Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve/State Beach
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Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is Torrey Pines to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping Land of carved State Natural Reserve to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and sandstone, evergreen and State Beach cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. chaparral, and spring wildflowers, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve preserves America’s California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who rarest pine tree. need assistance should contact the park at (858) 755-2063. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected]. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Torrey Pines SNR and SB 12600 N. Torrey Pines Road San Diego, CA 92037 (858) 755-2063 © 2006 California State Parks (Rev. 2015) T orrey Pines State Natural Reserve is The sandy beach invites swimming, south to Enseñada, Mexico, east to the a majestic wilderness in the middle of a surfing, and fishing. Low tide — when the dunes of the Colorado River, and north dense urban area. Its fragile environment red-tinged bluff is reflected in the mirror- through the Warner Springs Valley to what of high, broken cliffs and deep ravines like expanse of wet sand — is a good time is now Oceanside. They lived in small overlooking the sea is home to one of the to stroll the beach. dwellings and shade ramadas made of world’s rarest pine trees— Pinus torreyana. Across the highway from willow, oak, manzanita, deerweed, Torrey pines are believed to be the the beach, Los Peñasquitos tule, chamise, and other local plants. remnants of an ancient woodland that once Marsh Natural Preserve The Kumeyaay were seasonal flourished along the southern California provides a protected hunters and gatherers. They coast, but now they grow naturally only on breeding ground for collected roots, berries, nuts, this small strip of San Diego coastline and many species of birds and seeds — some of which on Santa Rosa Island. Here, trees cling to the and fish. were used for medicinal face of the crumbling sandstone or stand tall purposes — and practiced PARK HISTORY in sheltered canyons. limited horticulture. Using Torrey Pines State Beach, adjacent to the Human History fishhooks and nets, they caught a reserve, stretches four and one-half miles The Kumeyaay people variety of sea animals, and picked from Del Mar past Los Peñasquitos Marsh who lived at Torrey Pines up grunion, shellfish, and mollusks from the beaches. The Kumeyaay Natural Preserve to Torrey Pines Mesa. traveled in bands of extended Kumeyaay olla (pot) families throughout the coast, hunted such game as rabbits, quail, and mountains, and desert foothills. Their deer with bows and arrows, snares, and lands extended from the Pacific Ocean, throwing sticks. Today, descendants of the Kumeyaay still reside in many of the same areas, including San Diego County. Kumeyaay dwelling Sketch by J.W. Audubon, 1849 NATURAL HISTORY A RARE TREE SAVED the San Diego Society of Natural History, Nearly a million years of rising and Early Spanish reported damage to the trees by heavy falling seas, heavy rains, and erosion by explorers named public use. Miss Scripps stirred citizen streams and creeks gradually formed the grove of trees interest in protecting the trees. In 1921 she the layered sandstone terraces that in the area Punto and the City Park Commission appointed Mr. make up the present reserve. Some de Los Arboles, or Fleming custodian of Torrey Pines Reserve. geological formations are more than “Point of Trees.” The By the time of her death in 1932, Miss 45 million years old, and some rocks trees served as a Scripps had contributed significantly to the have traveled from as far away as landmark for sailors establishment of the reserve. central Mexico. The continuous motion navigating off the THE RESERVE of the surf creates an ever-changing coast. In 1850—the seascape — challenging artists and year of California’s Today’s 2,000-acre reserve contains about photographers to record its latest look. statehood—botanist 300 endangered and protected species of Varying elevations have produced Charles C. Parry native plants. These vanishing habitats are habitats that range from salt to fresh identified this pine as home to sand verbena and beach primrose Photo courtesy of the Scripps College Archives, Denison Library Ellen Browning Scripps water, from coastal strand to sage scrub, a unique species and in the coastal strand areas, as well as from salt marsh to chaparral to named it after his friend John Torrey, a leading California sagebrush, California buckwheat, conifer woodland. botanist of that time. black sage, and coastal barrel cacti in the The area’s mild temperatures range from a When Dr. Parry returned to the area in 1883, coastal