Parking
There is no vehicle parking on Santa Rosa Island. Arrive by authorized boat or other permitted island transport and begin at the Bechers Bay Pier.
Overview
About Torrey Pines Trail
Torrey Pines is a moderate Santa Rosa Island hike to one of the rarest pines in the world. The route begins at Bechers Bay Pier and follows the island's marked road and trail system to the base of the Torrey pine grove, with broad coastal and island views along the way.
Why go
- Official 5-mile round-trip route to one of the world's rarest pines
- Broad coastal and island views from the Bechers Bay approach
- Less strenuous than the separate grove loop
Heads up
- Requires authorized boat transport and careful timing around the departure schedule
- Limited shade and services; carry all drinking water and supplies
- Wind, sun exposure, and uneven surfaces are common
For visitors with a boat day on Santa Rosa Island, this moderate out-and-back offers a memorable look at the island's rare Torrey pines without committing to the longer strenuous grove loop.
Parkwolf’s verdictBottom LineMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Channel Islands map
Full mapElevation0–174 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Channel Islands alerts
- ClosureSanta Rosa Island wildfire-recovery closuresMentions this trailAvoid closed routes and shorelines on Santa Rosa Island during recovery from the 2026 wildfire.Official details
- ClosureSanta Rosa access closures at Sandy Point and China CampMentions Santa Rosa, referenced in this guideFollow the closures and on-trail-only restrictions at Sandy Point and between China Camp and Cluster Point to protect island wildlife and sensitive resources.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Channel Islands Tour Guide
Your drive to Torrey Pines Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Channel Islands National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Channel Islands audio tourRecorded for this area
Trail Options from the Bechers Bay PierListen
“From the pier at Bechers Bay, you have a couple of great hiking choices. For an easy walk, a gentle, mostly flat trail follows the bluffs, offering big views of the bay—a nice warm-up.”
Plays on the road 0.1 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Channel Islands Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Glimpse into the Vail and Vickers Ranch
- Water Canyon Beach: A Remote Stretch of Sand
- Santa Rosa Island's Water Canyon Campground
- Torrey Pines Overlook: Viewing the Rare Grove
- 47 audio storiesacross Channel Islands’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Island Fox, Humpback Whale, Blue Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 31 trails, 49 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Torrey Pines Trail
Route & DistanceThe National Park Service lists this visitor route as 5 miles round trip from the pier to the…
The National Park Service lists this visitor route as 5 miles round trip from the pier to the base of the pines. The stored line follows the physical corridor one way for about 2.47 mapped miles; hikers retrace that corridor on the return, so the line is not duplicated. The route uses Airstrip Road, signed island connectors, South Road, and East Point Road to the Torrey Pines access junction.
Trail CharacterThis is a moderate, mostly gradual walk on island roads and established paths.
This is a moderate, mostly gradual walk on island roads and established paths. The base-of-pines route is the easier way to see the grove; the steeper grove loop is a separate, more strenuous route variant. Expect limited shade, wind, sun exposure, and uneven natural surfaces near the grove.
Access & PreparationThere is no vehicle parking on Santa Rosa Island.
There is no vehicle parking on Santa Rosa Island. Arrive by an authorized boat or other permitted island transport and plan around the departure schedule. Carry all food, drinking water, sun protection, and navigation supplies; services are limited. Stay on the designated route, avoid unstable cliff edges, and check current park conditions before traveling.
Wildlife & StewardshipSanta Rosa Island supports island foxes, seabirds, and marine wildlife visible from the coast.
Santa Rosa Island supports island foxes, seabirds, and marine wildlife visible from the coast. Keep wildlife at a distance, stay on established routes, and pack out everything. Pets are not allowed in the national park.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Channel Islands
2,232 sightingsIsland FoxMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
282 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
79 sightingsBlue WhaleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
101 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
364 sightingsCalifornia Sea LionMost seen around noonSighting map
105 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Channel Islands. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
