These were my backyard running trails for seven years when I lived in the Aviara area. As a Carlsbad resident and Carlsbad Realtor, I knew them well. There’s a plethora of choices, 6 total miles, ranging from challenging hill work to easy flat strolling for bird watching.
The most popular is the flat, scenic Lagoon trail, 2.13 miles that travels along the north shore of the Batiquitos Lagoon—4.26 miles roundtrip. There are 4 parking lots for this trail: one at the west end on Gabbiano Lane, one at the east end on Batiquitos Drive and two more in the middle on Batiquitos Drive. You’ll pass just as many families and birdwatchers as you will other runners. There’s even a nature center near the south entrance.
There are four more named trails, Black Sage, Salt Marsh, Eucalyptus and Golf View. All are relatively short and they aren’t all interconnected. To run them you will need to often run on the roads to get from one to the other. The City of Carlsbad website has a good map of their locations. Simply search “City of Carlsbad Aviara Trails.”
There is one route I would recommend if you want to get in a good workout that incorporates both the relaxing Lagoon trail and a challenging hill. About halfway through the Lagoon trail there is a short steep hill(about 10 yards long) that exits to one of the parking lots off Batiquitos Drive. Run directly across Batiquitos and up Golden Star Lane. Take an immediate left on Savannah Lane and then an immediate right up the steep trail. This is the 1.2-mile long Eucalyptus Trail. Steep and moderate up with some steep down at the very end. Takes you through and provides views of some of the best Carlsbad Real Estate in the Aviara area. Adds a strenuous 2.4-mile loop to the potential 4.26 you can do on the Lagoon trail. Enjoy!