An invigorating and c
hallenging hike for those in the North County is the Lake Calavera Preserve, which is located in the Tri-City area of Vista, Carlsbad and Oceanside. The trailhead start is located off of Skyhaven Lane near Lake Blvd. The trail system’s focal point is Calavera Mountain which although very accessible it presents more of a challenge than first appears.
The word “Calavera” means skull, which probably comes from the unusual shape of the area’s centerpiece, Mount Calavera. The 513-ft. Mount Calavera is not really a mountain at all but rather a 22 million-year-old volcanic plug.
Mini Grand Canyon
A volcanic plug is a mass of volcanic rock that solidified in it’s vent and feeding system millions of years ago. When the volcano becomes extinct and starts to erode away, the “plug” is all that is left behind. Mount Calavera is one of only three volcanic plugs in Southern California. In the early 1900’s, the ancient plug was mined for gravel. The mining was accomplished by stripping away it’s west face and continued into the 1930’s. What is left is a rather remarkable blemish on the side of the mountain that somewhat resembles the Grand Canyon. As you approach this point on the trail, you will soon come to an artery of the main trail that will lead you up to the summit of Mount Calavera. The trail gets much more rocky and uneven, as always focus on the trail. Soon you will come upon the ridgeline I spoke of earlier. Enjoy the great view before you head off. Head towards the open field to your right, you can’t miss it, its huge and once you are in it you feel like you are strolling through a Midwestern, Iowa wheat field.
Great diversity on this hike
What struck me most about this hike is that there are so many ways to go, each offerin
g a completely different experience. Although surrounded by a housing tract and the local high school you still experience a hike that offers open fields, rocky steep ascents, and a cave,
The beauty of this hike, you can’t get lost so long as you use Mount Calavera as a landmark you can pretty much venture anywhere in this 14 mile trail system and always find your way back to a main trail that will lead to the trailhead start.
Have Fun…Hike Safe!.
Trailhead Start: From state Route 78, exit at College Boulevard, heading south. Turn left onto Lake Boulevard, then right onto Sky Haven Lane. Sky Haven dead-ends at Azure Ladd Drive; park here on the preserve side of the road.
Time to Hike: 3 hours
Distance: 6 miles
Hikeability: moderate
Water: 2 liters
Temp: 80’s