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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Home Country "Caminos"

Joyce Dunn Rogers

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances
Camino Portugal 2021
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Anyone have ideas?
Here's a link with some interesting ideas:
I've been a member for a short while and I'm actively planning some outings to brighten my winters in Florida, not that they are bleak by any accounts.
Cheers,
JM
 
Here's a link with some interesting ideas:
I've been a member for a short while and I'm actively planning some outings to brighten my winters in Florida, not that they are bleak by any accounts.
Cheers,
JM
Thanks for this info. It is very comprehensive for my home state.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
I have searched long, and the closest Camino like experience that I have found is in Canada. Close, yet so far. https://theislandwalk.ca/
 
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
Do you mean the Oregon Coast Trail? I have looked into that, and it seems like it's possible to hike it and stay in hotels/motels and campsites that have permanent tents or yurts. There is a Facebook group for it that I've joined, and a member has sent me a spreadsheet of their stages and where they stayed.
 
I have searched long, and the closest Camino like experience that I have found is in Canada. Close, yet so far. https://theislandwalk.ca/
Not that it will help @Joyce Dunn Rogers this year, as the US-Canada border is closed, a gander through the search function will get her informatin on the Chemin de Sanctuaires (Montréal to Sainte Anne through Québec City) and the Chemin de Navigateurs (Rimouski to Sainte Anne through Québec City), both of which are well-supplied with commercial accommodation and agreeable walking routes, much along dedicated trails. I don't know where she is in the US (a big country, I am told), but there are trails along the Erie Canal (https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/trail-map) which are fairly well supported, and there is a growing body of railways-to-trails throughout the US (https://www.traillink.com/)-- she will likely have to figure out accommodation--- a challenge this year-- but state tourism agencies have in my experience been really helpful with their advice and have guided me to local and statewide volunteer groups with their enthusiasts.
In terms of making it a pilgrimage, she'll have to do some sleuthing with local history groups and church history sites, but in areas with significant RC and Orthodox and Episcopalian presences, such as Pennsylvania or California, she might be able to build up a list of useful shrines and saints' sites for visiting.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
There is also this website Walkabout California about Inn to Inn multi-day walks.

Or there is the California Mission Walk


Of course hotels and motels in California and Oregon can be quite expensive, and you won't find 10€ menus del día with wine!
 
Do you mean the Oregon Coast Trail? I have looked into that, and it seems like it's possible to hike it and stay in hotels/motels and campsites that have permanent tents or yurts. There is a Facebook group for it that I've joined, and a member has sent me a spreadsheet of their stages and where they stayed.
I've read about the Oregon Coast Trail but, no...
I mean the 2,170 mile Oregon Trail route the pioneers in covered wagons traveled from East to West (United States) in the 1860's.
I live in Oregon and walking near/on a windy beach and/or walking on Hwy. 101 is not in the least bit appealing to me. 😶
 
I've read about the Oregon Coast Trail but, no...
I mean the 2,170 mile Oregon Trail route the pioneers in covered wagons traveled from East to West (United States) in the 1860's.
I live in Oregon and walking near/on a windy beach and/or walking on Hwy. 101 is not in the least bit appealing to me. 😶
I see that you're in Roseburg - I'm in Medford, we'll have to get together when it's safe!
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
I have biked a few lovely sections of the Katy Trail in Missouri, which runs along the Missouri river. It can be set up walking on a day to day basis, staying at guest houses and BB's along the way...and has nearby Amtrak train service going both ways one end of the state to the other. I am considering this for a couple of weeks in the spring if my intended camino keeps getting postponed.
 
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The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
😀You're nearly my next door neighbor! Bet you're a regular at the REI store.😉
Absolutely! I've been missing it the last 9 months.
I'm one of the chapter coordinators for the Southern Oregon Chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino. I know that it's a bit far for you to travel, but when our meetings start up again I can let you know. I hope that we will be able to have a St James Day get together in July next year - it will be on a Sunday, so we may do an afternoon event.
 
