination for a reason  - If parking is an issue you can find spots a little farther away along Carmel Valley Rd and cut back towards the base along Mcgonigle Rd. 

Fun Fact: The park was originally established to preserve the dying "Torrey Pine Trees" (shown above) back in the early 1900s

Torrey Pines State Reserve is one of San Diego's most popular parks - especially during tourist season. By some miracle though, we managed to capture a bit of solitude along this well trafficked park during December, and at sunset no less! The scenic park is set in along the cliffside of the northern La Jolla coastline. It's easily accessible by car and although there is plenty of parking along the highway and at the base of the park - so many people frequent the area that finding a spot can still be an issue. 

Frequent look out points line this short loop

Getting to the trail head is actually the most strenuous part of the hike. If you start walking from the beach its a steep but paved trek up Torrey Pines Rd. Technically you can skip this part and drive up to the visitors center where most trails officially begin, but most don't. (Just sayin')

Each time we visit the area we choose one of the several trails to follow once we reach the summit. To our surprise Parry Grove was finally reopened after several months of closure for maintenance. "Broken Hill Trail" and "Beach Trail" are the trails I frequent most in the area but Parry Grove is the only trail I had yet to see, making it the obvious choice for the day's adventure!

Parry Grove Trail at Torrey Pines State Reserve is a half mile loop that starts at the visitors center and winds through the Whitaker Garden area. The loop begins (and later ends) with a series of stone steps that mark a steep descent towards the beach. It's actually a very quick loop. I recommend doing this trail first as an add-on to one of the other trails that leads directly to the beach. 

That's all for now folks! One of these day's I'll get around to writing about some of the other Torrey Pine trails - all are equally as gorgeous as this one!

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Cheers,

Kimmy