GPS & Google Earth Routes for the California Missions Trail
In researching the California Mission Walk, also known as “El Camino Real” for an upcoming pilgrimage, I quickly found a number of wonderful resources and communities of walkers. However, specific GPS, GPX, and KML files for Google Maps detailing for the California Missions Trail were challenging to locate. Given that several great books exist, I transcribed the books to create downloadable maps for pilgrims to upload to their personal GPS device, iPhone GPS app, or Android GPS app.
When I begin this pilgrimage, I will create and publish my own GPS routes, which will loosely follow these routes with a preference towards moderate stage length and nightly hotel/AirBNB accommodations.
GPS File Downloads for the California Mission Trail
- Stages per ‘California Mission Walk’ by Butch Briery
- Stages per ‘El Camino Real de California’ by Jim Lutz
- Using GPS files on your iPhone / Android
- A Beginner’s Guide to the California Missions Trail
- California Missions Trail Pilgrimage Stories – Podcast
California Mission Walk Stages per Butch Briery
Note: The below stages are based on the book California Mission Walk: The Original Hiker’s Guide To California’s 21 Spanish Missions Along El Camino Real by Butch Briery. Whenever possible, Briery’s stages terminate near camping options (occasionally backtracking to return to campgrounds), with hotels and other alternatives nearby. These GPS files have been created as a companion to Briery’s book and should only be used as such. Please review each stage before beginning the California Mission Walk to plan for accommodations, meals, and supplies as may be needed.
DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD ALL GPS STAGES VIA EMAIL
NOTE: Using the “Download All Stages” link will send the entire GPS file to your email. You will also receive updates on route changes, GPS file edits, and additional information from my journeys at no cost. This is the easiest way to stay current and for me to repay the gift to the pilgrim community. You may also choose to receive updates from this blog on additional California Mission and pilgrimage topics.
- Day 1 – 11.2mi – Mission San Diego to Campland on the Bay
- Day 2 – 18.5mi – Campland on the Bay to San Elijo State Beach
- Day 3 – 12.3 mi – San Elijo State Beach to Oceanside RV Park
- Day 4 – 12.3mi – Oceanside to Mission San Luis Rey
- Day 5 – 23.1mi – Oceanside to San Clemente State Beach
See notes regarding Camp Pendleton access and identification - Day 6 – 14.2mi – San Clemente to Doheny State Beach to Mission Capistrano
- Day 7 – 17.2mi – Doheny State Beach to Newport Dunes RV Park
- Day 8 – 16.4mi – Newport Dunes RV Park to Anaheim Harbor RV Park
- Day 9 – 12.3mi – Anaheim Harbor to Whittier
- Day 10 – 10.9mi – Whittier to Rosemeade
- Day 11 – 9.0mi – Rosemeade to Mission San Gabriel Arcángel to Pasadena
- Day 12 – 13.5mi – Pasadena to Glendale
- Day 13 – 14.2mi – Glendale to Mission San Fernando
- Day 14 – 20.4mi – Mission Hills to Simi Valley
- Day 15 – 19.2mi – Simi Valley to Camarillo
- Day 16 – 13.6mi – Camarillo to McGrath State Beach
- Day 17 – 7.9mi – McGrath State Beach to Mission San Buenaventura
- Day 18 – 15.8mi – Ventura Beach to Carpinteria State Beach
- Day 19 – 15.7mi – Carpinteria State Beach to Mission Santa Barbara
- Day 20 – 20.2mi – Mission Santa Barbara to Refugio State Beach
- Day 21 – 21.2mi – Refugio State Beach to Mission Santa Ines to Buellton
See notes regarding limited water or resupply. - Day 22 – 17.1mi – Buellton to Mission La Purisima Concepcion
- Day 23 – 19.2mi – Lompoc to Orcutt
- Day 24 – 9.5mi – Orcutt to Santa Maria
- Day 25 – 17.2mi – Santa Maria to Pismo State Beach
- Day 26 – 16.3mi – Oceano / Pismo State Beach to Mission San Luis Obispo
- Day 27 – 17.0mi – San Luis Obispo to Atascadero
- Day 28 – 14.8mi – Atascadero to Paso Robles
- Day 29 – 11.6mi – Paso Robles to Mission San Miguel Arcángel
- Day 30 – 17.7mi – Mission San Miguel Arcángel to Lake Nacimiento Camping
- Day 31 – 13.8mi – Lake Nacimiento Camping to Lake San Antonio Camping
- Day 32 – 22.8mi – Lake San Antonio Camping to Ft. Hunter-Liggett Camping
- Day 33 – 12.0mi – Ft. Hunter-Liggett Camping to Mission San Antonio
