Register here for this 90-minute free webinar July 18, 2026.
“Not all of us can make the trip to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. Local pilgrimages are a fantastic alternative! A route close to home but away from our daily concerns is an opportunity to experience the physical challenges of walking, the joys of community, spiritual growth, and our relationship with God’s creation.”
Rob Fennel author of Camino Close to Home: How to Plan and Thrive on Local Pilgrimages
In the Middle Ages, pilgrims walked from their home doorstep. Some Europeans still do and can walk many months before arrival in Santiago de Compostela. But that’s impossible for North Americans. Or is it? What ARE the opportunities to walk a Camino ‘like’ experience closer to home? This month, we will hear stories of people who have done just that and what they experienced along the way. Examples of ‘pilgrimages closer to home’ include:
Phil Volker, featured in the documentary, Phil’s Camino, created a path around his property and tracked his mileage when he was diagnosed with cancer and unable to travel to Spain to fulfill his dream. His story and his spirit have inspired so many.
Each year during Holy Week, walkers make the pilgrimage to Chimayó in New Mexico inspired by the origin stories of the site and healings that have occurred there.
“ ‘The Wisconsin Way’ is a pilgrimage route . . . which highlights shrines, monasteries and European-style churches situated in dramatic galatical landscapes of farmlands, forests and lakes is an unforgettable alternative route to walking European pilgrimage routes.” – Amazon
Have you heard of the Camino Nova Scotia or the Camino de Costa Rica?
Participants in our Camino Wisdom Stories community have mentioned treks among the San Antonio missions, the Camino de Sonoma, the Katy Trail in Missouri.
This is not just an informational or promotional session. We invite participants to share stories about their time on these or other ‘Caminos’ and what it was like to do a Camino ‘Closer to Home.”
NEXT STEPS:
Register here for this 90-minute free webinar on Saturday, July 18th 2026.
TIMES: San Francisco 11am, Denver Noon, Chicago 1pm, New York/Toronto 2pm, London 7pm, S.D. Compostela 8pm, Sydney 4am (Sun), Wellington 6am (Sun)