Love this place. Good for kids n dog. Have many trail head n you can hike to the top for a beautiful sunset n ocean view. You can also see all the mountains in the background too.

Great place during fall / winter for casual hiking and casual hiking as well.. great mix of both.

This place is awesome, many different trails to choose from. Some have pretty good hills to get a decent hike. There are rattlesnakes here, but they tend to stay in the bushes most of the time.

Recommend this trail. Kids and mom enjoyed it. Not hard. Will return. Awesome for the kids to visit a once upon volcano.

Great hike in Carlsbad! Good selection of trails that range from paved with a slight incline to steep up the side of the mountain. Great spot, shady in the afternoons.

Easy walk, bit slippery on way down, gets you heart pumping, good hour to two hour exercise, depending on the route you take and your physical condition. Bring some water on hot days. Kind of hard to get lost, but surely someone will manage that feat!

I love that there’s a lake in the middle of Carlsbad. We live a mile away and come here when we want some good outdoors exercise. There are tons of trails you can hike, from fire roads to just around the lake- easy to difficult. Very pet friendly. They even have a bathroom and water stations at the bottom. There’s plenty of parking on the street or many entrances to the hiking trail. Good for exercise and a nice view of north county!

Love this hiking trail. Depending on which side you choose to start you can get a pretty easy and yet still a bit of a challenge and the other feels like your going straight up! Doesn’t seem to ever get to crowded. Great views and it’s very well kept, very clean.

Nice non difficult hike..Go Early..picks up quite a few folks as the morning closes in the afternoon...

Awesome hike with my man Jayce! Getting out and exploring our world. We climbed up the old volcano. There’s a path to the right side of it to make the ascent up to another trail and you can guide left to the top of the “mountain”. This is a great time of the year to get out and hike mid day.

This park has something to offer hikers and cyclists alike of all ages. Trails range from flat hard-packed surfaces suitable for sandals to steep rocky faces that require sturdy shoes and hands to scramble up. Getting to the top of Mount Calavera takes some effort, but youre rewarded with 360 degree views that take in Lake Calavera, surrounding valleys, mountain ranges, and even the ocean. Most of the trails are in full sun, so bring plenty of water, especially in the warmer months. Dogs are also welcome but need to be kept on leash.

This was one of the most beautiful local hikes Ive been on. The trails are easy to follow which offer easy, moderate and somewhat difficult challenges. The vistas are outstanding.

Great trails for different hiking abilities. I loved the plant life here too.

Perfect little trail with tons of different routes to take

A great hike for adults and kids. Theres quite a few trails based on difficulty, but none are too difficult if you are in okay shape. We had a 10, 8 & 5 yr old with us and spent about 3.5 hours walking around and going up to the top. There are several places you can stop to rest and take a seat. There is a restroom at one of the trailheads but once you start going up there are no restrooms. Bring water and use sunscreen as there isnt a lot of shade.

This hike is great for several reasons: 1) You choose your difficulty. There are tons of trail options. Take the path around the lake or climb to the top of the dormant volcano or choose any options in between. 2) It’s convenient to get to from anywhere in North County. There are several trailheads for this hike. These photos are of the Tamarack Ave Trailhead. Another favorite spot to start is the Riparian Park off of Lake. There is a restroom at both these starting points. 3) Learn a little along the way! Eagle Scouts have created a series of signs about the solar system and Calavera. 4) Great views from the top!

This is a beautiful little neighborhood resource. And its connected to Oak Riparian Park, so there are bathrooms, play sets, and tons of hiking/billing tails right at the edges of Vista, Oceanside, and Carlsbad. The trails get a fair amount of use, as you might expect, but there is plenty of room for everyone and the builders are careful and respect of the hikers. Go for a run, spot a few birds, or take an aspiring mountain bike on some take single track trails.

We did the Cerro de la Calavera loop trail and had a great time. Theres no good view of the lake on this particular trail but theres so many other trails that do. This one led up to the highest point so we could see 360 degrees... And it was perfect out in mid May. Definitely recommend these trails for a nice hike or run.

My husband and I fell in love with this place! There were multiple entrances and plenty of parking available! We had no problems with anyone or with bugs (we did start around 6:30am).

Was a pretty nice trail with lots of branching routes. The hill is an old volcano which is really beautiful and you can see the layers and its geological history. However, I went because it said there was a labyrinth and I was expecting a long tunnel while instead there was a maze of rocks at the base and one shallow mine which was more of a pot hole than anything else. The smell was strong.

Amazing hike. Definitely be back before dark or youll get locked in.

