Calavera Lake Loop

I decided to leave the Arizona desert and head back up to the mountains for a while and was lucky enough to be able to make some stops and visit some friends along the way. With warm, gorgeous weather in the southern California forecast, I just had to find a trail and explore. Even though it's on the coast, San Diego is technically a desert because it doesn't receive a lot of rain. But this desert is nothing like the ones you find in Arizona. Instead of walking through a forest of cacti, the landscape is considered chaparral and consists of shrubs, trees, and grasses that don't need a lot of water.

Now, I had lived in North County San Diego for over 20 years and, while my kids have hiked this trail, I never have. Until today. I thought Calavera was a reservoir, but it turns out it's actually a lake on top of a volcanic plug. Yeah, I didn't know what that was, either. So, I had to look it up.

Basically (according to the National Park Service) volcanic plugs, or volcanic necks, are pinnacles or spires formed by dense rock, which are the remains of the volcano's conduit system after the rest of the volcano has eroded away. Super interesting, and good to know that Carlsbad, CA isn't in danger of being blown up by an underground volcano.

Now that we know we're safe, let's keep hiking. Unlike most of the trails I encounter, which are out in the middle of nowhere, this one is pretty well maintained. Most of the path is flat, wide, and paved in decomposed granite. It is also very well used. We came across several groups of people, including a friend of mine who I had lunch with the day before (hi Jim!). It's not surprising that there were so many people on the trail; we were out on a beautiful Saturday morning, and, even though you can't really see them, the lake is surrounded by houses. This is a surprisingly peaceful spot in the middle of a bustling city. Kudos to the City Planning Department!

Once we crossed over to the other side of the lake, the path took on a more rustic and natural feel. We came across rocky sections, overgrown sections, narrow sections, and even an area with a secluded picnic table. This trail has a plethora of off-shoots, so you can make it as easy or difficult as you choose. One of the options is to go to the top of the spires. We didn't head that way on this visit, but I bet the view is spectacular.

Speaking of views, the little lake was stunning all on her own. The contrast between the dull, dry landscape on the hills and the lush, bright greenery near the water was captivating. We stopped to take in the view at every turn, watching the birds skit across the water and dive for their breakfast, and wondering why some plants stayed on the edge of the lake while others flourished in the center.

This was a perfect little hike to tackle while passing through town. Next time we will have to head to the top, maybe take in the sunset. Or bring a picnic lunch and find that secluded table. Either way, we will definitely be back.