Hiking and Cycling at Torrey Pines in San Diego
Woke up a bit early on New Year's Day, January 1, 2024, thanks to jet lag. I don't have any sightseeing plans in the US yet. I just hastily booked a flight with my mileage points, and I'm going to figure out what to do from here on out. The ultimate spontaneous trip.
Today, my friend suggested we go trekking somewhere that's an easy drive and gives a good feel for what San Diego is all about, so we headed to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
After driving for about 30 minutes, we arrived at Torrey Pines. You can park just about anywhere, but we went to a paid parking lot just in case. I heard California residents pay $10, which makes the parking fee feel a bit pricey.
There were quite a lot of people, maybe because it was New Year's Day. It was such a warm day that I debated whether to just wear short sleeves or throw a jacket over them, even though it's winter. Probably because of the weather, people were visiting for all sorts of reasons—running in activewear, cycling, or going for a light hike. I'm so envious of the people living in this region with its dry weather that hovers between 15 to 30 degrees Celsius whether it's summer or winter. They have this relaxed vibe as they enjoy their physical activities. Of course, there are also people like my friend who just stay cooped up at home staring at monitors and TVs.
I walked up the trail while catching up with my friend. The course isn't difficult, but it's quite long. I thought there would just be one path, but several routes intertwine, making it feel almost like walking through a maze. After walking for about 30 minutes, my heart rate hit around 120. My friend's wife insisted we bring water—if we hadn't, we would have been in big trouble. In California, water is an absolute must no matter what season it is or what kind of exercise you're doing. This is something Koreans, who haven't really experienced desert-like weather, need to be especially careful about.
The long stretch of beach and the rocky mountains—shaped by weathering or some other geological process—come together beautifully, making it a great place to enjoy the scenery while walking. I couldn't help but think that if I lived nearby, I would definitely come here every week to get some fresh air. True to a landscape carved by wind and waves, you can clearly see the different rock strata at Torrey Pines. At the entrance, there are volunteers explaining the rocks and the animals that live in the area. They really try to make it an educational experience, so you see quite a few kids around too. Even though it's a pretty long course, they were bouncing all over the place. Kids' stamina is truly unbeatable anywhere in the world.
It's not a place you can cover entirely in just one day. It's meant for light walks or exercise. Just like Bukhansan (a mountain in Seoul) has multiple courses and you have to visit several times to experience the unique charm of each one, Torrey Pines has a fairly low elevation but many different paths, meaning you have to come back multiple times to explore it all.
The people I envied the most were the ones riding their bikes up the hill. With this kind of weather, roads, and courses, I really should have brought my road bike from Korea, even if it was a hassle. I heavily regret not doing that. Next time I come to California, I am absolutely bringing my bike.
