I've been passing this hidden gem off the I-5 and didn't know it was that close to me until…read morerecently. I wanted to go on an adventure for the Labor Day weekend. I immediately noticed that this popular trail was very well maintained. I looove how there are different trails leading to Solana Beach...San Elijo Lagoon...Nature Center...under the I-5 Highway...etc. Overall, it was a memorable hike with gorgeous views, easy trailhead access, signage all around to follow and navigation through a fun sandstone slot canyon. I highly recommend it to the Yelp Community :-)

Heard about this unique trail on Instagram. Wasn't discouraged by negative remarks of it being off…read morethe 5 South. It was scenic and thought it was cool to see the highway in the distance. The hike/walk leading to the narrows is pretty. There's an easier path to the top if you choose to avoid the narrows. You get the great view either way. I don't know what's worse, the etched writing in the narrows or people ahead of you using their cameras too much for social media likes. The first ladder rung at the end climb was a bit of a challenge cuz I'm 5 feet, 1 inches. Definitely a worthwhile hike. I'd say our visit lasted no more than 90 minutes. We met some friendly people and parking was easy in the quiet surrounding neighborhood.

My favorite local hike that has all levels…read more The Oak riparian entrance is great for kids and beginners and you can go as short or long as you want. Closer to the lake you can enter in from the neighborhood and do a loop around the lake. The epic and challenging bit is hiking the dormant volcano itself. You can go one of three or a hidden fourth way up. The face is the most challenging and requires good balance. Both east and west sides require a little bit less, but it's a good strenuous hike that will get the blood pumping. My wife with Arthritis has done it and found it challenging. Our youth group does it a couple times a year and often will divide up based on the challenge they are looking for. It's great for an afternoon hike and when you've done it... plan a sunset hike. It's awesome. The tree cover near oak riparian entrance is really nice. The stream has cute little crawdads. That hidden entrance is at the bottom of cannon road where people will park at the church and enter the trail there. It makes for a longer walk, but there's also more trails. There's another under the power lines like a power line trail that starts paved then goes into the dirt trails. Note there are more mountain bikers and rarely you may see a OneWheel.

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.

I was staying at the Aviara Resort and really appreciated how the shuttle drops you off at the golf…read morecourse which is right next to the lagoon. I had a wonderful morning walk on this trail maintained by the foundation. The QR codes contained interesting information along with signage along the well marked path. Please stay on the path! The birds and wildlife were amazing and it was nice to see others enjoying the beauty. The access to the lagoon is free and the nature center accepts donations.

I still love this walk. It pretty flat and easy. It was a bit muddy a few days after the rains but…read morewe managed to walk around the edges. In the summer months it's best to go early because there isn't much shade and it can get hot. It wasn't that crowded even on a weekend day and parking wasn't bad. We started on the Gabbiano side but I usually start on the opposite side. Both are nice. The visitor center is a cool spot to check out and it has lots of info on the area. They also do presentations you can attend.

We enjoy led this little trail for a nice family outing. Would recommend. Easy, beautiful views.read more

Its a beautiful trail, my only complaint is the road noise from I-5 makes it a little hard to hear…read morethe birds in the lagoon. Very dog friendly for leashed dogs which is a huge plus. Will try to go closer to the morning when hopefully the lagoon isn't as backlit for photographs.

As you walk up to the entrance stairway to this trails beginning there are no less than five signs…read moreto read. All stating the things you "can't do" "can't have", "can't ride" and the kicker sign "no trespassing". So for me it's a questionable trail.

OKay for a short walk if your a local or in the area. I thought this was a real hiking path, its…read morejust an unpaved path that winds behind houses and up hills. Its great for a warm up before a workout or to walk your dog. I feel sorry for the people who bought houses there cause the path is in their backyard, literally. Park on the street, and enjoy the short lil jaunt. As the signs say, look out for rattlesnakes. Beautiful area, but lost on me when I am looking down the entire time for a rattler.

What a great place to hike to! I am glad there are many…read moretypes of paths up to Double Peak Park. Some days I feel like taking the paved of packed earth trails. Other times I enjoy scrambling on the many winding cross country trails. It's all good! Now if only someone would set up a coffee stand at the top

What a view! I came up for the Starwalk event hosted by the city of San Marcos through the Double…read morePeak Astronomy program. There was plenty of parking but we got there early just in case. We walked up to the check-in desk, provided our info, and were given instructions, star maps, and red lenses for our phones. We then walked to Mahnita Boyden-Wofford Amphitheater (a large cement amphitheater) and found seats facing the volunteer ranger presenting the night's info. Unfortunately, it was a bit too foggy to see much. The volunteer ranger (John Walsh) answered questions and explained differences between various stars, meteors, satellites and sky debris. Occasionally, the sky would open up for us to see a few stars. We did get to see the summer triangle and a satellite though. It was a good learning experience and I hope to do more in the future on a clear night. Tip: apparently it's tarrantula season so watch your step.

