City park · Tamarack Point
Hidden Canyon Community Park
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A 22-acre park on Vancouver Street, mostly undeveloped canyon, with two play areas for younger and older kids, restrooms, walking paths with benches and a short trail to the Ann D. L'Heureux Dog Park. Its one reservable picnic area (uncovered, one table, charcoal grill, electrical outlet) rents for $24 an hour on the City fee schedule (the booking system currently charges $26) for up to 40 guests and has room for a bounce house, but generators are prohibited because homes are close by.
Published prices
| Fee | Price |
|---|---|
| Uncovered picnic area, 3 or fewer tables - Picnic AreaParks & Recreation fee schedule (Sept 4, 2026) p.2 Individual rate, per hour with a 2-hour minimum; rental time must include setup and cleanup. Max guests: Picnic Area 40. CarlsbadConnect currently charges $26/hr for Picnic Area; the fee-schedule price is shown. | $24 / hr (2-hr min) |
| Uncovered picnic area, 3 or fewer tables - Picnic Area - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount (the City does not print resident prices or define 'resident') | $21.60 / hr (2-hr min) |
| Inflatable party jump fee (per inflatable, City-approved vendor only)Fee schedule p.4 'Inflatable Party Jump (excludes ANAC)'. Inflatable must come from a City-approved vendor (list valid as of 9/28/26), be no larger than 15x15 ft, have no water features; generators are not allowed at Hidden Canyon (the vendor list says so), so use the picnic area's electrical outlet. | $20 / inflatable |
| Insurance processing fee (only when the City requires liability insurance)Fee schedule p.4: 'Insurance Processing' $50 per rental, or $35 with City-offered insurance ('Insurance Processing (city offered)'). Insurance is required 'when applicable' with the amount set by the Risk Manager (Use Regulations p.1); the City does not publish when it applies to a birthday picnic. $2M liquor liability if alcohol is permitted (Council Policy 28 G.9). | $50 / rental |
| Rental modification fee (per change)Fee schedule p.4. Cancellations/changes more than 30 days ahead get full credit, 50% credit if less (fee schedule footnote); the 2025 Use Regulations refund policy instead gives a 50% refund or full credit at 30+ days and nothing under 30 days - the two City documents disagree. No deposit is published for ordinary rentals. | $10 / change |
Bookable areas (1)
- Picnic Area - up to 40 guests (1 table; uncovered; charcoal grill; electrical outlet; bounce house: room for bounce house; generators prohibited)
At a glance
- Capacity
- 40 guests
- Setting
- Outdoor
- Hours
- 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (City facility page and CarlsbadConnect rental hours)
- Parking
- Available
- Run by
- City of Carlsbad
Amenities
- Restrooms
- Playground
- Picnic tables
- BBQ grills
- Sports fields (no)
- Beach access (no)
- Dogs allowed (no)
- Accessible (ADA)
Rules
- Alcohol
- Only as your approved permit allows: 'Alcohol consumption is limited to the terms of the approved permit' (Park & Facility Use Regulations Summary, 9/9/25, p.1). If security is required the City arranges it and the renter pays ($45/hr, fee schedule p.4). Only the responsible person or a licensed caterer may bring alcohol, no alcohol at any celebration for someone under 21 (such as a child's birthday party), and $2M liquor liability insurance is required (Council Policy 28, section G). This park is not one of the places where CMC 8.44.040 bans open containers outright.
- Bounce houses
- Allowed with your park permit: the inflatable must come from a City-approved vendor (list valid as of 9/28/26), be no larger than 15x15 ft and have no water features; $20 fee per inflatable; generators are not allowed at Hidden Canyon (the vendor list says so), so use the picnic area's electrical outlet (Approved inflatable vendor list and rules; CMC 11.32.030(29)). Water slides, slip-and-slides, dunk tanks, merry-go-rounds and climbing walls are prohibited unless the City Manager permits them (Use Regulations p.1). The booking listing says generators are prohibited here 'due to proximity to the residences'; the picnic area has an electrical outlet and room for a bounce house.
- Amplified sound
- Renters must control any amplified sound, including radios, so it does not disturb other groups or the surrounding neighborhood; the event may be cancelled if noise is not controlled or police are called (Use Regulations p.1). No decibel limit, hours or sound permit is published.
- Canopies
- City code requires written City permission for any temporary structure in a park (CMC 11.32.030(12)), and the City doesn't say whether a small pop-up canopy at a picnic rental counts, so ask when booking. A Fire Department tent permit ($274 for a single tent, FY 2026-27 citywide fee schedule) is required above 400 sq ft with sidewalls or 700 sq ft canopy-only (Special Event Reference Book, rev. 8/12/26, p.37).
- Other rules
- Groups of 25 or more need an approved park and facility use permit (Use Regulations p.1; CMC 11.32.030(18)). Book on CarlsbadConnect 14 to 365 days ahead (the City recommends applying at least 30 days ahead); every rental is per hour with a 2-hour minimum, the time must include setup and cleanup, fees are due 30 days before the event, and the applicant must be on site with a copy of the permit. No glass containers (CMC 11.32.040), no smoking or vaping (CMC 11.32.110), no dogs except in dog parks (CMC 11.32.030(11),(23)), no balloon releases (CMC 6.26.030), no handing out single-use plastic beverage bottles of 1 liter or less at City facilities (CMC 6.22.040). Fires only in City-designated grills (CMC 11.32.030(2)); bringing your own grill is not addressed. No deposit is published for ordinary rentals. The booking system charges $26/hr for the picnic area while the fee schedule's uncovered-picnic rate is $24; the City's Rentals page also lists open space here but CarlsbadConnect offers only the picnic area. Any vendor you hire for the rental (for example an entertainer, caterer or rental company) must show proof of general liability insurance and hold a valid City of Carlsbad business license (CarlsbadConnect rental rules).
How to book
Reserve an area on CarlsbadConnect, the City's booking system, 14 to 365 days ahead (the City recommends applying at least 30 days ahead), by emailing rentals@carlsbadca.gov, or in person; for help, call 442-339-2510. Requests stay tentative until staff approve them (usually within three business days) and you've paid in full; fees are due 30 days before the event, or right away if you book less than 30 days out.
Location
2685 Vancouver St., Carlsbad, CA 92010 (CarlsbadConnect lists ZIP 92008) · Pin from OpenStreetMap. Get directions
Nearby
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Prices change; confirm with the venue before you book. Something out of date? Tell us.
- carlsbadca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/32/7400
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2006/639241133888370000
- ca-carlsbad.civicrec.com/CA/carlsbad-ca/catalog
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2004/637433863363600000
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/3970/639240332506700000
- carlsbadca.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks-community-centers/parks
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/14784/638379870510170000
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/14820/638427316118470000
- ecode360.com/44007387
- ecode360.com/44005777
- carlsbadca.gov/departments/parks-recreation/rentals
Abbreviations: CMC: Carlsbad Municipal Code (City code) · ANAC: Alga Norte Aquatic Center · FY: fiscal year