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
Joyce, I don't know how far you are interested in traveling to get to a trail. I see your a West Coaster. The KATY (Clinton, MO to near St. Louis, MO 237 miles) has been mentioned already. I've biked some rail trails but not hiked them. If you're not familiar with rail trails, they are very easy walking as they were built on abandoned railroad beds which were limited to no more than a 3% grade.

I biked the entire KATY (very flat) a few years ago on my own, my "backpack" being panniers on my bike. I found places to stay: AirB&B, hotels, B&Bs, etc. Prior to that a group of us biked the GAP/C&O (300+ miles combined) from near Pittsburgh to near Washington, DC using an outfitter who transported our packs and arranged meals and lodging. I live close to the D&L (165 miles) in eastern PA, so have biked portions of that many times.

After saying all that, you can find lodging on those trails if you're traveling a biker's distance of 30-50 miles per day. It may be more difficult if you're walking. As on the CF, small towns along the trails provide some support, but distances might be long between them for hikers. And support is not as extensive as in Spain. Some of the places I stayed at were a few miles from the trails. Others were right on them. You'll probably want to do some research before you tackle any of them on foot.

If you're looking for something really challenging for hiking, you can always try the Appalachian Trail. I live near that, too, but have never tried hiking it. You'd almost certainly have to pack on your back everything you need. From what I understand, some places you can go a couple of days between support locations.

Whatever you decide, I wish you well.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
Thanks so very much for the many suggestions from everyone! You all have given me a needed boost out of my Camino doldrums and hours upon hours of investigative happiness.😊
 
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
The C&O Canal Towpath is 185 miles from Cumberland, MD to Georgetown in D.C. There are camp sites along the way and multiple lock houses you can rent. My husband and I did it this summer since we couldn't go to Europe. Because we live close by , we rented a camper for 2 weeks for the western portion.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

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Re: California Missions Trail
If you contact their association they will have a list of members who live near many of the missions and many times they will open their doors to other members of the association who are walking the trail. This could assist in cutting down the expenditures. Just a thought........
 
Could be expensive but Google Vermont inn to inn with either hiking or biking. I just saw something this morning that Vermont had the lowest covid test positivity rate in the lower 48.
My sister and I did a hiking trip with Vermont Inn to Inn, with perfect timing for fall colours in 2019. It was expensive but wonderful, great meals were included, lovely inns. Nothing like a pilgrim experience but it was a great trip! We got there by train.
 
Forgive my ignorance as I've not been to the U.S. but I've often wondered why people travel half way around the world to walk in Spain, particularly if they are not doing it for religious reasons.
Luckily I live in the U.K. where there is a huge network of footpaths that connect everywhere, as well as as a lot of minor roads with little traffic. As well a huge network of religious sites or other places of interest that can be connected to create a self made walk.
If there is not a footpath network, that doesn't involve wilderness backpacking, is it not possible to use minor back roads to create a trail, linking small towns, where you could use hostels, hotels and B&Bs and not need to pack food or camping gear?
I did find this link below one time, when I was curious about pilgrimage routes in other countries. Not sure if they involve too much backpacking or not.

North American Pilgrimage Routes
 
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Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Forgive my ignorance as I've not been to the U.S. but I've often wondered why people travel half way around the world to walk in Spain, particularly if they are not doing it for religious reasons.
Firstly for me, walking at home doesn't give me the connection to other people the way that the Camino does.
And here in the US long distance walks generally means backpacking, sleeping in a tent, carrying all of your own food, no hot showers, etc.
Or, in order to walk long distances and avoid camping it is very expensive. It costs me less to fly to Spain and spend 5-6 weeks on the Camino vs driving to my neighboring state of California to walk the Mission trail for a couple of weeks!
 
