Outdoor Fun
Over the years, Carlsbad has maintained its vast, beautiful outdoor spaces so that they may be enjoyed by bikers, kayakers, fishers, bird-watchers and other guests. Home to an extensive trail system that ranges from leisurely to strenuous, you’ll find open hills, covered paths, expansive beaches and quiet lagoons that welcome you to savor the mild, ocean air.
Our Beaches
Carlsbad's seven miles of beaches offer plenty of space to get your "toes in the sand." Beachgoers can choose between the Carlsbad State Beach, South Carlsbad State Beach and the Carlsbad City Beach. Grab a surfboard, a body board, a sand pail and shovel or just bare feet on the sand, the beaches are fun in Carlsbad.
The Lagoons
Two spectacular lagoons border Carlsbad, Buena Vista to the north and Batiquitos to the south and Agua Hedionda in between. Buena Vista and Batiquitos are major way stations for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway providing a safe haven for a wide variety of wildlife. The lagoons are popular sites for birding, nature walks and photography. Agua Hedionda is available for year-round recreational use for boating, skiing, kayaking canoeing, and fishing. It is also home to the Hubbs/Seaworld White Sea Bass Hatchery and Carlsbad Aquafarm, a commercial mussel-farming operation.
Hiking and Walking Trails
The Carlsbad Trail System includes varied routes through a mix of open hills covered with native chaparral, sheltered paths through a forest of stately eucalyptus, a quiet lagoon walk or panoramic beach front walks.
