Lake Calavera Preserve Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Cave · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

This 3-mile loop around Lake Calavera Preserve offers gorgeous views of its namesake lake, the area's famous volcanic plug, trees, and plenty of scrub brush throughout its rolling route.

The man-made paths are extremely slick when wet or damp! Be very careful if you see moisture on them.

Start out by parking at the Sky Haven East Trailhead Parking and heading across a loose dirt path to the Lake Loop Trail. Take a left onto the trail, then head down to the creek crossing. Be careful on the trail if it's wet, as it can be very slippery!

From the path, stay right and head straight up the trail instead of continuing on the Lake Loop Trail (you'll get there later). Shortly up the trail, you'll see a right, which you'll want to take to enjoy the up and down singletrack. You'll climb out of the singletrack toward power poles before connecting with the fire road and heading right.

You'll soon make a "T" with the next fire road and head right down the steep grade before climbing back out. You'll level out with homes on your left, then head right back down and up to a wide path on your right, where looking left you'll see an iron gate leading toward a street.

Hug the fence on the right and follow the fence to the large boulders marking the trail intersection where you'll keep right. Stay on the main trail down and follow the signs taking you left. You'll see the lake soon enough as you follow the path above the lake.

Watch for blind corners where mountain bikers may be coming around. If you hike with music, keep at least one earbud out so you can hear what's happening around you.

The upper lake path will weave left and right then take you down a rocky descent where you can work on your fancy footwork bouncing down the rocks. At the dam, keep right and connect with the trail on your right just after the steep cement-path incline. You'll follow this fire road all the way back to the car.