The Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana) is the rarest pine in the U.S. It grows only in Torrey Pines Reserve and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast near Santa Barbara.
The reserve is one of my favorite places to hike. There are nice sandy paths that meander among the pines, with beautiful views of the Pacific down below.
On a clear day like the one we had in February, you can see for miles. This is looking north towards L.A.
The sandstone reminds me of the Cappadocia region in Turkey. But people actually live inside those cliffs.
There are even handrails if you feel like you might fall off the edge.
After all, it is a long way down. . . .
Torrey Pines Lodge is actually a visitor center and gift shop. It used to be a restaurant decades ago. There’s a really nice resort called The Lodge at Torrey Pines just south of the reserve. The golf course is world-famous.
I like that the windows look like T’s.
According to the reserve website, the sand and clay of beaches and lagoons of fifty million years ago turned into sandstone and were raised above sea level by tectonic forces.
I think it’s one of the most beautiful spots in San Diego County.
Great weekend, everyone!
{carole}
Pearls & Prose 
It certainly looks gorgeous. I like sandstone. It’s stone but the edges look softer than other rock.
The colour of the sea in the last photo is so intense.
The sky was intensely blue that day, so the water reflected it. I do find that the Pacific is much more blue than the Atlantic, which is kind of greenish.
Beautiful area!
It really is. Thanks for commenting!
Beautiful! Thank you for letting me “visit” via your photos.
Aw, thanks, Meg! I enjoyed the DVD so much.
I second that! It is the most picturesque spot. It looks like the best of two worlds: hills and surf. I can see why people want to stay at the resort.
Have a great weekend!
I haven’t stayed at the resort, but I’ve had dinner there and the place is gorgeous.
I have never been there and I always associated this place with golf. Didn’t know that this pine was one of the rarest.
The golf course gets a lot more publicity. 🙂 I had never heard of the reserve before moving here either.
Such a shame. No disrespect to the golf, but I like the pine more.
Oh, me too.
I agree with you Carole … it is one of the most beautiful places. I found the Torrey pines fascinating … they don’t grow straight and tall like the white pines that surround our place.
Yes, they are really unusual-looking. I imagine the constant sea breeze has a little to do with that.