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.

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.

Great hiking experience. Don't underestimate it though, it is a medium distance hike. Watch out for…read morerattlesnakes and coyotes. Amazing views of Carlsbad

It's not that bad for kids. Too many ants and dog poop. For kids it's awesome as they can enjoy the…read morewalk as it's not too hard for them either. Very nice view

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

I visited Double Peak Park in San Marcos recently, and it turned out to be a much more lively and…read morememorable place than I expected. Even though it is an outdoor park, it has this energetic atmosphere that teenagers would enjoy a lot. I saw a surprising number of teenagers around the lookout areas, the trails, and the picnic spots, which made the whole place feel youthful and social in a way that reminded me of the playful energy I felt at Funko Hollywood. The wide open views at the top almost felt unreal when I first saw them, and I could easily understand why so many teens were taking pictures there. The scenery practically invites you to take photos without needing anything extra. As I walked around, I realized there was more to the park than I expected. Some parts of the trail felt a little worn down, and a few areas could have been more polished, which is part of why I would give it four stars instead of five. Still, I appreciated how easy it was to explore the park without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Even with groups of teenagers laughing and taking pictures, the atmosphere stayed calm and relaxing. I only visited Double Peak Park one time before writing this review, but it left a strong impression on me because of how open, peaceful, and lively it felt all at once. It is one of the more refreshing outdoor places I have been to in a while, and I never doubted that the experience would turn out the way I hoped it would. I would highly recommend that teenagers go there because they would love the photo opportunities, the sense of freedom on the trails, and the creative feeling that comes from being somewhere with such a wide and inspiring view. It gives them a place to hang out, take pictures, and enjoy themselves without spending any money.

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.

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!

Wow! I'm so glad I was recommended this place! They have a suggested donation and with it, you get…read morean animal feed bag of your choice. There are lots of animals around the property! This place is perfect for younger kids, I'd say around 9 or younger. They have a scavenger hunt that changes monthly and kids get to pick a small prize. Highly highly recommend if you're looking for a fun FREE activity to do with your kids!

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.