Or, in order to walk long distances and avoid camping it is very expensive.
I agree with everything you say, @trecile, but to be clear to those not from our county, on the majority of our long distance trails it would still be nearly impossible to avoid camping. Possibly if/when a trail might merge with, or be near a road, a person could hitch hike to a next town, but even so, carrying all the camping gear and many meals would be a necessity for the most of a long distance hike. My son has hiked 1000 miles of the AT, the whole of the John Muir trail and the Colorado trail.
I myself park a car somewhere along a beautiful trail and only do day hiking...plus I have a bear phobia anyway.😅
 
Firstly for me, walking at home doesn't give me the connection to other people the way that the Camino does.
And here in the US long distance walks generally means backpacking, sleeping in a tent, carrying all of your own food, no hot showers, etc.
Or, in order to walk long distances and avoid camping it is very expensive. It costs me less to fly to Spain and spend 5-6 weeks on the Camino vs driving to my neighboring state of California to walk the Mission trail for a couple of weeks!

Firstly for me, walking at home doesn't give me the connection to other people the way that the Camino does.
And here in the US long distance walks generally means backpacking, sleeping in a tent, carrying all of your own food, no hot showers, etc.
Or, in order to walk long distances and avoid camping it is very expensive. It costs me less to fly to Spain and spend 5-6 weeks on the Camino vs driving to my neighboring state of California to walk the Mission trail for a couple of weeks!
Exactly! 😊
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Firstly for me, walking at home doesn't give me the connection to other people the way that the Camino does.
And here in the US long distance walks generally means backpacking, sleeping in a tent, carrying all of your own food, no hot showers, etc.
Yes I realise that there would not be the same connection, like there is in Spain, with everyone heading towards the same goal. Even here in the U.K. there is not the same connection, even on popular routes. Leaving that aside as well as the cost, as that too would cost a lot in the U.K. I was just wondering if would it be possible in some states to walk between places on quiet back roads, obviously some states there might be too great a distance between communities as there is in the highlands of Scotland compared to the rest of the country. The East Coast Greenway looks like it could be done without camping.
 
I have searched long, and the closest Camino like experience that I have found is in Canada. Close, yet so far. https://theislandwalk.ca/
I'm interested in that one, but my guess is that it will be very costly (the airfare to get there is was much as to Spain) as the accommodations are all hotels and B&B's and we have no comparable businesses to the cafe/tavernas of Iberia (or the rest of Europe for that matter).
 
I was just wondering if would it be possible in some states to walk between places on quiet back roads
The Bay Circuit Trail and Greenway or Bay Circuit is a Massachusetts recreational trail and greenway connecting the outlying suburbs of Boston from Plum Island in Newburyport to Kingston Bay in Duxbury, a distance of 200 miles (320 km).

Official site
Wikipedia
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I'm interested in that one, but my guess is that it will be very costly (the airfare to get there is was much as to Spain) as the accommodations are all hotels and B&B's and we have no comparable businesses to the cafe/tavernas of Iberia (or the rest of Europe for that matter).
I've seen just a bit of this lovely coastline on a family cruise a few years ago. My #1 son and his wife plan to go back and navigate the entire route by vehicle if we from the US are not allowed to travel internationally by summer.
 
I've been desperately searching around for some sort of Camino-like experience in my own country (U.S.) in case Covid still has the world closed down.
Problem is, every long distance trek here involves packing along food & cooking gear, along with everything else you'd need for a month or longer.
We don't seem to have the hostel/albergue infrastructure that I want/need.
Anyone have ideas?
Have any of you backpacked The Oregon Trail?
Too right! I am in mid-Missouri and my local 240 mile long Katy Trail biking/hiking railway conversion trails over-complicates sourcing food and lodging options if the hiker/biker is without a car (or several) or off-season. Water and toilets close down during the winter. "Pilgrim connection"? Highly unlikely; pannier-laden bikers don't slow down; hikers are overwhelmingly, as myself, local and into their iPods. Yes, there are long distance trails in USA but I personally feel the n"unique-Camino-something" is actually to be found only ON the Camino.

