Sep 15 2008
La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines State Reserve
La Jolla Shores
Distance: 5 miles one way, 10 miles round trip
Elevation Loss/Gain: None if you just walk along the beach, 300-350 ft if you take the trail up to Torrey Pines State Reserve
Parking: to be safe that the strong surf of high tide won’t be sending you to the side of the cliffs on your return trip, arrange for 2-cars parking for only a one way walk to avoid the high tide on your way back. At La Jolla Shores, free parking is at the parking lot at La Jolla Shores Beach. At Torrey Pines State Reserve, free parking on the shoulder of North Torrey Pines Road or Old Coast Highway 101, North of Torrey Pines State Reserve Entrance, or along Carmel Valley Road.
Best Times: All Year, but time your walk at low tide to avoid walking right next to the base of the cliff (cliff erosion can happen anytime without warning, so it is always best to walk safe). Also, at high tide, there would be some portion where you may have to wade in the surf. However, at negative low tide, the low tide window is usually long, if you start 1.5 hours before the low tide, you can do a round trip hike for 10 miles safe enough. To check for tide conditions, please visit http://ocean.peterbrueggeman.com/piertide.html
Probably one of the longest if not the longest walk in San Diego for 5 miles one way along the beach side without catching a sight of a highway, tracks or railroad. Starting from La Jolla Shores, you walk North towards Scripps Pier.
In more than a mile, the wide sandy beach gives way to rocky shore.
From this point, for about three miles, you would be walking alongside sharp sandstone cliffs. The rocks would soon disappear to give way to another long stretch of wide sandy beach and strong surf.
On your lucky day, aside from seeing surfers on the water, you may get to glimpse pods of dolphins too,
a lot of sea birds fishing in the water or simply relaxing on the shore,
and sometimes, sea lions on shore.
In about 3 miles from La Jolla Shores, you will pass a nudist section in Black’s Beach, though nudity is unlawful in San Diego beaches, but old traditions in this short section of beach had been kept. This beach however can only be accessed either with a hike down and an steep ascent back to Gliderport, or a long walk, 3 miles from La Jolla Shores, or 2 miles from Torrey Pines State Reserve. In after another mile, the wide sandy beaches would turn into rocky zone again. Tidepool life can be observed from these short section of rocky zones.
As you look up the cliffs, you would see paragliders enjoying their free flight, and notice some birds also resting on the cliffs.
In about 4 miles, you reach Flat Rock, and if you wish to climb up the cliffs, you can take the trail up after Flat Rock which starts with a steel staircase. When the cliffs disappear, you arrive at the entrance of Torrey Pines State Reserve along North Torrey Pines Road.
Torrey Pines State Beach
HI Gem, the sea lions are not that often, but the seals are more common in La Jolla. The dolphins, it seems like they are always there, sometimes though, they’re too far for pictures, and sometimes they’re too close to the shore like riding and playing with the waves towards the shore, but since I don’t bring my camera often, I usually miss those times where they are more playful playing closer to the shore. The pictures above, the dolphins are not playful, just swimming. I once swam or boggie board so close to them, it was a very special experience.
Firstly… Yay you’re back! And then let me say… no, shout OMG! The third shot is insanely beautiful, you certainly have the “eye” for capturing the various art of photography!
thanks a lot, everyone.
@ Melissa, yes, I think I am lucky that a lot of times I get to see dolphins there.
@ Vixen, I think you really have to get used to looking far out in the water, they kind of jump when they swim, and when they’re too far out, you can confuse them with pelicans, but I am always thinking that the pelicans may just be dots if that far. Actually, before i did not see them too, it was my sister in law visting from Chicago that shouted, “OMG, Dolphins!” and I was like, “where? where?” She had a hard time explaining to me where they were, and starting that time, I think my eyes were used to finding them. Sometimes, they’re close enough to the shore and playful, especially when there are not a lot of beachgoers in the water.
@ Gem, I think you are actually correct that we have more shorelines there since it’s like every island is surrounded by water, but yeah, I wonder why we do not often spot them close enough to the shore
But I believe I saw several before whenever I took the boat from Manila to Bacolod 
But that was really in the middle of the ocean.