California Mission Trail

The first stage of El Camino Real, the road the Spanish missions were strung along: from Mission San Diego de Alcalá, founded 1769 and the oldest of the twenty-one, north to Mission San Luis Rey at Oceanside. The missions were set roughly a day's travel apart, and this is what one of those days looks like on the ground. [Route details] Start: Mission San Diego de Alcalá · End: Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside 75.89 km · climb 449 m [Good to know] - Much of it is urban now — the historic route runs through San Diego's northern suburbs before it reaches open coast. - The two missions at either end are both still standing and open to visitors.