In my casual PCT and AT perusals, Brits and Germans are particularly abundant and eager to strap on weight and accoutrements for thousands of walking miles from one end of USA to t'other. And I look at the options for train, bus or cheap air fare from UK and Europe to Roncesvalles, SJPLP, even Seville, and from Lisbon northward and think "Criminal! I'd be there twice a year!"

Interesting that we want what they got and they want what we got!
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
The East Coast Greenway looks like it could be done without camping.
There are many greenways/trails like this in the planning process. The one referred above is, according the website, 33% complete. It takes many years to complete these, and the process is tedious getting land acquisition through construction of the trails. And after all of this, the infrastructure of inns etc. comes.

I've been familiar with a couple of these. And they are more doable for biking unless one wants to backpack with tent, means for cooking, etc.

A friend with whom I walked part of the Camino Frances and I looked into maybe doing the Katy Trail (previously referenced), the Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Trail, or the Erie Canal Trail in upstate NY. We wanted to do it on foot where we didn't have to backpack. There often was quite a distance between towns and even if we could find lodging each night, it would have been quite expensive. Biking would have been the way to go.

As far as back roads go, they often do not have shoulders or other safety measures, not to mention walking distances between towns.

We have a long way to go in the US before we get systems of trails in place.
 
We have a long way to go in the US before we get systems of trails in place.

The biggest problem in the US, especially in the west is the distances between towns.
My state of Oregon is 2% larger in size than the UK, but has about 62 million fewer people!

 
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One of my friends designed an 80 mile local "Camino" that we walked this fall. We would get dropped off at our starting point each day, or park our vehicles at the start and end points. We walked 10 miles a day and then went to our respective homes each evening. We carried small day packs with our lunch. Each day ended up having it's own characteristics even though they were all contiguous: one along the Mississippi River, one through rolling farmland, one along a feeder canal, all on country roads, stops at local churches, friendly farm dogs, Indian mounds, bike paths. It was fascinating to explore the area around our hometown in depth and slowly. I missed a couple of days due to injury but went back later to walk some of the sections I had missed.
 
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A geographer I met at a dinner in Ottawa told me that walking town-to-town would in much of Canada would have been possible until about 1930. Until then, villages with their post offices were usually spaced about 10 miles (16km apart), and rooms were often available above the bar (unless it was a dry area). After that, farmers and villagers had cars and became accustomed to 30-mile drives into country towns to do their business. Eventually banks, then shops, closed and were followed by the 1950s by post offices and churches. Driving through rural Ontario with an old road map, there are dozens of ghost villages where now one might see a house or two at the crossroads, and often cemeteries behind former or demolished churches. This is beginning to be the situation in parts of rural France (I noticed this on the chemin from Mont Saint Michel heading south-- it was fine in Brittany, but dormitory villages were more common that not.

Now one is only likely to find these villages in areas with tourism or cottages. The Rideau trail from Ottawa to Kingston has two stages without accommodation. The Chemin de Sanctuaires and the Chemin de l'Outouais require either vehicle support or billets from local volunteers. The Chemin de Navigateurs does have lots of local accommodation, and I think that the Erie Canal Trail did when I last looked about 5 ykears ago but in both cases the B&B situation was pricey ($80-$150) or, at any rate, pricier than France and Spain..
 
Perhaps other options can be incorporated such as B&B's, couch surfing and inexpensive motels?

Not coming to mind at the moment as to the title but a few years ago, a movie came out with two old actors who took on the Appalachian Trail. They ducked out of Trail Life when they needed to, ensuring their needs and sanity were maintained. I think the one guy was Robert Redford.
 
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Perhaps other options can be incorporated such as B&B's, couch surfing and inexpensive motels?

Not coming to mind at the moment as to the title but a few years ago, a movie came out with two old actors who took on the Appalachian Trail. They ducked out of Trail Life when they needed to, ensuring their needs and sanity were maintained. I think the one guy was Robert Redford.
Robert Redford and Nick Nolte, a movie made from Bill Bryson's book "A Walk in the Woods"...very humorous!
 
