Great spot for a hike! There are plenty of trails to choose from, offering views of the lake, the…read morevolcanic plug, and Carlsbad. The hikes range from easy to moderate depending on the trail you take. Some sections are a bit overgrown while others are well maintained, but overall it's a beautiful place to explore.

Amazing place to go for a hike. There are easy trails as well as some difficult ones. So there is…read moresomething for everyone. Also, where else can you hike to the top of a volcano?!? Great views throughout the trail and a must try hike when in the area.

Short easy out and back trail 2.2 miles by my gps from parking lot to…read morePalomar airport road. No shade on. Trail so west a hat or bring an umbrella

Staying at the Hyatt nearby and wanted a morning walk, I found another review about this trail and…read moredecided to give it a try. Put it into Apple Maps and it's not too hard to find. We parked our car in a lot across the street from the sign that says "trail" in parking lot off of el fuerte street. It's a nice trail with lots of greenery that's about 1.3 miles. It splits off into 2 parts a good .5 mile in where if you go right it's steeper incline and left is pretty flat. Perfect for dogs and anyone if you avoid the steeper side!

A group of our friends had an impromptu gathering for our dogs to play on the grassy area by the…read moreparking lot trail head to Buena Vista Park. We brought pizza and snacks and sat enjoying each other's company and watching the bird/duck wildlife. Many families were gathered in near by picnic tables playing soccer and eating. Plenty of space and trash cans. There is a restroom near by. Dogs welcome!!!

Buena Vista Park Trail is a neighborhood walkable path in Carlsbad. This easy-to-moderate trail…read more3-mile loop. The trail is a great spot for both walkers and nature lovers, offering lots of trees, backyard view of a neighborhood and quick escape from city (within the city). There are three opening paths an enjoyable peaceful walk-path (within little to no elevation) around two loops. During the walking area, there is an opportunity to take in the views two bridges providing a perfect outdoor experience in an urban setting. There is a pond populated by ducks on one end of the parks main entrance.

Love this county campground! Under $50 for 3 vehicles. Highlights include beautiful…read morepark/playground, large camping spaces, clean grounds, walking trail, bike trail to beach, quiet, and close proximity to stores. Lots of bugs so skin protectant for me. Friendly rangers. Go straight to your campsite upon entry when no one at front ranger kiosk.

Quiet, large trees, lots of dog walkers. There is a trail on south side used by both campers and…read morelocals. Most campsites also have a dog or two, so great place to dog watch. Restrooms are clean, hot showers for tent campers.

Small, shady 5+ acre park in Carlsbad with eucalyptus trees, flowering plants, a playground, and…read moreseveral short trails. Hosp Grove Park is a nice place for a quick walk. Some trails are flat while others climb a bit, and if you hike to the top you'll get some nice views. The grove provides good shade, which is great on warmer days. Pros: * Quiet * Shaded * Beautiful trees and plantings * Several trails * Playground Cons: * Limited parking * Playground sits near a drop-off (watch toddlers) * Only portable toilets * Some road noise * Trails are fairly short Tip: With only a porta-potty available, plan accordingly! Bottom line: This isn't a destination hike, but it's a great neighborhood park for a short shaded walk or dog outing.

Great, clean park for a quick hike. The playground for kids is somewhat shaded by the trees, so the…read moreequipment doesn't get too hot. Unfortunately, a lot of trees have been cut down, but there's still quite a bit of shade in most parts of the trail as well.

South Lake is a little lake that is less known than Discovery Lake. Hidden in neighborhoods off…read moreTwin Oaks, it's truly a hidden gem. It's on the map but it's not busy or have many kids. This is due to it being primal still. There's no playground or bathroom. It's a parking lot, then you walk down on the dirt path to the lake, which is also a dirt path around the lake. There lake is bigger than Discovery and it's a good loop. There's no shade. And since it's a dirt path, it's harder for kids to bike or walking. You can access the lake by driving or by a trail that connects the lake with Discovery Lake. The elevation is flat, and good walking loop. You can rent out some space for picnics and parties but not sure if you want to as it's all dirt and there's really no tables or seating area. Solely for a nice peaceful walking path with you, a friend, a stroller or a dog.

A one mile dirt walking loop around a small reservoir. Small amount of hills. Pretty safe but…read morealways be aware of your surroundings. * Parking lot is small. *A lot of illegal fishing going on.

Awesome hike. Whether it is early in the morning, mid afternoon, or in the evening it will still be…read morean awesome hike. We went on a Thursday mid afternoon when the sun was shining super hot out, can't complain but it was a nice day out. A few tricky trails but none the less you won't get lost or if you feel lost there is always a way out. Lol Have an awesome day and happy trails

Along the western edge of North America extensive subduction occurred during the early Mesozoic to…read moreearly Miocene time (200 to 19 million years ago). Oceanic crust, equaling the size of the entire Pacific Basin, subducted underneath the North American plate. Subduction occurs at convergent boundaries where the heavy Oceanic tectonic plate moves under the lighter Continental plate sinking back into the mantle - this process creates a subduction zone; often creating volcanoes. However, the 'hot-spot' which formed underneath the volcano we hiked today, Mount Calavera, most likely was the result of natural fracturing and faulting. As the warm, buoyant spreading center was subducted under North America, crust was uplifted, fractured, creating zones of weakness where magma could ascend to the surface and become lava. Mount Calavera (Calavera, meaning 'skull' in Spanish), is a 513-ft volcanic plug that was created 22 million years ago in what today is now Carlsbad. A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is created when magma hardens within the vent of an active volcano. However, when the 'hot-spot' which created the volcano moves on because of the conveyor belt system of plate tectonics, the volcano becomes extinct leaving a plug behind. Mount Calavera is only one of three volcanic plugs in Southern California. Without being radiometrically dated, the volcanic plugs are thought to have formed in the Miocane, when our coastline was transitioning from a convergent plate boundary to a transform plate motion. This transform motion is what eventually formed the San Andreas fault line! It's a cool place to visit if in the Dan Diego area and the hiking is not overly rigorous to the top. Make it a family outing and have the kids contribute to the rock art monument at the top. 4.5 rounding up.

It's a fun neighborhood park, with some extra-special things…read more First of all, the lake. From this park, there's a nice, flat, shaded walk around Discovery Lake. It's relaxing and beautiful. Many times of the day, there's enough of a breeze to keep things cool. Second, there's a fun playground for the kiddos. Even if you don't have kids with you, I like hearing the sound of kids playing. I enjoy that this is a great place to start for a hike up to Double Peak Park. If you are working your way up to hiking further, you don't need to go very far to get to some nice view spots.

I'm not in this area often, but whenever I am, this park is a must-visit! It's the perfect spot to…read morerelax with a picnic in one of the many shady areas or stay active and enjoy the outdoors. The flat trail around the lake makes for a peaceful walk, and if you're looking for more of a challenge, you can continue up to Double Peak (maybe next time for me!) The scenery is beautiful, the trails are well-maintained, and there's plenty of space to unwind. I'd love to bring my niece and nephew here this summer for a playground and picnic day. They would have a blast exploring and enjoying the open space! Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area!