For a quick run, the Rancho Carrillo Trail got the job done. While not the biggest, longest,…read moretallest, or most scenic trail around, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Maybe the key to that was ease of use. Parking was easy. & not a lot of folks out, so I had the trail mostly to myself. Over the 2 short laps I ran, for a total 3.33 miles, there were some nice elevation changes & interesting enough features to look at. & for a run, it's good stuff for a trail to be able to take your mind off of the actual running. Rancho Carrillo Trail did that.

I'd be lying if I said I was not getting frustrated on trying to find the parking to enjoy this…read moretrail HA! I was probably making it complicated. Just put in directions to the Carillo elementary school and as soon as you enter the school lot, take a sharp right to park in the public lot, no pass or payment needed. (if you turned left, you would be entering the elementary school parking) It's kind of hidden, hence why I kept passing it. Drum roll please, I finally found it and could not have been happier. Hardly any cars, maybe 1 max at 7 a.m. Come early while its overcast and not so hot out. Once you park (free parking lot off PASEO ESCUELA and POINTSETTIA LANE), there are (2) ways you can take. Look at the paved ground and decide for yourself. Either way they loop around. It's a total of 2 miles from the car and all the way around of staying ON TRACK, however, I love all the random paths & trails you can take to be adventurous from the main trail. It's so nice. I personally enjoyed the scenary. It was paved for the most part. I loved seeing a little bit of history. We did not go into the historical ranch, as 1) it was too early and 2) they do not allow dogs however, we could go up to the fence, and peak thru. It was so pretty, look at all my pictures. I loved this trail, it was a nice workout for a brisk walk or run. some incline here and there. Great for dogs and really quiet.

We come to this area so often, I can't believe this is our first visit!…read more This place is magical My littles loved visiting here so much They did not want to leave They loved feeding the animals (tortoises, chickens, and pigs); So much outside space to explore; They loved seeing the hawks and falcon; Can't forget they got to touch the snake and lizard ...Best Day Ever Logistic Notes: Free Parking and Admission Indoor bathrooms and hand sanitizer at all animal areas; Lots of park benches to have snacks and lunch; Inside play areas and gift shop

Soo cool! Such a surprise. You think it's a small community center, but it's packed with…read moreactivities, light snacks, coffee, a stage, play rooms, books, toys, and best of all - animals! There's a pig that gets walked by a staff member intermittently, turtles you can get up and personal with, chickens, owls, hawks, falcons, snakes, starfish, etc. This is a great venue to take your kids. They have activities such as story time, and they also have an area where you can learn about the natives. There's areas to hike around the beautiful lagoon. You can be a member or take a look for the day for about $15 which is very reasonable. I believe it's worth it. They really maximized the space. It's a wonderful place!

We live off Poinsettia east side of 5. This perfect dirt path is our short cut to the beach by the…read morewater plant. Starts at Poinsettia and ends at coaster station. Safe place to cross the tracks then the path drops you into small neighborhood next to hwy.101.

Short trail, 1/2 mile long, packed sand and flat. Great for short walks with your dog or kids…read more bikes are OK. You can access the trail in 2 different entrances, by Poinsettia and Avenida Encinas (street parking by the hotels across the street) or by parking in the Free parking lot at the Coaster/Amtrak train station. If you park in the train station, the trail access is on the south end of the parking lot. If you do a return trip on the trail is one mile, also you can make your walk longer by crossing over to the other side of the railroad tracks. It is possible to walk on the other side. There is an established cross over by the train station where you can cross to the other side of the platform. There are also some interesting displays that teach about Vernal Pools along the trail, and plenty of garbage cans and free bags for dog poop. This is a popular trail with nearby residents for walking their dogs or taking younger kids on bike rides.

We arrived around 8 AM on a Sunday, and the main lot was already full, but there's an overflow lot…read moreabout 400 feet away where we were able to grab the last spot. The trail itself was pretty quiet. We passed a few people here and there. It's very well maintained, though there aren't any signs or clear directions at certain points, so I'd recommend using AllTrails to stay on track. Also worth noting, there are no trash cans along the route, so plan accordingly. The trail is technically listed as not dog-friendly, but we did see a couple of dogs along the way. We did the 4.5-mile overlook loop. There were a few sections that were a bit steep, but overall it's a fairly easy hike with mostly flat terrain. There's a lot of greenery throughout, and the creek adds a really nice touch. It's a really scenic and peaceful setting. It took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. We went on a cloudy day, which ended up being perfect for the hike. Overall, it's a beautiful, well-kept trail and definitely worth checking out.

What an incredible trail! The mix of flowing water and those scattered rock formations makes every…read morestep feel like a little adventure. Going around 10 in the morning sounds perfect for soaking in the peaceful vibe without running into many people. It's a relatively easy route with plenty of spots to pause for a picnic, making it the perfect way to connect with nature and start the day surrounded by quiet beauty.