I have biked a few lovely sections of the Katy Trail in Missouri, which runs along the Missouri river. It can be set up walking on a day to day basis, staying at guest houses and BB's along the way...and has nearby Amtrak train service going both ways one end of the state to the other. I am considering this for a couple of weeks in the spring if my intended camino keeps getting postponed.
Let me know if you decide to do this, maybe we could get a group!
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
A nice thought. If true, the idea for the movie came long before it was filmed and released in 2015, as Newman died in 2008.
From the Wikipedia article:
The project dates back to at least 2005, when Robert Redford first announced his plans to make the film. ...

Redford initially wanted Paul Newman to costar in the film with him, to the point where Redford temporarily abandoned the project after Newman's death, unable to picture any other actor suitable for the role. However, while directing The Company You Keep, Redford was so impressed by the performance of Nick Nolte that he was eventually cast in the role.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Here's a link with some interesting ideas:
I've been a member for a short while and I'm actively planning some outings to brighten my winters in Florida, not that they are bleak by any accounts.
Cheers,
JM
Hey, bro if you find something let me know. I am up for a Florida hike even if it is slow the neuropathy in my right foot is becoming a liability to me but I still think I can hike. Happy Holidays.
 
I am up for a Florida hike
A Wikipedia says:
The Florida Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. It currently runs 1,000 miles (1,600 km), with 300 miles (480 km) planned, from Big Cypress National Preserve (between Miami and Naples, Florida along the Tamiami Trail) to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Beach. Also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail (which applies only to its federally certified segments), the Florida Trail provides permanent non-motorized recreation opportunity for hiking and other compatible activities and is within an hour of most Floridians.

But later it says:
Hazards: Severe weather, alligators, venomous snakes, bears

 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Hey, bro if you find something let me know. I am up for a Florida hike even if it is slow the neuropathy in my right foot is becoming a liability to me but I still think I can hike. Happy Holidays.
Happy holidays to you.
I'll keep you in mind if something comes up.
Cheers.
JM
 
Forgive my ignorance as I've not been to the U.S. but I've often wondered why people travel half way around the world to walk in Spain, particularly if they are not doing it for religious reasons.
Luckily I live in the U.K. where there is a huge network of footpaths that connect everywhere, as well as as a lot of minor roads with little traffic. As well a huge network of religious sites or other places of interest that can be connected to create a self made walk.
If there is not a footpath network, that doesn't involve wilderness backpacking, is it not possible to use minor back roads to create a trail, linking small towns, where you could use hostels, hotels and B&Bs and not need to pack food or camping gear?
I did find this link below one time, when I was curious about pilgrimage routes in other countries. Not sure if they involve too much backpacking or not.

North American Pilgrimage Routes
As an expat originally from London who has lived on the west coast of Canada for 17 years...I believe that when I did ive in Europe I took the history for granted and largely like mosts Brits, Spain = mass tourism playas. I guess the beautiful landscape that is British Columbia is taken for granted in comparison to when I 1st migrated?
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
A Wikipedia says:

But later it says:

Severe weather, venomous snakes, bears and alligators are part of the beauty of Florida. I live next to a mangrove swamp that separates me from the white sandy beach of Delnor-Wiggins State Park. Trust me we have snakes and alligators just outside my door, plus rabid raccoons and enormous mosquitos. I have seen portions of this trail and it is alluring but I don't think I would do it during the summer, it is too hot.
 
I read of the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne which runs 335 miles from Kansas to St Louis. It's a camino-type pilgrimage route. They have a Credential which you can download. It begins at the shrine church in Mound City & ends at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. It sounds interesting.