Fun hike... Is even more fun for a mountain bike. Theres trails in the backside of the mountain. Tons to explore. Calavera was actually a VOLCANO! The top is the crater. Pretty cool!

Over 200 acres of beautiful hiking trails around one of the few extinct volcanos in Southern California.

Coming from the flatlands of Chicago, this hike surprised me with how steep and rocky the terrain was to get to the summit. It was an adventure not knowing what was ahead. Next hike will be around the perimeter and looking forward to spending more time outdoors.

A great place for a quick Sunday morning stroll or hike; adjust your route depending upon your capabilities. Nice view from the top but it can be quite a scramble in places.

Perfect day for a hike.

Great trails, awesome views!

Lots of beautiful areas to hike with many different Trails. It is probably a good idea to keep track of where you are and where you have come from so that you can get back to where you started. There are some challenging Hills to climb and some beautiful views stretching from the canyons and hills to the east all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the West.

Awsome for all people and pets!

Loved the place. Now it’s gonna be my go to hiking trail.

Excellent view from the top. Worth your time and easy to navigate.

Not bad for a local trail. Some trails are pretty steep. Views of chaparral-covered hills and the small lake. Nothing remarkable or especially interesting.

Nice local hike

Lots of trees and shade around an extinct volcano. I loved it!

Great view, the hike is short about a mile and inclines up slowly. The views are beautiful. We took the steep climb back down and saw incredible views of the entire gorge.

Hard to believe this easy trail was once a volcano . You can read the history on it with the conviant kiosks located in the beginning of the trail.Careful with rattle snakes in the summertime.If your looking for an easy and scenic hike..come here..Safe trails...

Beautiful! You can see the mountains on one side and ocean on the other. Make sure you are wearing the right shoes.

One of the best hiking places Ive been to. There are so many routes you can take so everytime you go its a new experience. Highly recommended

A scenic and enjoyable hike for me and my kids.

When I went It was really hot sp we only did 20 mins but next time well enjoy it more

Great trail, with lots of options depending on how challenging or long you want it. My 3 elementary aged kids made it to the top no problem.

Did the Caldera hike today and was pleased to see some coastline, even if it was socked in. The dogs and their noses were most pleased too...

Beautiful trail that leads into a long dormant . Easy parking. Trails are a bit difficult to navigate due to many trails not marked and a lack of maps. Even the posted trail map seemed to be missing many unmarked footpaths.

Great place to hike. Anywhere from a novice to a seasoned hiking there are some steep hills.

Nice hike and trails. Also like the signs and fun facts. Wish the lake could be cleaner and signs to show trails to the top of the peak.

Great view from the top, short hike with a couple steep areas to navigate.

Go to hike for exercise and for a good view. Sunrise is the best time to go, less people and an amazing view.

Great hike! So convenient.

This was one of my favorite hiking trails that I did regularly while I lived around the area!! Absolutely beautiful views from the top, not very crowded, and its the perfect length. Not too long and not too short. I would also take my dog and it is very pet friendly!

Nice place to ride mountain bike

Live not even a mile away. We hike Calavera all the time. Makes you really enjoy living the California dream!

Grown up next to it all my life. Love it for views and varied terrain. Lots of intertwining trails. Good for beginners since your never more than a few miles from the car. Not much in the way of water and bathrooms other than the trail head. But again your never too far from the car. Often I mountain bike here and the single tracks are everywhere but again everything is not long, its all how you make your loops. Tame fire road to some decent technical riding, its all here. Eventually this will be closed to bikes im sure as it is nature preserve but the boundaries are very loosly endorsed. Leash laws for dogs are about the only thing enforced with tickets. So unleash the dog once your off the beaten path and leash em up when you see people. Losing a star because of the ecological boundaries they dont seem to have reason other than to break up MTB trails in spots to eventually push them out all together.

Great trail and hiking area where I shot my next YouTube video for my channel Coach Stefan Rudolph

It was good, too many people walking though

Great place to walk your dog, hike, or just walk around the lake and enjoy the outdoors.

Great local preserve

Great parking lot to summit trail. The hiking grade is easy and should be accessible for most people. Please stick to the designated trail, as cutting corners leads to erosion.

Excellent trails and so close! I love exploring the area and its dog friendly. Its not an off leash park but thats understandable with all the bikes and joggers. I dont have an issue with off leash dogs but the owners really need to be able to control their dogs. Ive noticed that the people who are the nicest have the best control and the rude ones have very little control.

