Parry Grove Trail (Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve)

When we did our first write-up of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve several years ago, the Parry Grove Trail was closed and we weren’t able to include it. It’s taken us awhile, but we finally got back to the park to check out this trail and document it.

The Parry Grove Trail is a short loop, and includes the Whitaker native plant garden and scenic Scripps Overlook. The trail is named for Charles C. Parry, a medical doctor and botanist who first documented the Torrey Pine, christening it Pinus Torreyana. The trail includes a steep section of 118 steps – an obstacle which deters many of the Reserve’s visitors, meaning this trail is somewhat less busy than others.

To reach the Parry Grove trailhead you can either park in the lower parking lot by the beach and walk up along the road (a more strenuous route), or park in the upper lot and walk a short distance down the road. Since this is such a short trail I recommend combining it with some of the many other trails in the park.

We took the long way, parking near the beach and walking up the road. It was a warm day, and we were already feeling the heat when we reached the Parry Grove trailhead.

A short distance along the trail, we came to the Whitaker Garden on the left. Since the day was quickly getting warmer, we decided to get the harder section of the trail done first, and save a leisurely stroll through the garden for the end of the hike, so we continued straight along the main trail.

We passed a nice rest area with benches and a water fountain where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.

We quickly came to a turn-off on the right which led down a set of steep stairs to the main section of the trail. We turned to descend the steps.

As we traveled downhill, we had some lovely views of the surrounding bluffs and Pacific Ocean beyond.

After descending the steps we came to a “Y” junction where the loop began, and turned right.

The trail led us through thick coastal sage scrub with some beautiful Torrey Pines poking out.

We followed the loop as it turned south where we had more fantastic views of the sculpted sandstone bluffs above the ocean.

We continued to loop around, heading back towards the stairs.

After climbing the steps, we turned right, heading towards the Scripps Overlook.

A short walk brought us to the overlook, where a sturdy bench provided a nice spot to enjoy the views.

The trail dead-ended at the overlook, so we turned around and retraced our route to the Whitaker Garden, where several side trails wound through the small garden with its many exhibits.

After enjoying the garden, we headed back to the trailhead.

View the full photo gallery

Directions:
From I-5 take the Carmel Valley Road exit. Head west on Carmel Valley Road. Turn left onto S Camino Del Mar (turns into N Torrey Pines Rd). Continue ahead to the Torrey Pines Reserve (South Beach Lot) on your right and pay your parking fee. You can park in the lower lot near the beach and hike up the road, or continue driving to the upper parking areas. map

Total Distance:	.65 mile
Difficulty:	Easy – Moderate
Total Ascent:	210 feet
Dog Friendly?:	Dogs not allowed
Bike Friendly?:	Bikes not allowed
Facilities:	Bathrooms and water in parking lots
Fees/Permits:	$12-$20 per vehicle (varies by day and season – more info)