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    Calavera Lake

    4.2 (106 reviews)

    Calavera Lake Photos

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    Bonnie G.

    My partner in crime and I decided to explore these hiking trails on a whim. I've had it bookmarked forever and I really needed a change of scenery...so we ventured out. I'm not sure how accurate the yelp location is because we ended up using google maps to find the actual trailhead. We snagged street parking, found the trailhead, and went out for a quick out and back hike. A few things to note...there are parts of the trail that are super narrow. While bikes are allowed, it's definitely a challenge to move to the side and let them pass or move in the opposite direction. The lake views are pretty and if you're into bird watching, you'll find plenty to watch in and around the lake. There are a lot of trails here, but we only explored a quick one as the weather was changing and the sun was starting to set. I wouldn't mind going back and exploring more! 4 stars!

    July4th weekend trip
    Mayu H.

    Good place for a little hike. Not much shade at all. I took my dogs there and it was hot. I'm glad I did bring plenty of water for them and a hat for myself. I didn't go all the way to loop the trail but saw lake and went back home. It was nice. Just be careful for rattle snakes. Parking is plenty along the road.

    Krajicek K.

    It was a rewarding hike with great views. When one gets to the top of the mountains, one can see wild flowers such as the California poppies. Trails are not well marked so having All-Trails app helped. At one point, it was a steep and narrow slope with rocks - a bit nerve racking. Please respect the wild habitats and stay on the narrow path. DO NOT step on the flowers!!!

    Lake sign
    Emmett T.

    It's so interesting there is a dormant volcano in the midst of a canyon behind neighborhoods of homes in Carlsbad. Even better that hiking trails have been established around the terrain and lake. The views were very nice and got better when you scaled up the slope to the mountain peak. There was a small parking lot near a trailhead, however it fills up quickly with vehicles. My biggest concern of Calavera Lake was the numerous side trails that lacked proper signage. It was very easy to get lost because of how many different paths you encountered along the way. Just doing a full circuit around was difficult without having to pause and figure out if you were still on the main trek or not. Using a hiking app on my phone helped a little bit, but the precision of the GPS was not great. I would not recommend bringing a large group, especially if folks are hiking at different paces, because it would be simple to get broken up into smaller packs that end up on separate trails. A hike like this should not become an inadvertent game of choose your own adventure.

    Keith A.

    I live close by so easy to get to, I can drive or walk. The parking is street parking near houses and can be quite crowded depending on the weather and time of the year. It borders Oceanside/Carlsbad and provides great views of the surrounding areas, and if you hike up some of the hills you can see the Ocean. There are so many trails that are here and branch out from here, all the way down to Carlsbad or the Ocean depending on how much adventure you want to partake in. There are some challenging parts to hike, and easy parts to hike, so something for all skill levels. There will be people walking, running, biking, hiking, etc. Hiking boots and walking polls/sticks would be good for some people in some areas. Plenty of nature to take in, flora, fauna, etc. The lake even has a trail around the perimeter but can be quite crowded with people not wearing a mask during Covid. I have seen coyotes, and other animals. Definitely worth exploring if you want a good hike and are in the area.

    Didn't expect a trail this steep here! This carves in the side of the hill. I will bring my walking sticks next time for this path.
    Aiko M.

    I went in with expectations of a moderate walk and ended up on an awesome hike here! Just, wow. There are so many trails all over... many are wide and well-marked. I decided to take the narrow rocky ones that go up the hill and I made it halfway. Note to self: bring your walking sticks next time. I started off of Tamarack because I parked in the neighborhood, but a buddy of mine told me to start from Oak Riparian Park off Lake Blvd so I will check out that trail head next time. Overall, a fun place for all ages and skill levels. I look forward to many return visits.

    Greg F.

    During a Covid getaway in Carlsbad, we discovered Calavera Lake. Upon arriving early in the morning, we found parking next to entrance in the residential area. It was easy to enter the property and keep your eye on your vehicle at the same time during much of the hike. The hike was easy, enjoyable, and had many things to look at including the obvious trees, plants, and small lake. There were also minor elevation changes, which kept the hike interesting. We had to ask other hikers at times which way certain paths led to because the paths were not always marked that well. Calavera Lake was an enjoyable hike, and we spent about an hour and a half at the location.

    John M.

    Great spot to hike or mountain bike! I've been coming here for over 20 years and have seen the development around the open space slowly encroaching - more neighborhoods and a high school. That being said, there is still a large area to roam. As others have mentioned, this is an extinct volcano or what's left of it (a plug)... So thats really really cool. You can venture up to the top or circle around the plug for a longer flatter ride/hike. There was a cave on the western side that someone plugged up with rock and concrete - bummer. Definitely watch for snakes!

    Beautiful
    Lisa W.

    Hiking, trail running, biking, walking the dog... you can do everything here except ride an ATV through the trails. There are many different trails that you can explore or different ways to meet your exercise goals. They have a paved fire road that you can run or trails to go to the peak. Plenty of parking on the streets and many different entrances into the lake area. Kind of remind me of mission trails!

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    2 years ago

    The vibes, the plants, the trails, the mountain hike, the outdoors & quietness is heaven! (Watch out for coyotes & snakes!)

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    2 years ago

    I remember the old days when there were no homes and you had to hike a mile or so from the top of tamarack. Just does not hit the same now.

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    4 years ago

    My Fiancee and I told illegal fishermen to leave. We enjoy taking our dogs on the trails around the lake. It's very peaceful there.

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    Ask the Community - Calavera Lake

    Are there hours for here? Parking? Thanks!

