I just randomly picked this place to walk at while we waited until check in time at the Omni. I’m glad I did because it was such a gem to walk at. Parking may be tricky, because there aren’t a lot of spots and most people had to park in the surrounding neighborhood. Since it was an overcast day, it was cool doing the beautiful 3 mile walk! We saw a ton of birds and were looking for snakes and coyotes, but didn’t see any. This is a great spot to walk at and the ground is pretty flat and even the whole way. I walked in Birkenstocks, but it does get dusty.

Trail Series, Part 19“Some days it gets completely crazy, and I feeling like howling at the moon. Then sometimes it feels so easy, like I was born with a silver spoon.Other times you just can’t reach me, seems like I’ve got a heart of stone. Guess I need my solitude, and I have to make it on my own.Well I guess I’m going A.W.O.L., disconnect my telephone. Just like Greta Garbo, I want to be alone.”Van Morrison If we’re being honest, aren’t there times when we need a moment to unplug from the noise and clatter of this world and just…be? Absolutely nothing demanding our attention except the moment we are living just then.While there are many ways and places you can foster this kind of personal retreat, one of them can be found along the “Batiquitos Lagoon Trail” in Carlsbad, California. I counted no less than 34 unique benches along the length of this approximately 1.5 mile trail, and all of them beckon you to sit awhile…and just listen. To the birds, to the sound of the breeze rustling through the leaves on the trees, or maybe just to the sound of your own breathing.While walkers, runners, and leashed dogs are all welcomed on this trail, bicycles are not.For those interested, a clearly posted QR code provides access to a self-guided tour and a Nature Center is free and open to the public on the West end of the trail. All 3 entrances to this trail can be found along Batiquitos Drive and each feature a convenient parking lot.The trail is nearly entirely unpaved, so your enjoyment of it will be reduced if you access it after it has rained. And that’s…Henry’s Take. #trailofsolitude#justmetime

Not the easiest parking to find and small parking lots but worth it. Be prepared to walk down sandy ramps to get on the trail around the north side of the lagoon. We saw a handful of egrets and some ducks but not much more because most birds had flown north for the summer. It’s about a 3 mile walk on level ground with plenty of different flora to see. Bonus is that it’s free.

My wife and I were in the Carlsbad area for a week, and took the walk along Batiquitos Lagoon twice. Nice and level walking path with beautiful Eucalyptus trees, sea grasses, and of course the lagoon itself. Lots of water fowl to view.

We easily found a space in November but I can see at busier times of the year parking would be a big problem. We entered from the middle parking location. Access is down a steep slope that most wouldn’t be able to navigate. There is accessible parking down either end of the trail (not a true loop) but parking was even more limited there.