1
Carlsbad City Beach
Public beach
👍👍 This has always been my favorite beach whenever we visit So California. It is an excellent location with several different places to eat for lunch/dinner/snacks. There Always seems to be parking if you’re willing to drive around a little to find it. Access to the beach is direct and easy, with a few...
4.90 (232 reviews)
2
Carlsbad State Beach
State park
👍👍 Loved this wide pale sand beach, with rolling waves that occasionally connect for long stretches. It's like dancing waters, when shore breakers are sizable. The foam jumps & dances, before plummeting back down.
Surfing this beach, looked challenging...at least it did for the guy we watched. The...
4.90 (62 reviews)
3
Alga Norte Park
Park
Roomy park featuring a basketball court, baseball fields & picnic areas with barbecues.
4.80 (1.3K reviews)
4
Calavera Trail
Park
👍👍 It's a nice little hike with pretty views. Good for trail running, dog walks and mountain biking.
4.80 (117 reviews)
5
Grand Ave Beach Access
Hiking area
👍👍 Great place to catch the sunset. A little crowded at times. Parking is definitely easier off season.
4.80 (93 reviews)
6
Lifeguard Tower 33
Park
👍👍 One of my family's go to jams. Easy parking and access to the beach, close to downtown Carlsbad. Especially for at low tide, when there's more beach and the rocks along the jetty are kinda like tide pools.
4.80 (87 reviews)
7
Ponto State Beach Jetty
Park
👍👍 Came here with my wife and my daughter and we had a great experience. Awesome views and I didnt bring a fishing pole but I bet this place would be a great spot. Plus you dont need to bring any bait!! The rocks are loaded with mussels.
4.80 (47 reviews)
8
Poinsettia Park
Park
A park with a public tennis complex, athletic fields, grassy areas for picnics & a playground.
4.70 (1K reviews)
9
Leo Carrillo Historic Park
Park
19th-century hacienda in a secluded & meticulously landscaped park, home to numerous wild peacocks.
4.70 (862 reviews)
10
Aviara Community Park
Park
24-acre community park features athletic turf fields & courts, a playground & lighted picnic areas.
4.70 (467 reviews)
11
Lake Calavera Trail Head
Park
👍 Lake Calavera Trail Head, is a nice, peaceful place to walk. Many of the trails here aren't super difficult. The dirt hiking trails my wife & I traversed, didn't have many steep inclines, & had some lovely lake & mountain views, plus there were many different birds & small animals to view. On 4/4/...
4.70 (356 reviews)
12
Hidden Canyon Park
Park
Park with a playscape shaded by huge umbrellas, plus grassy open space & undeveloped land.
4.70 (304 reviews)
13
Public Beach Access
Park
👍👍 Nice place. Little crowded. But easy access and parking. Like Santa Barbara & Summerland better.
4.70 (173 reviews)
15
La Costa Canyon Park
Park
👍👍 This is a great little park with two playgrounds, swings, a basketball court and tennis courts, drinking fountains, public restrooms, and a fenced dog area. Great views to the San elijo lagoon as well. Highly recommend 😊
4.70 (122 reviews)
16
Terramar
Public beach
👍👍 Easy parking and easy access down the stairs. Very nice beach, nice tide pools to the north. Just go down the steps and walk up (north) the beach a bit at low tide. Tide pools often have hidden treasures, such as crabs, Sea Anemones and Sea Stars (starfish). Often there are a lot of surfers.
Ke...
4.70 (120 reviews)
17
Lake Calavera Trail Head #2
Park
👍👍 The lake is overflowing from all the rain we've had lately and some of the trails are inaccessible. Still a nice walk with lots of birds chirping and ducks quacking.
4.70 (117 reviews)
18
Tower 22
Park
👍👍 It's quite lovely.
If you're walking your dogs on the street by the parked cars, around Lifeguard station 22, beware of an adorable little yellow and white travel trailer.
Cujo comes out to attack any dog that passes by.
4.70 (68 reviews)
19
Alga Norte Skatepark
Park
👍 Pretty cool street section with some unique features 👌. Giant pool bowl section. It has a flat rail, stair set, and some butterfly Ledges!
4.70 (51 reviews)