Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach Map
Torrey Pines State Beach is located on the boundary between Del Mar and La Jolla city limits of San Diego.
From Interstate 5, take Carmel Valley Road west towards the Pacific. After about 1.5 miles you arrive at Coast Highway 101. Turn left and drive along the beach for about a mile. The park entrance is on your right just before the highway begins to climb the Torrey Pines grade.
12600 North Torrey Pines Road, San Diego CA 92037
GPS: 32.92183, -117.2497
How The Torrey Pine Was Named
The Kumeyaay Indians lived here first and undoubtedly had a name for the pines. Then first Spanish explorers called what is now Torrey Pines, Punto de Los Arboles (Point of Trees). The trees themselves were referred to as Soledad Pines (Solitary Pines) by the first non-Native Americans to visit the area.
Not surpisingly the trees were Anglocized after the “discovery” by botanist Dr. Charles Parry. Parry named the tree for one of the leading botanists of the time, Dr. John Torrey, of New York.
Fortunately, this definition of suburbia hasn’t reach this beautiful beach, “Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.” – Bill Vaughan
Thousands of local North San Diego County residents love Torrey Pines State Beach. My wife and I love it so much we go married there. 