sage scrub community. The mesas January low of about 45 degrees to a typical he was distressed over the lack of protection and other high elevations are host to the August high of between 75 and 80 degrees. for the trees. He urged the San Diego Society chaparral community of plants, including In June and July, coastal fog may last all day, of Natural History to save them from extinction. chamise, manzanita, ceanothus, California enabling the Torrey pines to survive in this In 1885, San Diego officials offered a $100 scrub oak, toyon, and mountain mahogany. unlikely environment. bounty for anyone caught vandalizing a Torrey Torrey pines have extensive root systems pine tree. Other threats included clear-cutting to hold them in this generally poor soil and the trees to use the land for arid climate. The variety of pine shapes is cattle grazing. The San Diego City dictated by the elements—dwarfed and Council passed an 1899 ordinance gnarled where most exposed to wind and that set aside the initial 369 acres salty air, or taller and more upright where to be used as a public park. shelter is better. Concerned newspaperwoman NATURAL PRESERVES and philanthropist Ellen Browning Two outstanding areas have been designated Scripps purchased land slated as natural preserves by the State Park and for subdivision and donated the Recreation Commission. Ellen Browning North and Parry Groves to the Scripps Natural Preserve is the area around people of San Diego to protect Parry Grove and Guy Fleming Trails. Los the Torrey pines. In 1916, Guy Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve is one Striated sandstone cliff Fleming, a botanist working for of the last remaining salt marsh areas and waterfowl refuges in RECREATION Trails in the Northeastern Extension southern California. For current trail maps and trail • 0.5-mile Mar Scenic Trail follows the Home to several rare status, visit www.torreypine.org. seasonal creek through the extension. and endangered Trails • 0.5-mile Daughters of the American species of birds, the • 0.6-mile Guy Fleming Trail Revolution (DAR) Trail offers views reserve provides a vital offers two scenic overlooks with across the marsh to the main reserve stopping or nesting panoramic views and the reserve’s and to the ocean. place for migratory greatest variety of wildflowers, • 0.75-mile Margaret Fleming Nature Trail waterfowl. Trails in the ferns, cacti, and pine trees. leads through coastal sage scrub. reserve may be closed • 0.4-mile Parry Grove Trail has • 0.3-mile Red Ridge Loop Trail offers views to allow the natural dramatic ocean views. Steep of the lagoon, the main reserve, and features to recuperate stairs form the head of this trail. spectacular geologic formations. from abuse, overuse, or Visitor Center (Lodge) Most of its Torrey pines fell victim natural disasters. INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS to a bark beetle infestation in • The visitor center (Lodge) features the 1990s. Ecologists now monitor beetle WILDLIFE exhibits on local wildlife, flowers, and population using traps on downed pines. The intertidal zones are rich in sea life: geology; it also displays a selection of • 0.7-mile Razor Point Trail meanders limpets, shore crabs and hermit crabs, interpretive publications. through coastal sage scrub, with views mussels, barnacles, sea anemones, and • Free trail maps are available at the visitor of sculptured sandstone, gnarled trees, various species of snails and cast-off shells. center or at most trailheads. and the surf 150 feet below. Yucca Point High above the sea, the bluffs offer excellent • The reserve has two native plant gardens: Overlook, accessed from both Razor Point vantage points to watch the annual gray one is at the front of the visitor center and and Beach Trails, features yucca flower whale migration. Seals, dolphins, porpoises, another (the Whitaker Garden) at the Parry displays in spring and eroded sandstone and sea lions may be seen year round. Grove trailhead. patterns called tafoni. About two hundred species of birds are • Information and schedules for park • 0.1-mile High Point Trail offers a 360-degree protected at the reserve, including migratory programs and activities are available at panorama of the reserve and ocean. waterfowl. Resident shore birds include brown the visitor center or www.torreypine.org. • 0.75-mile Beach Trail is a rustic footpath and American white pelicans, black-bellied • Docent-led nature hikes for individuals through the upper reserve to the beach and snowy plovers, American avocets, western and families are offered on 300 feet below. sandpipers, willets, whimbrels, sanderlings, weekends and holidays. • 1.3-mile Broken Hill Trail offers views of great egrets, and longbilled curlews. Inland, Check www.torreypine.org eroding sandstone; its north fork passes brown towhees, Nutall’s woodpeckers, for scheduled times.