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A great route through Calavera Preserve on some curvy singletrack with fun downhills.


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Map Key

5.0

Miles

8.0

KM

50%

Singletrack

380' 116 m

High

221' 67 m

Low

392' 119 m

Up

389' 119 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Stay on designated trails and be ready to yield to other trail users.

Overview

This ride follows a series of fun loops and short connector trails. The terrain is sandy chaparral, with curvy singletrack and some fun downhill sections. You'll find a mostly hard-packed tread on all the trails.

Need to Know

This is closed at the south end near Sage High School to bikes. There are signs everywhere that they put up in January 2018.

Description

Park along Tamarack Ave when you see the gate and dam down the hill. Enter the preserve by going around the gate, and then head straight down across the dam. Follow the full track using the MTB Project mobile app for the best continuous loop, but you can shortcut back and eliminate subsequent loops. The shortest loop would be simply going around the lake only.

You can also park at the corner of College and Cannon and access the trail that's in front of the high school. The trailhead is right at the northeast corner of that intersection.

I have a fun 10k ride I do and a 5k ride. There are lots of choices for easy, flatland and harder, up-and-down routes.

Contacts

Shared By:

Gregg Brotman

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 31 votes

#695

Overall
  4.0 from 31 votes
5 Star
35%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
32%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

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#695

Overall
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Photos

Calavera Mountain and Lake Calavera in the foreground.
Jul 19, 2014 near Vista, CA
Beginning of trail.
Dec 7, 2023 near Vista, CA
Wooden plank section over marsh area.
Dec 7, 2023 near Vista, CA
Serpentine Trail
Mar 8, 2020 near Vista, CA
Rattlesnake crossed my path
Dec 8, 2017 near Vista, CA
Calavera Lake is a pleasant sight any time of year.
Feb 27, 2018 near Vista, CA
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 81 days ago
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