They appear to be frozen in time, giant maws gaping open in the direction of the ocean waves which roar in response. 10, 20, 30 ft high tower these waves of sandstone erupting from the ground. They protect some of San Diego’s greatest natural treasures, pale green gems in the sunlight. These are the Torrey Pines, found only in 2 locations across the world.

Winding over the dramatic bluffs and past precarious ridges are trails demarcated by wooden fences and rope. Some rise and fall over gentle inclines, constantly accompanied by the rhythmic lull of wave sounds from the Pacific Ocean. Others climb up steep inclines, balanced along a narrow fold with the rest of the land far below you. The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a collage of habitats: dry chaparral, thick marsh as well as the open ocean. It houses Penasquitos Marsh, one of the last great salt marshes that migrating birds and water fowl still inhabit in Southern Carolina. No trail goes without a stunning view, each pitched at a different level of difficulty so even the youngest adventurers can conquer a path. Vibrant and varied, the Torrey Pines Reserve protects a landscape unlike any other.