Lake Calavera

We always enjoy walking here around the Lake, Dam or on the Peak. It’s always a pleasant and wonderful experience. Also, there’s wildlife all around from small birds to hawks and other wildlife. Further, people can ride mountain bikes, run or walk here. Finally, you can see an amazing 360 degree view of Carlsbad, Oceanside & Vista from the Peak of the Volcanic Plug. It’s a nice bit of untouched nature in our back yard. Go check it out.

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 a huge help!

Great place to go hike, run, walk your dogs or just enjoy the beautiful scenery.

A place with many paths. Some are easy. Some are steep. No matter which one you choose, you will find the wonders of this place. Thankfully we came on a day with lots of overcast. I would not do this with a blazing sun. Awesome view at the top.

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 facts about each.