70 Miles of Coast
Your guide to San Diego — beaches, trails,
tide pools, neighborhoods and things to do.

Field guide index

Carlsbad

Explore carlsbad through our San Diego field notes. Find practical guides, coastal context and links to the official information you need before heading out.

Eastern Side of Batiquitos Lagoon in Encinitas, CA photographed in 2021
Carlsbad

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail Map and Walking Guide

A north-shore lagoon walk with official map sources and clear distinctions between route length, access and reserve rules.

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South Carlsbad State Beach shoreline below the coastal bluffs
Oceanside to Del Mar

Northern San Diego: 10 North County Beaches to Explore

A north-to-south selection of North County beaches, with different choices for an easy beach day, a surf-watching stop or a long shoreline walk.

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Lifeguard tower 33 and the curving seawall promenade on Carlsbad State Beach on an overcast day
Carlsbad

Things to Do in Carlsbad: Beaches, Lagoons, LEGOLAND & More

How to plan a Carlsbad day around the Village and seawall, the lagoon trails and the attractions near Palomar Airport Road.

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View south over Agua Hedionda Lagoon and its shoreline vegetation
Carlsbad

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Garfield Street Trailhead Guide

How to use the Garfield Street access for the short North Shore Hubbs Trail beside Agua Hedionda’s outer lagoon.

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Wetlands and winding water channels at San Elijo Lagoon
North County / San Diego coast

San Diego Lagoons and Nature Centers: Where to Start

Pick a lagoon for the kind of visit you want: an interpretive center, a shoreline trail or a quiet wetland viewpoint.

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A paved path beside a seawall and coastal slope in Carlsbad
Carlsbad

Carlsbad Sea Wall Trail: Upper and Lower Walks

An easy-to-plan oceanfront walk, with one important detail: Carlsbad's upper and lower seawall paths have different dog rules.

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Aerial view of the ocean shoreline at Silver Strand State Beach
San Diego coast

Long Walks Along the Beach: San Diego Coastal Routes

Choose a long coastal walk by surface and exit options, not just a line on a map. Sand, boardwalks and bluff trails offer different kinds of days.

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Coastal sage scrub beside Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad
Carlsbad

Agua Hedionda Lagoon: Discovery Center and Trail Guide

Start at the Discovery Campus, then choose a lagoon-side walk that fits your group. Separate trailheads make a little advance planning worthwhile.

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