About Us
California Mission WalkersWho We Are
The California Mission Walkers are dedicated to promoting walking routes along the historic El Camino Real between the twenty-one California Spanish missions, and to supporting those who walk it. Our organization was founded in November 2013 by a handful of trailblazing mission walkers, some of whom had been pioneering a walking route since 2002. Today we have over 2,400 members, with over 100 people who are currently walking between the missions, and 84 pilgrims who have completed the 800 mile walk to all twenty-one missions!
Why We Walk
The reasons we walk along the California Mission Trail are as varied as our members. Some walk for a religious or spiritual pilgrimage, some walk for a love of our historic missions, some walk for greater appreciation of California’s beauty and history, some walk to honor the memories of loved ones, some walk to reflect on life’s meaning, some walk for the challenge and adventure of a “California Camino”, and some walk to prepare for walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain.
The Hiker’s Guide
Ron “Butch” Briery walked the California Mission Trail with Beppe Sala in 2011 and wrote the guidebook, “California Mission Walk ~ The Original Hiker’s Guide to California’s 21 Missions Along El Camino Real”. This guidebook was fully updated in 2022 based on the trail knowledge and experience of dozens of hikers, and this second edition is now available!
There is no right path. Only one that allows you to sleep soundly and wake up excited.”—Jennifer Louden
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Hiker's Guidebook
Check it out on Amazon!