I copied this from their website:

'Walking Pilgrimage in Devotion to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. Beginning at Mound City, each of the 26 stages
represents a day’s walk and offers some type of pilgrim accommodation.
The greatest distance in a single
day is 17 miles, with one day 19 miles if there in seasons of high water. Each night there is at least a church or community hall for
accommodation, and in some cases, hotels and/or bed-and-breakfasts are additionally available.
For pilgrims who don’t have 26 days available and would be interested in a shorter pilgrimage, the trail can be joined at any point, with two
place – Sedalia and Jefferson CIty – served by an Amtrak line connecting St Louis and Kansas City.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
I read of the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne which runs 335 miles from Kansas to St Louis. It's a camino-type pilgrimage route. They have a Credential which you can download. It begins at the shrine church in Mound City & ends at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. It sounds interesting.
For those interested I found this website

And this
 
I read of the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne which runs 335 miles from Kansas to St Louis. It's a camino-type pilgrimage route. They have a Credential which you can download. It begins at the shrine church in Mound City & ends at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. It sounds interesting.

I copied this from their website:

'Walking Pilgrimage in Devotion to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. Beginning at Mound City, each of the 26 stages
represents a day’s walk and offers some type of pilgrim accommodation.
The greatest distance in a single
day is 17 miles, with one day 19 miles if there in seasons of high water. Each night there is at least a church or community hall for
accommodation, and in some cases, hotels and/or bed-and-breakfasts are additionally available.
For pilgrims who don’t have 26 days available and would be interested in a shorter pilgrimage, the trail can be joined at any point, with two
place – Sedalia and Jefferson CIty – served by an Amtrak line connecting St Louis and Kansas City.
This runs mostly along the Katy Trail, which others have mentioned. I’d loved to do it!
 
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I was just now online mapping it (Katy) out. The photos on Google images are amazing.
I biked a stretch of the Katy Trail a few years ago, from St. Charles, MO, going west as far as Herman. It was in the fall, perfect weather, fall color, with the river on one side, limestone bluffs on the other on this eastern stretch.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Or there is the California Mission Walk

Here is my take on the route from the Basilica de San Diego Alcala to Mission de Sant Gabriel Arcangel on the north side of Los Angeles. For the first seven days or so.

Because of the mainly suburban stretches between these two, and the need to traverse Camp Pendleton for well over 20 km, I would expect to take a train (about 5 services a day) for each section to San Juan Capistrano. And probably also on to Irvine Station.

Then to transfer to the trail as it begins to wend beside waterways on the 100 km plus section to Mission Sant Gabriel Arcangel

There is about 750 km remaining to be marked up to the final mission station north of San Francisco. This part looks to be "cleaner" to define for walkers, even though there may be quite a few km between coffee stops in some parts.
 
How about the Empire State Trail in late April? Maybe the Erie Canalway Trail?

If anyone is familiar with any of this I would love to hear.

 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (2,164 miles/5 months 4 day). My pack included a light one man tent (I may have used three times), 2.5 lbs of food per day (estimate 5 days between buying more)by day 30, I cut that down to 1.5 lbs, whisper lite camp stove (only used for supper), limited toiletries, two pair of shorts, wind breaker, three pair of socks, lifesaver, long sleeve fleece, flip flops, field first aid kit, micro-fiber towel, 40 degree sleeping bag, three poly-pro t-shirts, cap and sunglasses. Much the same as in the Camino sans food and cooking gear. I slept in the shelters on the trail, lodges/hostels/hotels about every five days.
Except for the first two weeks leaving Georgia, weekend trailheads and the last week in Maine, I walked mostly alone.
You find the faint of heart don't last that long.
 
Amazing!

That may be a bit out of the scope of what I will do on my trip across the US in March/April.

the Erie canal walk might be a bit too much cement and bikes.
 
My pack included ... 2.5 lbs of food per day (estimate 5 days between buying more). By day 30, I cut that down to 1.5 lbs,

@Arn, would you please (private conversation if you prefer) what was in your 1.5 lb per day. And what difficulties you had on restocking or changing.

Another way for me to understand is what you ate for a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner?
 
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@Arn, would you please (private conversation if you prefer) what was in your 1.5 lb per day. And what difficulties you had on restocking or changing.

