Calavera Lake — Attraction in Carlsbad

Great place to go enjoy Southern CA wildlife and native plants. The last time I went I counted over 23 different species on plants in bloom (early May).

The hiking trails are awesome and usually very well maintained. The loop around the lake is easy enough for children or begging hikers. There is a bathroom close to the begging of the trail close to the dam. You can also get a disposable bag there if you're walking your dog and forgot one.

If you decide to hike close to sunset take a flashlight. This area gets very dark fast.

The only time I ran into trouble was when we had a lot of heavy rain earlier this year and the lake level rose enough to flood the trail bridges making parts inaccessible. The trails closest to the dam were the driest while everything upstream was very muddy or covered in 1-4 feet of water. I had to take a couple of miles extra hiking to find a way back to my car. GPS was...

Great hiking. Very Scenic. Has that Vista Carlsbad Feel. Really peaceful place to visit and see. What is also great about this place is it's closeness to the city and roads that I frequent. It's super close to the 78 freeway. I mean it's right in town in Vista. I've been going to this area since I was a kid and has never lost it's flavor. Each year it has gotten better and better whether it be in it's safety or in it's ease of access. What I really like nowadays is it's popularity. Back in the day it seemed like not that many people would visit, but now a lot of people come here. And what that does for is it makes me feel safer to be there. Thanks Vista and Carlsbad for making...

This is an awesome hike with so many different trails. You can find trails that will talk you through many different terrains. There are wetlands to walk through, hills to hike up, even a long-time inactive volcano. The views are beautiful of Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Vista. There is a lot of wild life and my informational signs if you are interested in the flora. Finally there is a fun walk that as you progress there are signs talking different planets with little...