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In 2018, during our Trekking Europe adventure, we completed the 150-mile Camino Portugues trek in Portugal and Spain. It is just one of several variants of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage path. We enjoyed the experience because it provided us with many historic and cultural insights, along with a greater appreciation of the natural beauty of the region.
More recently we became aware of a trail in California that was created by a group of Camino de Santiago hikers. They decided to explore the possibility of linking all the California missions together by foot. The California Missions Trail or “California Camino” was officially completed in 2011.
From 1769 to 1823, a 21-mission network was established in the “Alta California” region of Spain. Built about a day’s horseback ride (30 miles) apart, the missions were constructed in response to the Russian trappers and British and French who were exploring the area and threatening Spain’s claims to the land. It is an important part of California’s history, and the surviving buildings are among the state’s oldest structures.
The 800-mile trail stretches from the San Diego de Alcala Mission (the first built) to the San Francisco Solano Mission in Sonoma (the final constructed). In addition to visiting the missions, we traversed through the urban areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The route also passed along the coastal cities of Oceanside, San Clemente, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Santa Cruz.
Over ninety percent of the trail was along roads, but the path overlapped in places with the Juan Bautista de Anza National Trail and the California Coastal Trail. Near the end of the route, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge before reaching Sonoma.
Along the way we viewed California’s diverse natural beauty and learned more about the cultural significance of the mission period in the state’s history.
Take a look at our summary video.
Read more about our journey below:
Follow Us as We Trek the California Missions Trail!
This year we are trekking the 800-mile California Missions Trail. We will visit the 21 missions that were established by Spain between 1769 and 1823. Along the way, we will view California’s diverse natural beauty and learn about the cultural significance of the mission period in the state’s history.
A Coastal Sojourn: Beginning the California Missions Trail
Most of the 800-mile California Missions Trail route travels inland, meaning we would not see the coastline for the majority of our trek. So we appreciated the opportunity to sojourn along the coast during our first five days, visiting two missions in the process.
Reflecting on the Memories: the California Missions Trail from San Clemente to Pasadena
After a week traveling along the coast, our California Missions Trail route turned inland to Orange County. In addition to visiting two more missions, we reflected on the memories we made from growing up, going to college, getting married, and raising our family there.
Into the Heart of the Concrete Jungle: the California Missions Trail from Pasadena to Ventura
When we decided to trek the California Missions Trail, we were nervous about the urban hiking and road walking. After completing some city hiking during our first two weeks, we were about to embark on a trip through the heart of the concrete jungle – Los Angeles County, home to the second-largest city in the…
Walking in the Footsteps of History: the California Missions Trail from Ventura to Lompoc
During our first three weeks trekking the California Missions Trail, we visited six of the missions comprising Spain’s Alta California network. Now we had the opportunity to walk on some of the same roads and paths as the Franciscan priest missionaries and Native peoples did over 200 years ago.
The Long and Winding Roads: the California Missions Trail from Lompoc to San Miguel
Our 800-mile route has taken us on long roads as we walked from mission to mission. While we enjoyed miles of peaceful rambles in beautiful rural areas, we also encountered sections of narrow shoulders, winding roads, blind curves, and busy traffic that kept us alert as we continued north.
A Journey to the Remote and Isolated: the California Missions Trail from San Miguel to Monterey
When the 21 missions were established by Spain over 200 years ago, many of the sites evolved into California’s major cities. A few missions stayed isolated, with the areas around them little changed. We hiked 133 miles through some of the most remote locations of the mission network.
From the Sanctuary Bay to the Bay Area: the California Missions Trail from Monterey to Los Gatos
California has 840 miles of coastline, and two of its best known bays are Monterey Bay and San Francisco Bay. Our next 100-mile section of the California Missions Trail would take us from the National Marine Sanctuary in Monterey to the San Francisco Bay Area over seven stages.
Walking toward the Golden Gate: the California Missions Trail from Los Gatos to San Francisco
When we planned our California Missions trek, we discussed how far we should hike on the 800-mile trail. We debated trekking just as far north as Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. But when I mentioned that the route crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, Darren was sold on completing the entire trail.
Don’t Cry Because It’s Over – Smile Because It Happened: Completing the California Missions Trail
After 52 stages of trekking, we had just five more days to hike on the 800-mile California Missions Trail. We usually look forward to the end of a trek with relief that the physical effort of hiking is over. In this case we felt something different as we left San Francisco to head north.
An 800-Mile Journey: the California Missions Trail Summary Video
On April 26, 2023 we set off from San Diego, California on a walking journey to the Alta California Spanish Missions. This video provides a visual summary of our 800-mile California Missions Trail trek. During 57 hiking stages we walked from San Diego to Sonoma, visiting all 21 missions in the process.