Torrey Pines State Beach(Torrey Pines City Beach)

Located in the central part of the San Diego County shoreline, Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach is situated on the southern part of a state park known as Torrey Pines State Beach. The beach has light brown sand and is situated below a steep and unstable bluff. The beach is located south of the creek flowing into the ocean from the adjacent Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Reserve. The beach terrain is pebbly and portions of the beach near the bluff side have been fixed with rocky embankments to prevent erosion. The state park gets its name from a rare local variety of pine trees, the Torrey pine, which grows in the state park area near the beach. 

Torrey Pines State Beach –South Beach has many amenities including lifeguards and restrooms while the bluff-top area near the beach has picnic tables. 

Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach offers many fun activities including swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, skimboarding, sailboarding, kite surfing, bodysurfing, boogie-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and wildlife watching. The best time for surfing in the water at Torrey Pines Beach - South Beach is during the winter when offshore winds offer some great surfing waves. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Torrey Pines State Beach - Surfing Beach, we recommend being careful as the water is known to have rip currents. Moreover, depending on the time of the year, authorities may allot separate areas for swimming/ bodyboarding and surfing, so it is advisable to look out for demarcating signs along the beach. The water near the beach is home to seals, sea lions, dolphins, migrating whales (January to March), and aquatic birds including gulls and pelicans. Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach is a good fishing spot - you can catch a variety of fish here including surfperch, corbina, and halibut. There are a number of hiking trails present near the beach for exploring the unique flora and fauna of the 2,000-acre state park area around the beach. These trails can be used to explore the two natural preserves present near the beach - Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve and Ellen Browning Scripps Natural Preserve which offers unique coastal scrubs and wetlands for exploration. The Visitor Center at Torrey Pines State Beach offers informative exhibits and a view into the state park’s unique natural history and geology, hosts informative docent-led nature hikes on weekends, and features a native plant garden.

Getting to Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach is easy - the paid parking lot adjacent to the beach is located at 12600 North Torrey Pines Road. From the parking lot, you can take the access stairs to the beach. However, we recommend being extremely careful as the bluff walls are highly unstable and are prone to collapse at the slightest disturbance.

There are many attractions near Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach. The Stuart Collection is a collection of 20 public art displays on the campus of the University of California San Diego and features works by reputed artists including Terry Allen, Michael Asher, and Barbara Kruger (whose work inspired the world-famous Supreme brand). If you like golfing, Torrey Pines Golf Course is a 36-hole golf course that offers a challenging and exciting session of golf. Another good attraction is The Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography which exhibits the interesting biodiversity of the Pacific Ocean and also organizes a variety of engaging events including summer camps for kids, academic lectures, and onsite tidepools tours.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Torrey Pines State Beach – South Beach. Monarch Ocean Pub is an upscale restaurant that offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. China Cafe is a family-friendly restaurant and offers excellent Chinese dishes including kung pao chicken, honey walnut shrimp, fried rice, and Mongolian lamb. Another good restaurant is the modestly-priced Board & Brew - Del Mar which has a laid-back vibe and offers excellent sandwiches and salads.

If you are looking for a hotel to stay near Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines offers numerous amenities including two restaurants, a pool, hot tub, a fitness center, and tennis courts. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego - Del Mar which offers a variety of amenities including a restaurant, a gym, a pool, hot tub, convenience store, and a terrace with fire pits. Another good and affordable hotel is the 2-Star Holiday Inn Express & Suites Solana Beach - Del Mar which offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, and complimentary breakfast.