Another way for me to understand is what you ate for a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner?
Ok, as I mentioned before, I prepackaged boxes containing instant foods, trail mix, etc. These were mailed at different intervals to be collected at Post Offices along the trail. Breakfast: water, pop tart with chunky peanut butter. Lunch: power bar, Apple, orange, trail mix, etc. Supper: Stove Top Stuffing, instant potatoes, hamburger helper. Add pieces of hot dogs, or pepperoni, bratworst, hard salami and squeeze butter. The key with things like hot dogs is get a package of 12 at a trail head and eat as you go, or include in supper mix.
I didn't drink coffee or tea so water on the trail was it. When I stopped at a store i’d get a six pack of Coors light. Fellow thru-hikers knew that if they came to a swift flowing stream with no man-made crossing, they should stop, look up stream and about three to five meters they might fine an ice cold Coors. I do the same on the Camino with this modification: if it's between 11:00 and 12:00 and you come upon a bar. If I'm sitting there, the first pilgrim that approaches and says “Hi, Arn, ” I buy them a ceverza.
 
Fox River Trail in Illinois might be an option. Suburban, but mostly scenic along the river.
I have biked a few sections of this lovely trail every summer with my family and I've never thought of walking it. I suppose longer stretches could be pieced together by staying at B&B's in the towns as you go along.
 
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A couple of years ago I looked into the "Camino" that goes between the California Missions.
After doing a budget, I was surprised that this "at home" walk was about twice the cost of doing the Camino in Spain, including airfare, and so I decided against it.
That’s where the hotel points come in handy 🙂
I’ve suggested to my city council (we’re on the Camino Real) that they should look to developing infrastructure especially with the cities to our north and south as a way to augment tourism and food service industry business…
 
I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (2,164 miles/5 months 4 day). My pack included a light one man tent (I may have used three times), 2.5 lbs of food per day (estimate 5 days between buying more)by day 30, I cut that down to 1.5 lbs, whisper lite camp stove (only used for supper), limited toiletries, two pair of shorts, wind breaker, three pair of socks, lifesaver, long sleeve fleece, flip flops, field first aid kit, micro-fiber towel, 40 degree sleeping bag, three poly-pro t-shirts, cap and sunglasses. Much the same as in the Camino sans food and cooking gear. I slept in the shelters on the trail, lodges/hostels/hotels about every five days.
Except for the first two weeks leaving Georgia, weekend trailheads and the last week in Maine, I walked mostly alone.
You find the faint of heart don't last that long.
Yeah, there’s a reason I did survival training in February. I don’t sleep if bears are about (perhaps due to reading about bears eating campers when I was young)—although lions in our camp in Africa wasn’t too bad.
yep, in my mind only bears and axe murderers on the AT
 
I have biked a few sections of this lovely trail every summer with my family and I've never thought of walking it. I suppose longer stretches could be pieced together by staying at B&B's in the towns as you go along.
That was exactly my thought when I was there sketching today.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I have biked a few sections of this lovely trail every summer with my family and I've never thought of walking it. I suppose longer stretches could be pieced together by staying at B&B's in the towns as you go along.
Privately owned mini-albergues help but you need a very friendly hospitalero/hospitalera to put you up and give shuttle service.
2021-TAB-Options-Graphics-shadow-classic_75c85551.jpg
 
Here's a link with some interesting ideas:
Thanks so much for posting this - it really is fantastic.

Joyce, did you see that you can sort by distance? There are 8 that are "local" to me (Portland) that are over 10 miles... though it doesn't list Forest Park's Wildwood Trail (30 miles). And there are three trails near you... and many more if you're willing to drive a little.

Great thread, you all! I think often of walking the Oregon Coast Trail but there's almost no hostelling infrastructure. Portland luminary Anne Hughes (may she rest in peace) walked from San Francisco to Yachats, and I think about that all the time (and wondered how she afforded it).
 

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An article in the weekend edition of the Irish Times. I hope it can be accessed. If not, just follow the website above. Go n-éirí an bóthar leat, Credit for Gaelic version, @wayfarer...

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