Hiking and Cycling the California Missions Trail

Journey the length of California on the unforgettable California Missions Trail, where sun-drenched coastlines, historic Spanish missions, and vibrant communities line a spectacular 800-mile (1291km) pilgrimage from Sonoma to San Diego. Experience the best of the Golden State as you traverse rolling vineyards, bustling cities, iconic beaches, and the serene landscapes shaped by Native Americans and Spanish settlers over two centuries ago. Perfect for long-distance walkers and cyclists of all abilities, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook presents the complete California Missions Trail, described in 20 stages ranging from 16 to 60 miles (26–97km), with alternative options for cyclists. The well-waymarked route links all 21 historic missions, following a scenic corridor that never strays more than 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean, and can be enjoyed year-round thanks to California’s mild coastal climate. Walkers typically complete the trail in 50–60 days, while cyclists can cover the distance in 12–20 days. Includes detailed advice for planning your journey, whether you wish to walk or cycle the full California Missions Trail, complete a section, or tailor stages to your schedule and fitness. Each stage features clear at-a-glance information on start and finish points, distance, elevation, accommodation, and refreshment options along the California Missions Trail, as well as advice on alternative cycling routes and logistical tips for both northbound and southbound travel. Explore California’s most celebrated destinations: stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge, wander the redwood forests, relax on the beaches of Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, and soak up the culture of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Delve into the rich history of the missions and the story of the Native Americans who first shaped California, with informative background sections bringing context to every stage. Features 1:100,000 mapping and larger-scale town maps for key locations such as San Francisco, Carmel, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego, plus free downloadable GPX tracks and comprehensive route summary tables to ensure confident navigation and smooth daily planning along the California Missions Trail. Covers essential advice specific to the California Missions Trail, including travel, accommodation, budgeting, training, equipment, claiming your pilgrim credential, and practical guidance on food, climate, and available facilities across California’s diverse landscapes. Plan your adventure on the California Missions Trail with the definitive Cicerone guidebook and discover a route that blends spiritual tradition, Californian hospitality, and the ever-changing beauty of one of America’s most fascinating states, all the way from the North Bay Area to the US/Mexico border.

The 800-mile California Missions Trail leads walkers and cyclists through some of the most scenic and historic sites of one of America's most beautiful states. The 21 missions, founded 200-250 years ago, are key to understanding California's history and form the spiritual and cultural landmarks of this epic journey that stretches from the North San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego, near the US/Mexico border. The route never strays more than 30 miles from the sunny Pacific Coast, touching famous California beaches at Santa Cruz, Carmel, Santa Barbara, San Clemente and Carlsbad, not to mention metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. California's diverse wine regions play a starring role, as does the vast Salinas Valley, the 'Salad Bowl of America'. This guide offers everything you'll need to make your trip of 50-60 walking days or 12-20 cycling days on this epic West Coast adventure. There is a wealth of information to help you prepare for the journey, including packing lists and transport notes. In addition to clear route description, each stage of the route includes scale maps for easy orientation and comprehensive details of facilities available on or near the route. The trail is presented in sections, so it can either be undertaken in its entirety or split as desired, and an accompanying appendix displays distance intervals between towns and cities offering accommodation, in case you should wish to choose your own itinerary. The route can be walked or cycled; for cyclists, around 95% of the trail can be completed on a road bike. From Mission Sonoma to Mission San Diego, you'll follow the journey of 18th-century Spanish missionaries as they created 21 missions to convert the native inhabitants to Christianity. Included is a sensitive recount of the history of the missions, highlighting the story and monuments of the Native Americans who formed the foundation of the landscape, rather than the Spanish and Franciscan priests. From the sunlit sea to swathes of vineyards, to the bustling metropolis of San Francisco, and with historic, spiritual and scenic interest aplenty, the California Missions Trail offers an unforgettable journey through America's Golden State.