If you want peaceful hiking experience overlooking the Torrey Pines Preserve and Pacific Ocean, then this is the place for you. I love the view! There are five marked trails here, the longest being about 1/2 mile. With trail intersections, you can have about a mile loop. Trails are for walking/hiking only. NO bicycles or motorized vehicles. Street parking only outside the Extention. NO restrooms, pets, or food in the Extension.. read more

Torrey Pines Extension - View of Torrey Pines State Beach with Peñasquitos Lagoon in foreground - Hiking Near Me - Del Mar, California

During a recent lunch break from work, I took advantage of the dry weather window to hike a short trail in the Del Mar area. The Torrey Pines Extension is a series of paths on a mesa that was northeast of the more famous stretch along the Pacific coastline. The southern trailhead was where I started which was at the end of a cul de sac on Del Mar Scenic Parkway. The hiking app recommended that I take the Mar Scenic route which went north-south for a round trip of one mile. The slope was fairly gradual without any sharp inclines as I trekked north. What was noticeable was the gully in the middle of the path. When the rain falls, the water will collect in the center and become a small creek as it flows downhill. The trail was wide without any brush or overgrown weeds obstructing the way. I encountered two other people during my 30-minute journey so it's not busy in the middle of the day. Besides the Mar Scenic route, there were other paths you could take, each of which was short and not strenuous. Note that dogs were not permitted even if they were leashed. This extension doesn't have the majestic views of the ocean and bluffs like its popular counterpart which was why I rated it with only three stars. read more

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This is a great hidden trail! I am reluctant to post this because I don't want too many people finding out about this cool hidden trail. At the same time I am not too worried because my reviews don't really get read by many LOL This can be a 1, 2 or 3 mile hike depending on which direction and trail you take. The two popular routes are almost exactly one mile each. I have been here 3 or 4 times now and parking has not been an issue. Park in the cul de sac at the entry way of the trail. Their is probably enough room to park 10-15 cars and every time I have gone their has been 1-2 cars only. This hike is prefect for younger kids because of the length. It isn't hard but their are some little hills and tight spots on the trail. I wore running shoes with no issues. Check this out if you want a little walk with a view of the ocean at some points. read more

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We went in October and the weather was in the lower 60s. This is a beginner hike, nothing strenuous, but a beautiful view. read more

Torrey Pines Extension - Hiking Near Me - Del Mar, California

A really great spot. HOWEVER, it is currently closed until further notice due to a wildfire that swept through the park. Also, it is NOT dog friendly. Dogs are not allowed, and State Park Rangers will ticket you. I would also not recommend taking service dogs up here due to the rattlesnakes, and the fact that dogs of any kind disrupt the small animals that make their homes in one of the few natural places left for them to live. Be kind. read more

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I accidentally found this little gem. No one was here, it's short, beautiful, easy, great views. The whole area seemed amazing. Thought I was doing something wrong because I only saw 2 other people in 2 hours here on a Saturday morning . Walked over to this red rock area nearby? Seemed like I was on Mars. Super cool. read more

i lived behind Torrey pines extension for years and enjoyed the sunsets and walks there. There are a few hidden trails and amazing views from different points. I actually like that so many few people walk on these trails and even know about this place, sort of a local hidden gem. Trails are good for kids as well. read more

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This is one of the best hikes. It's a pleasant walk in the morning or at sunset. If you're visiting San Diego, I highly recommend going on this hike! read more

The Torrey Pines Extension is a great set of family friendly trails. Often ignored or missed completely, the extension trails make a great plan "B" when the parking at Torrey Pines state beach is unbearable. You'll be walking through Coastal Sage Scrub and while you don't get the amazing ocean cliff views of the Torrey Pines Park trails, you also don't get the hundred of people walking around. Tennis shoes should be okay and there are a few steps and some minor elevation. Tip - There's a barrier that tells you that the Gully trail is closed. The Gully trail is on Google Maps, but apparently its no longer on the official Torrey Pines Extension Map. I heard....that if you do use the Gully trail as a shortcut that the wooden bridge is partially washed out. The trails of the Extension include: Mar Scenic Trail (1/2 mile) follows the seasonal creek through the extension. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Trail (1/2 mile) offers views across the marsh to the main reserve and to the ocean. Margaret Fleming Nature Trail (3/4 mile) leads through coastal sage scrub. Red Ridge Loop Trail (1/3 mile) offers views of the lagoon, the main reserve and spectacular geologic formations - No Dogs - Park in the cul-de-sac - Not all trails are marked very well. Be sure to use google maps and your GPS to guild you in the right direction. read more

