Torrey Pines State Beach, which stretches 4 ½ miles from Del Mar past the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon to the sandstone cliffs in La Jolla, is among the most popular beaches on the San Diego coast. Visitors enjoy swimming, surfing, fishing and other beach-oriented recreational activities. Many combine a beach getaway with a visit to the adjacent Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, with its outstanding scenic views and the natural splendor of the nation’s rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine.

Torrey Pines exemplifies California State Parks’ commitment to providing a welcoming outdoors experience for all, including visitors with disabilities. Like other California state beaches, Torrey Pines has a specially designed beach chair available for visitors with impaired mobility. After registering at the kiosk at the park’s South Beach parking lot, visitors can check out the wheelchair at the North Beach parking lot. It is available on a first-come, first-served basis every day starting at 9 a.m. and must be returned to its green aluminum locker one hour before sunset.

The beach wheelchair is not a power-driven mobility device but designed to be used with assistance. It is equipped with special balloon wheels that enable a smooth glide over the sand. According to its manufacturer’s website, the “Sandcruiser All-Terrain’s” padded canvas upholstery is “UV stable and mold-, rot-, and saltwater- resistant,” making it an ideal device for a wide range of visitors who wouldn’t otherwise be able to enjoy the beach.

The wheelchair can be used to access the beach north of the Los Penasquitos Lagoon using a recently completed beach access ramp at the North Beach parking lot. Built by the City of San Diego, the ramp “shows how the State Park System works across agencies to complete important park updates,” says State Park Interpreter III Alexandra Latona. In addition to providing a path for beach wheelchairs to the edge of the water, it is also bike friendly, enhancing recreational opportunities of this popular beach park.

Sean Homer, superintendent III of the San Diego District’s North Sector, explains that the amount of sand at Torrey Pines State Beach fluctuates according to wave action and longshore current. Beach access from the ramp may be limited due to the amount of sand on the beach and the tide. The addition of the static beach ramp, though, was the best solution for wheelchair accessibility at this beach over commonly used mobility mats used at other locations. When planning your visit to Torrey Pines State Beach, Superintendent Homer advises to time your beach activities for low tide, when there is more sand available between the cliffs and the waves, which should help ensure you can stay farther away from the bluffs.

Wheelchair users as well as non-wheelchair users will find plenty of recreational opportunities at Torrey Pines State Beach. For visitors wading in the water, State Park Interpreter Claire Andrews recommends doing the “stingray shuffle” — skewing one’s feet rather than lifting them — to avoid encounters with the fish that is known to bury in the wet sand.

The red-hued sandstone cliffs are a favorite spot for paragliders — as well as home to two pairs of nesting peregrine falcons. “These are very successful nesting couples,” says Andrews. “They’ve been returning every year.” Whether on foot, by wheelchair or on wings, Torrey Pines State Beach is a state park that offers an inviting and accessible outdoor experience for all.