North Torrey Pines State Beach to Del Mar Beach

Pink Blooms @ North Torrey Pines State Beach' Marsh Lagoon Area

Spring time, when smiles from heaven pour on Earth, sending field of wildflowers in some places, a sight to behold. A time where our more serious hiking is put on hold in favor of more relaxing walk enjoying the blooms. Thus, pardon me if for a while, I am taking a break from my series of posts about my  Top Ten San Diego Hikes. Maybe, after this post, I will alternate posts from our "Desert Solitaire Spring Break Vacation", "Top Ten San Diego Hikes" and more wildflower updates in and around San Diego. Ahhh, too many to share, to little time. :( I am not complaining since I love that " I am changing the world one day at a time- I TEACH!"- phrase borrowed from http://teacherswithapps.com/im-changing-the-world-one-day-at-a-time-i-teach/

Anyway, let me take you now to this very relaxing walk from North Torrey Pines State Beach to Del Mar Beach.

Start of Hike: North Torrey Pines State Beach 

Parking: Free outside the State park Area along Carmel Valley Road. $12 day use fee inside the State Park.

 Terns and Sea Gulls In Flight, at the Marsh Lagoon, next to North Torrey Pines State Beach Parking

Features: Walk on the beach, and then, go up the bluffs overlooking the ocean. At other times of the year, we usually look for playful dolphins and migrating whales from on top of the bluffs, but since it is spring time, let me share instead the present conditions of the trail right now. All pictures here were taken last Sunday, April 15, 2013.

Direction of Hike:

From North Torrey Pines State Beach Parking lot, first, we enjoyed the lagoon since this is one of the best places for bird watching in San Diego. Then, we walked west towards the beach. At the beach, we turned North to Del Mar. There are two choices to walk, both are special and have their uniqueness. One option is to walk entirely on the beach. The 2nd option, upon reaching the bluff, hike up the gentle slope to the middle bluff at same level with the rail tracks. Because it is spring time, beach walk would be all sand and rocks, whereas on top of bluffs are these: 

 Mix of Coreopsis and Sea Lavender ( south part of trail, closer to Torrey Pines)
first wildflower sighting you would see after going up the bluff

Purple Field of Dreams :) ( trail between Torrey Pines and Del Mar Beach )

 More California Sea Lavender  

 Join Us In this Walk 

 Looking South Towards Torrey Pines

More Sea Lavender ( it is a long trail of purple field )

Mileage: 3- 5 miles round trip (depends really as to how far you want to go), with only about 100 ft of elevation change. If you do not think you have time to hike but just want to enjoy the field of wildflowers, you may park anywhere between 7th and 8th St, Del Mar, CA. The top bluff almost meets the middle bluff (where the field of CA sea lavenders are) at 8th St. From 8th St, walk West ( you need to cross the rail tracks) towards the ocean. Turn South towards Torrey Pines for the CA sea lavender field.

Field of CA Sea Lavender, looking South towards Torrey Pines

Turn North and a little bit up towards Del Mar for more coreopsis (yellow). 

purple field disappears to give way to some yellow ( at the North part of the trail, closer to Del Mar Beach)

 Beach, Cliff and Wildflowers

More Yellow

Ahhhhh, these wildflowers are simple gifts from above, reminding us of His love, sending us all these smiles in the form of these blooms, not planted, not watered by man, but simply growing in nature nourished by God.

I LOVE SPRING!! Oh wait, did I not say before my favorite season is SUMMER?, haha!! I actually can't wait to be in the water again reuniting with the fishes, but meantime, let me share with you the JOYS OF SPRING.

Thanks always for visiting.

♥♥