Woman on a boardwalk at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad

Under the Radar Outdoors

Carlsbad may be known for beaches, but under the radar there’s a whole lot more to the great outdoors along its less crowded 7 miles of coastline. It’s home to a historic state park (with an upcoming holiday lights event!) and meditative hiking trails for tranquillity and forest bathing.

Week: 11.17.2021
Regions: Southern CA

Holiday at the Rancho

Hike at Leo Carrillo Rancho Historic Park in Carlsbad

Woman on a wide open trail at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Woman hiking a trail at Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park
Woman hiking among Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Visit the beautifully restored 27-acre Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, a cultural gem in Carlsbad that can be explored as part of a serene 2-mile loop and has an upcoming holiday tree-lighting and festivities event.
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The Coast with the Most Adventures

Oregon Coast Adventure Guide

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Boats on the Oregon Coast
woman on the Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast isn't your average coast. Take a road trip through charming towns, see numerous historic lighthouses, explore shipwreck beaches, wander bustling promenades, or go “sandboarding” at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Explore the Oregon Coast

Hosp Grove Forest Bathing

Forest bathe on a 3-mile hike at the Hosp Grove Park in Carlsbad

Woman is walking into a eucalyptus forest in Hosp Grove Park in Carlsbad
Woman hiking and forest bathing in eucalyptus forest at Hosp Grove in Carlsbad
Woman hiking and forest bathing in eucalyptus forest at Hosp Grove in Carlsbad
Forest bathe as you wander among one of the densest displays of eucalyptus trees via an accessible 3-mile adventure at Hosp Grove Park in Carlsbad.
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Buena Vista Lagoon

Go on a Meditative Stroll at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad

Woman hiking on a boardwalk at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad
Woman hiking on a trail surrounded by foliage at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad
Woman standing at an overlook at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad
Woman walking on the ocean shoreline at Carlsbad City Beach
Take an easygoing wander at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad, then visit neighboring Carlsbad City Beach for a 1.25-mile out-and-back beach stroll that includes the lagoon’s connecting point with the Pacific Ocean.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

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  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

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  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

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  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

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