Torrey Pines State Beach Golden Wintertime Sunset

By May 12, 2019January 8th, 2022Beautiful Views of San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego

I’ve been running, hiking, swimming and photographing Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve for 37 years. It is the most spectacular section of coastline in all of San Diego County. When I lived in Del Mar and ran it almost daily I would sometimes be blessed with solitude on the Torrey Pines mesa and encounter just a couple other hikers or runners. Those days were magic. I hiked Fat Man’s Misery as a kid, a trail that is mostly lost to history and which no longer appears on any maps; the park staff won’t tell you where it is even if they knew. Alas over the years it has become ever more crowded, a victim of its own beauty. Here we see a quintessential San Diego scene: while the rest of the country freezes its ass off in the depths of winter, San Diegans and holiday visitors gather on Torrey Pines State Beach over the New Years weekend to enjoy a golden sunset. You can tell it is winter because some of the people have t-shirts on. Black’s Beach peeks out from beyond the Torrey Pines cliffs, with a bit of Scripps Pier and Mount Soledad visible beyond that. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance
Image ID: 35061
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Torrey Pines State Beach at Sunset, La Jolla, Mount Soledad and Blacks Beach in the distance
Image ID: 35057
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!