Hiking at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 15, 2024

One of our favorite places to walk when in San Diego is Torrey Pines.  We first hiked this beautiful plateau that overlooks the ocean back in February 2015.  We were wowed then and are still wowed today after several visits.  We are saddened by the loss of so many Torrey pines this trip.  We read that because of insufficient water, these rare trees can not produce a necessary oozy sap-substance that flushes bark beetles from the trees. Dry conditions are favorable for bark beetles as they tunnel into and feed on inner bark tissues...ultimately killing the tree.  

I took this photo in 2015...

  and this photo this week in the same curve on the hike.  

I won't repeat information from past posts (if interested, type Torrey Pines in the search bar to the right) and just post some favorite photos I took this week.  We started the morn with the Guy Fleming Trail for the gorgeous views and it is pretty awesome to be amongst the rarest pine tree in North America. 

Female cones open and gray with age...a female cone will remain closed for many years and slowly open remaining on the branch for over ten years.

Male pollen cones...

Lighting was not so good for photography as we were there mid-day...

Torrey Pines vary in shape and size depending on their location...

Spectacular views from the plateau...

Carol took a picture of me taking a picture...

Beautiful colors...

Ragwort

Licorice Fern

Desert Sand-verbena

Agave shawl

Century plant

California holly

California poppy

Prickly pear

We heard lots of birds, but I saw only two that I could photograph...

Joe and I could not ID this one...

Spotted Towhee...he's a fast little bird rummaging and hopping in and out of the shrubs. It was hard to catch a clear picture

After snacks, we enjoyed another walk...this time on the beach.  In past visits to the reserve, the tide was too high and there was no beach to walk on...I was so happy to be at the base of the sandstone cliffs we had just hiked.  I am not sure if the tide was going out or coming in, but there was a narrow section of beach to walk on between the cliff and the ocean.  The section of beach we walked was not the kind of beach one would spread out a blanket on to soak up the sun and not the kind of beach one would make sandcastles on...but instead, a gorgeous beach with sparkling, colorful rocks to walk on. 

 

And I did manage an up shot of one of the Peregrine Falcons flying overhead.  They nest on the cliffs.   

  

It was such a wonderful morning to be with friends and soaking in all this beauty.  

Thank you for the photo Carol!

Back at Belle...

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
December 16, 2015

Torrey Pines Natural Reserve remains one of the "wildest" stretches of land on the Southern California coast. Over 2,000 acres of land "are as they were" before San Diego was developed. For information on this beauty, click here. 

 Yesterday, we took the 25 miles interstate drive to the reserve, another San Diego gem. In 1500-1700, the Spanish explorers referred to this area as Punto do Los Arboles which means Point of Trees.

 According to my reading, Torrey pine trees are the rarest native pine trees in the United States. The trees along the coast are naturally pruned by the salty sea breeze and provide a beautiful canopy.

There is a two-way road in the reserve (north entrance) that travels up to the  lodge-visitor center/museum. We walked! There is a "path" for pedestrians that parallels the road...a good workout going up! 

 I was impressed with the monthly bird count posted at the lodge. On the list, two peregrine falcons were seen in November. We saw one yesterday...as always, I could have kicked myself for not having the correct lens, but I was so excited...even with a fuzzy picture...that I had to share!

We took two side trails on our way up to the lodge. First was the Guy Fleming Trail. 

In 1916, naturalist Guy Fleming led a city-wide campaign to protect the Torrey Pine trees which were being cut down for firewood and threatened by uncontrolled camping. In 1921, he became the park's first resident caretaker. During the next 10 years he developed trail systems, a plant nursery, and the lodge. 

The trail is an easy loop that meanders out to a north overlook and a south overlook.

 The large cones at the top of the tree are the female, seed-bearing cones. In January-February, the smaller male, pollen filled cones appear on the lower branches.

  

 The second trail we chose was part of the Parry Grove Trail. We bypassed the steep 118 steps down (and up) to the cliffs edge. But did enjoy the native plants at Whitaker Garden and the walk to the overlook.

The most impressive plant we saw was Shaw's Agave.  

Velvet Cactus

Coastal Barrel Cactus

Indian Fig...huge cactus, but very few pricklies

We also spent time on the beach there. Its not a sandy beach, but rather a squishy pebbly one. 

It was such a fun day. Until next time, let the good times roll...

HAPPY TRAILS!