Nice for a walk on nature

LOTS of trails, easy or moderate depending on what you want to do, nice views from top of calavera hill

I absolutely love these mountain ranges!! Serene mountains tops to process and release ‘any’ burden that you may be carrying.

Fun and fairly easy hike for kids and family.

Just beautiful views, we saw a hawk, the hike is a nice little workout, offers bike trails and a public bathroom.

Nice good hike.. good views

My favorite place

I love this place, very serene as well as a great challenge even to those in shape

Careful of these guys ;) hint* they dont like to be pet

I was looking for a nice, natural bicycle path that would help take me from Vista toward the coast. The oak riparian park trail is wonderful, but 90% of the trails at Lake Calavera are for hiking or true mountain biking. I can ride from Oak Riparian park past the dam and either exit on Tamarak or head down to Sage Creek High School (College Blvd & Cannon). Every other trail that I have tried has required more technical riding than I am comfortable with. Therefore, if you are a hiker or a skilled mountain biker, this area is great! However, if you are looking for a casual bike ride, there are only 2 trails that qualify.

Variety of trails for different skill levels. Made to the top of a . Cant do that many places

This place is always amazing I have hiked it many time. There is so many trails to take to get to the top. Dog friendly and biker friendly. The views you get at top are priceless worth the small hike up. The city has even added a bathroom and a water fountain for both humans and pets.

Clean, good trails, great views, short hike with some harder parts... didnt even know there was an extinct volcano in North County SD. Definitely worth checking out.

Awesome place to bike.

Great hike. Varying levels of difficulty.

Good challenging single track trails for miles. Some appear to be protected habitat, not always well-marked. Moderate difficulty in some places. Easy fire trails and some paved in others.

It’s a real volcano! Easy to get to and great views from the top.

Calavera is a great north county trail. I love that there is many different routes to the trail you can take, whether if you want a more intense hike or an adventurous, child friendly hike. This is my 6 year olds favorite hiking place.

I havent been here in a while. Its a great trail, we easy with no real way of getting lost. I did notice that a big portion had been restricted and sectioned off the hikers and bikers. Still, its a great quick scenic hike

Good for running, hiking.

Love the history behind this place!

Some parts are challenging and others are less so. You can pick which way youd like. And a decent view up top.

I love to hike . being a wildlife preserve you have to really watch your step.

Nice trails that are pretty conveniently located in a suburban area. My only issue with the trails is that they are not particularly well-labeled. If you are down for an adventure and are confident enough to get a little turned around, this is a great space with a wide range of hiking surfaces from paved to moderate incline with no markers. The view from the top (which used to be a volcano) is really neat—on a clear day you can see as far as the ocean. Overall, I would recommend spending time here, but I would suggest downloading the AllTrails app to keep track of where you are on the trails.

Nicely established and maintained hiking trails.

This is a fantastic spot to hike in a variety of conditions. From this trail head you can split off to the left and circle the lake or cut across the dam and climb around and up the volcano caldera.

I love this place. Perfect for hiking with your dog or mountain biking. Its easy level. Unfortunately local government is fencing parts of park for no reason. Another program thats wasting tax payers money.Park is still good!

Fun place to ride or hike

Beautiful canyon and lake, not to mention a volcano! Lived in Cbad for 20 years and had no idea. Its pretty hilly outside the main paved path but even that is long enough for a nice stroll with the kids. Not exactly mountaineering but there are some steep parts as you head towards the top of Mount Calavera.

Close. Mix of easy and difficult.

Hiking on a volcano! It doesnt get better than that! Plus they added a restroom and water fountain recently.

This is my go to hiking and mountain biking area. I wish more dog walkers would obey the law and keep their dogs on leash and pick up after them. But for the most part it is fine. I would like to see city of Carlsbad arrange more trail build and maintenance days.

Beautiful views of Carlsbad. Trails are easy to follow. Simply amazing views.

Nice clean trails. You can make it long or short, steep / not too steep hiking. One of my favorite places hands down. Dogs friendly, but PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE CARE AFTER THEIR DOGS!

Nice easy hike without having g to go to the mountains

Great place to hike and see the remnants of a beautiful volcano. Its easy to lose your trail on the way up but its a small enough area you can never be truly lost. I find something fresh and beautiful each time I hike it

A beautiful trail close to Carlsbad Sage Creek High School. A nice cardio time with the family going up the hill and back. Watch out for Rattlers.

Awesome place

Nice hike/trail run or walk. Not marked the best but still worth it

Great place to learn the history of San MarcosReally nice staff

A good walk with the entire family.

Great area for hiking, animal watching and taking in some amazing views