Ellen Browning Scripps Park

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Last Updated: December 7, 2025

Ellen Browning Scripps Park is a beautiful coastal park located in La Jolla, California.


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Summary

The park is named after Ellen Browning Scripps, a philanthropist who donated the land to the city in 1915. There are many reasons to visit this park, including its stunning ocean views, rocky cliffs, and beautiful beaches.

One of the main points of interest in the park is the La Jolla Cove, which is known for its crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life. Visitors can go snorkeling, scuba diving, or kayaking to explore the cove and see the colorful fish and other sea creatures that live there.

Another popular attraction in the park is the Children's Pool, which was originally created as a safe place for children to swim. Today, it is home to a colony of harbor seals, which visitors can observe from a safe distance.

Other notable features of the park include the Scripps Memorial Pier, which is used for scientific research and education, as well as a number of walking trails and picnic areas.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a site for military training during World War II, as well as its role in the development of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which was founded by Ellen Browning Scripps' brother, Edward.

The best time of year to visit Ellen Browning Scripps Park is in the summer, when the weather is warm and sunny and the ocean is at its calmest. However, the park is open year-round and can be enjoyed in any season.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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