Torrey Pines State Reserve

COORDINANTS:
DISTANCE: LESS THAN 3 MILES
TIME: LESS THAN 2 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: EASY - MODERATE

The Torrey Pines Reserve is one of the most beautiful hikes in San Diego. It consists of a network of several trails, the longest of which is not more than 3 miles round trip. Each of the hikes offers ocean views, a cool sea breeze, and abundant vegetation, including the rare torrey pines. Apparently the ocean winds form these trees as they grow, because in some spots the trees are smeared over each other forming low canopies like the one below that my mom and sister are about to go under:

The Guy Fleming Trail has the reputation of being the best trail to hike. We wandered past sandstone structures, under and old twisted torrey pine trunk, along a path that ran parallel with the ocean, then into a shaded grove of trees. This morning we saw dolphins playing in the waves, and on one previous occasion we saw a Humpback whale swimming along the coast. This hike always makes me feel grateful to live in San Diego and not so bitter about my mortgage payment.