    They don't have hours but it's recommended to go when the sunrises and before the sunsets and, they have street parking.

    How are people about wearing masks when nearby? We are visiting ICU nurses here for your CV surge who want to go on a hike but given the level of stupid we are seeing are wary of venturing where people are lax about simple mask wearing.

    I would advise you to stay away from this place, or wear a respirator and goggles.

    How hard is the hike from 1-10 and how long does it take which is the easier trail?

    Is this trail stroller-friendly?

    If this is the lake in carlsbad, definitely No. Fabulous hike around the lake, but very hilly.

    Vie

    No narrow dirt trails

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    Review Highlights - Calavera Lake

    The views from the top of the "volcano" are spectacular, especially on clear mornings and afternoons.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Poinsettia Community Park - Walking trail to nearby homes.

    Poinsettia Community Park

    4.5(55 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    It was the perrrfect day to plant 25 trees at Poinsettia Community Park in celebration of Arbor…read moreDay. This event was well received by the community...more than 30 people (mixed age groups) showed up to volunteer. It was AWESOME!! This beauuutiful 42-acre park contains the largest public tennis complex in the city (10 tennis courts and 6 pickleball courts), basketball court, baseball/softball fields, a multi-sport turf arena, alongside a modern playground, designated dog park area, and shaded picnic areas. Major pluses are restrooms, drinking fountains, and free parking. I definitely recommend this green space and family-friendly park to the Yelp Community :-)

    This park is one of my favorites! It is so well taken care of with so many amenities that includes…read morean off-leash dog park separated by small and large dog areas, all the sports courts and my particular favorite, the pickleball courts. The few times I've been here has been enjoyable and everyone (including dogs) have been very amicable. The dog park is very well kept and like how they have some little obstacles courses for the dogs. The pickleball courts are also very nice but there are some areas that have been worn out, mostly behind the baseline. But nice seating area and efficient paddle system to rotate people in and out. I only wish it was closer to me.

    Photos
    Poinsettia Community Park - Pickleball courts

    Pickleball courts

    Poinsettia Community Park - TEN tennis courts. NO pickleball allowed on these courts

    TEN tennis courts. NO pickleball allowed on these courts

    Poinsettia Community Park - Dog park sitting area...my Rudi enjoying some shade.

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    Dog park sitting area...my Rudi enjoying some shade.

    The Hideaways - I appreciate the covered seating area for the parents. Just wish it faced the playground so you can monitor your kids

    The Hideaways

    4.0(4 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    This playground is nothing short of amazing. It's huge, has plenty of offerings for kids of all…read moreages, and is spread out enough that even when it's crowded, there's plenty of room for kids to run around without interference. I will say, however, that this place is so big that you can very easily lose track of your kids. There were a few times on our last visit where I was scanning the playground for a minute or two trying to find one of my kids after looking after another one for a bit. But don't worry. There really is only one in and out so you don't have to worry about kids wandering off if you are around that bottleneck point. This is a great attraction that I hope the park never gets rid of. It offers kids a space to run around & just goof off and be kids while also blowing off steam. The only point of improvement I can think of if maybe offer some more (shaded) seating for parents. On hot days that would be greatly appreciated.

    This playground is located within Legoland. My grandson requested to come to this playground as we…read moremade our way to the top of the amusement park. He remembered it very well from our past visits. It is a second story playground and it is big enough for adults to shadow your littles if needed. On this day it looked as though an employee was monitoring at the top. I'm not sure if it was because it was near closing time or they are there for the safety of the little ones. There is a short wall that you could sit on to watch your kids from afar, This grand playground is great for the kids to burn some energy that's for sure! The kids have fun running place to place it makes me want to join them. If you haven't visit this playground it is a must. P.S. Grab some Apple Fries beforehand from the stand adjacent to the playground. Great snacking as you watch the play.

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    The Hideaways - Slides galore

    Slides galore

    The Hideaways - Slides

    Slides

    The Hideaways - Rule

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    Rule

    Cargo Ace - Entrance

    Cargo Ace

    5.0(3 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    This ride gets you and your kids high enough to touch the clouds jk…read more It is circles around a few times just enough to get a chuckle out of the little ones. Perfect for those who arent tall enough for the other attractions but not worth it if you have to ride it the entire day if your visit. Never a long line at worth a ride at least once. Be back soon.

    My little Wade B. just turned two, and his chief interests are ceiling fans and aviation. Legoland…read moredoes not have a ceiling fan ride, but it does have Cargo Ace, a toddler-friendly airplane ride in the Land of Adventure. Wade had been burned at Sky Patrol earlier in the day, crying as he watched his 40"+ brother Leo B. go up and down in a yellow helicopter. We were relieved to run across Cargo Ace, where the only requirement was that our child be able to stand on his own. He had to demonstrate his ability to the attendant and was ready to run and jump onto one of the airplanes if necessary. The ride was simple and fun, a few spins on a cute two-seater airplane hanging from a moving track. Designed for babies, but enjoyable for grown-ups, especially when you factor in the pleasure of watching your children lose their minds. Leo had a blast, and Wade was in airplane heaven. He shouted, "AGAIN!" the second the ride stopped, and I carried him off screaming before getting right back in line. Thankfully, this was not a busy ride. We went on three times without waiting longer than one go-around, and could have ridden even more if we weren't looking to move on with our lives. Cargo Ace was the highlight of Wade's day at Legoland. We'll be sure to hit it on every visit until the boys get big enough to want bigger thrills.

    Photos
    Cargo Ace
    Cargo Ace
    Cargo Ace

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    Calavera Lake - hiking - Updated May 2026

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