Margaret Fleming Nature Trail

Margaret Fleming Trail Guide – Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

The Margaret Fleming trail is a short out and back trail in the extension of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Altogether the reserve holds around two thousand acres of open space land along the San Diego coastline and extending into the bluffs.

Most people familiar with Torrey Pines are likely unfamilliar with the smaller reserve extension hidden in the bluffs of Del Mar. This small acquisition added about 197 off additional acres of land. These additional acres add additional coastal area to state protection. While that may seem small, the addition contains about 1,500 Torrey Pine trees. This turns out to be about half of the total trees in the entire reserve. 

The park extension sits on the high bluffs above Del Mar and looks out on to Los Penasquitos Lagoon which is formed by the creek making up Los Penasquitos Canyon. Torrey Pines State Beach as well as the bluffs above the main reserve can additionally be seen in the distance. Most of the Margaret Fleming trali winds through coastal chaparral and connects to the Mar Scenic Trail.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve History

Long before any European settlers explored this area, the region was predominantly inhabited by the tribe of Kumeyaay Native Americans. Early Spanish settlers during the 1500-1700’s referred to this area as Punto de Los Arboles, which means Point of Trees. The first modern account of the area was through a British medical doctor and botanist, Dr. Charles Christopher Parry.

Parry was doing work for the United States-Mexico Boundary Survey. Parry named the tree the now famous Torrey Pine after one of his mentors and leading botanists of the time, Dr. John Torrey from New York. Surprisingly, Torrey never actually visited the area to see the trees and only had seen samples of seeds, branches, and cones.

Over the years the City of San Diego slowly acquired parcels of land which now make up what the reserve is today. The most notable of these acquisitions was from Ellen Browning Scripps, who has helped to make San Diego what it is today. In 1956 a special election was held that resulted in the land being given over to the State of California.  Doing so allowed all the land, plants, and animals to have the complete protection that was needed. In 1959 Torrey Pines State Park became official. In 2007 the name became a reserve as opposed to a state park.

Torrey Pines Fun Facts

• A famous Spanish missionary, Junipero Serra and his expedition named the tree Soledad Pines (Solitary Pines) during their expeditions through the area in the 1700’s.
• The tree’s only natural habitat is found within this reserve and on the Santa Rosa island in Channel Island’s National Park.
• Torrey Pines have very large systems of roots to be able to tolerate growing in the dry and poor soil conditions.
• The nuts of the pine are edible.
• The height of the tree can grow upwards of fifty feet in the best growing conditions.
• One of the distinguishing characteristics of the needles is that they grow in groups of five.

For more information, call (858)-755-2063 or visit the reserve’s website.

On A Personal Note:

The Margaret Fleming Nature Trail can be a nice and short hike to do during spring when the coastal chaparral is lush and blooming after the winter rains. I highly recommend also doing this trail along with the Red Ridge trail for some better views. The trails in the extension don’t compare to the coastal hikes in the main reserve but the crowds are far less.

Parking for this trail is in a residential area. Please be respectful to the people who make their place their home and always practice leave no trace principles. For a complete map to the small handful of trails in the area, see the official handout.

Do you have any updates to the hiking trail or want to share your hike/pictures? Please leave a comment below.