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Trails are nice enough, but super messy. Fallen trees and branches all over the place -they need to hire maintenance. Yo and don't get me started on the friggen docents, playing their power-trip cards. There are also no dogs since they 'scare off the bobcats'. There are houses being built near the area -that alone would scare off anything. Poorly maintained and doesn't make sense. Great view at the top, that's pretty much it. read more

When Torrey Pines Preserve and/or Beach is over crowded and you can't find a place to park, THIS is the closest and probably best "alternative" (backup plan). There should be plenty of free street parking available and a variety of (loop) trails to explore. If this is your first visit, start with the Mar Vista trail to the left at the first fork - and then take the first left again to go to the Overlook. From there, back track and follow the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) trail back to the Mar Vista trial and your car. It should take less than a hour total - so could next explore one of the other trails if you still have time, energy, and interest. It is possible to loop ALL the trails but doing so now requires traveling on the residential streets in between some sections and it would be better to become familiar with the area before attempting to do so (on your own). read more

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Had always wanted to do This and it was pretty fun. Very nice views and similar backdrops as the regular Torrey pines trail. There's just barely any people on the extension trails and far less space to explore. Still would recommend this for convenience and how easy and cheap it is. read more

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I almost don't want to review this so the secret doesn't get out, but here we are. This place is just northeast of Torrey Pines State Reserve. It is WAY less crowded and clearly the secret version of Torrey Pines. It's a lot smaller, but way easier to park! You get the views of the ocean and the trees and the whole stunning scenery, too. I suppose the drawback for many is that the trails are MUCH shorted and you'd be hardpressed to hike longer than a couple miles since it is quite small, but it is also lovely and peaceful. I'm a huge fan and thankful to my sweet beloved for learning about this place! read more

I planned a group hiking trip to explore the trails at Torrey Pines State Reserve Extension because it's not as well-known as the main area, but still lots of fun. My route starts at the Mira Montana cul-de-sac trailhead for the Margaret Fleming trail, down to the Del Mar Scenic Pkwy trailhead, up the Mar Scenic trail, left turn onto the D.A.R Memorial Trail to explore both outlook points, backtrack to the West D.A.R. Trail, and take that north to Mar Scenic Dr. Then we take the street roads back to our cars. --Parking-- I chose to start at Mira Montana trailhead because it had a parking area. One weekend I came and it was just my group, so there was plenty of parking. Another weekend, there was no parking available, likely because there was baseball practice at the nearby school. (This parking lot is closer than the school's parking lot.) Even with the parking lot full, there is street parking available along Mira Montana. --Margaret Fleming Trail-- I like this trail because of its historical background. This trail is marked with numbered sign posts from 1-10 starting from the school because it was used for education. Each numbered post means there was something of interest nearby. I think it may be documented in an old book, but I haven't researched where to find it. The trails are less manicured, so you'll often be walking in crevices that don't actually look like trails or under some shrubbery that may be hiding the rest of the trail. There are parts that have wires demarcating the trail where it is more ambiguous. If you start at the Mira Montana trailhead, you can find a bird's nest built in the Maps box. Last time we looked, there was a small egg inside the nest. --Mar Scenic Trail-- Parts of this trail have a lot of soft sand so beware of that if you have porous shoes. One of the unique parts on this trail is the stone structure you'll pass on your right. It looks like it was once a foundation for something, but I haven't looked into it any further. --D.A.R. Trail-- The left turn onto this trail is a bit hidden if you aren't looking for it. Several times, when people in my group walk ahead of me, they often don't see this turn so keep a sharp eye for it if you want to take this trail. My favorite point in this trail is the part right before I reach the fork in the road. The trail goes upwards and you can't see where it end, but there is a nice big tree and cloudless blue sky inviting you to find out! This trail splits into two roads. The left road takes you to a lookout point where you can see the main reserve, the wetlands, the ocean, and the main parking lot. The right side will take you further north, but I haven't found a terminal point. In taking the trail on the right side you will encounter a large rock structure that reminds me of the dome lands out in the desert, a short wooden bridge where you get a glimpse of an interesting trail to explore except that it's blocked off, and a beginner's course for slot canyons. If you're observant enough, you'll also spot a really large nest of some sort in one of the trees above you. --West D.A.R. Trail-- I didn't find this segment all too interesting, but near the sign for this trail is a lookout point with a bench and a memorial plaque. --Explore-- I saw a few other trails that weren't actually marked on the map, so I'd probably want to check them out the next time I explore this area. read more

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Awesome walk/hike. Many different trails to take and great views. A great activity for a brisk morning or nice day.