- Day 34 – 19.6mi – Ft. Hunter-Liggett Camping to King City
- Day 35 – 13.8mi – King City to Greenfield
- Day 36 – 17.9mi – Greenfield to Mission Soledad to Soledad
- Day 37 – 17.8mi – Soledad to Chualar
- Day 38 – 18.8mi – Chualar to Laguna Seca
- Day 39 – 10.8mi – Laguna Seca to Monterrey Veteran’s Park Camping
- Day 40 – 12.2mi – Monterrey Veteran’s Park to Mission Carmel to Monterrey Veteran’s Park
- Day 41 – 12.5mi – Monterrey Veteran’s Park to Marina Dunes
- Day 42 – 11.5mi – Marina Dunes to North Salinas
- Day 43 – 19.6mi – North Salinas to Mission San Juan Bautista to McAlpine Lake
- Day 44 – 18.3mi – McAlpine Lake to Sunset Beach State Park
- Day 45 – 16.8mi – Sunset Beach State Park to Santa Cruz Hostel
- Day 46 – 7.28mi – Santa Cruz Hostel to Mission Santa Cruz to Scotts Valley
- Day 47 – 22.6mi – Scotts Valley to Campbell
- Day 48 – 15.0mi – Campbell to Mission Santa Clara to Milpitas
- Day 49 – 14.4mi – Milpitas to Mission San Jose to Newark
- Day 50 – 15.7mi – Newark to Redwood City
- Day 51 – 13.4mi – Redwood City to San Bruno
- Day 52 – 15.1mi – San Bruno to Mission San Franscico de Asis / Mission Dolores to San Francisco
- Day 53 – 2.8mi – San Franscico to San Rafael
GPS route includes ferry transfer - Day 54 – 14.7mi – Mission San Rafael to Novato
- Day 55 – 11.3mi – Novato to Petaluma
- Day 56 – 14.9mi – Petaluma to Mission San Francisco Salano de Sonoma
DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD ALL GPS STAGES VIA EMAIL
California Mission Walk Stages per Jim Lutz
Note: The below stages are based on the book El Camino Real de California – A Hiker’s Guide to the California Mission Trail by Jim Lutz. Whenever possible, Lutz’s stages terminate near hotels, with camping and other alternatives nearby. These GPS files have been created as a companion to Lutz’s book and should only be used as such. Please review each stage before beginning the California Mission Walk to plan for accommodations, meals, and supplies as may be needed.
- Mission San Diego to Mission San Luis Rey
- San Luis Rey Mission to Oceanside, CA
- Oceanside to Mission San Juan Capistrano
See notes regarding Camp Pendleton access and bus detour - Mission San Juan Capistrano to Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
- Mission San Gabriel Arcángel to Mission San Fernando Rey
- Chatsworth to Mission San Buenaventura
- Mission San Buenaventura to Mission Santa Barbara
USING CALIFORNIA MISSIONS TRAIL GPS ON YOUR IPHONE / ANDROID DEVICE
Note: My preferred GPS app is Gaia GPS. The GPS / GPX / KML files will work on any app or device that accepts GPS file imports.
- Download a GPS App for your Device such as Gaia GPS or Maps.Me
- SUGGESTIONS: The Top Hiking GPS Apps for iPhone and Android
- Sign up for updates and download the California Missions GPS files
- Download and save the files to your device
- Import the GPS files to Gaia GPS or Maps.Me App
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE California Missions Trail
- Layering Ultralight Clothing for Pilgrimage Backpacking
- PILGRIM RESOURCES FOR COVID-19
- GPS & Google Earth Routes for the California Missions Trail
- The Top Hiking GPS Apps for iPhone and Android
- Key Differences between the California Missions Trail and Camino de Santiago
- A Beginner’s Guide to the California Missions Trail
- PACKING LIST: Trekking The World
- PACKING LIST: Backpacking First-Aid Kit
- PACKING LIST: What to Pack to Hike the California Missions Trail
- PACKING LIST: First-Aid Kit for Blisters and Foot Care
- HOW TO: Five Tips for Urban Hiking
Husband. Father. Backpacker. Pilgrim. Author.
After years of section hiking the Florida Trail and Appalachian Trail, I set out in 2019 to complete the Camino de Santiago through Portugal and Spain. The experience changed the direction of my life and I’ve been walking in pilgrimage ever since. My recent journeys include the California Mission Walk and England’s Pilgrims’ Way from London to Canterbury. I’m currently walking sections of the Via Francigena through Europe to Rome.
Follow me on social media or walk virtually alongside me on the Sacred Steps Podcast and in my upcoming book, Sacred Steps: A Pilgrimage Journal.