California Missions

Take a walk through California history with the South Bay Striders' California Missions Program.


    SantaCruzMission (67K)

Walk over, under, around or through 15 of the 21 California Missions (on sanctioned Year Round Events [YREs] or Event Walks, of course) and receive a beautiful patch and certificate - along with some great history lessons!

Sign up for the program at any SBS-sponsored event, or by mailing a self-addressed, stamped envelope with a check for $15 made out to South Bay Striders to:

        Mission Possible
        15680 Alum Rock Avenue
        San Jose CA 95127

You will have 5 years to complete your book of 15 missions. As part of the program, you will be the first to receive information on new YRE or Event Walks that include a Mission. Be sure to include your email address with your check.

We will also update this site with newly added walks, so check back often.

In addition to this being a great program for individual walkers, it provides a way for clubs to learn more about the history of their community. We encourage all clubs in California to sanction a walk that includes the California Mission in their area.

These YREs currently include a California Mission:

Sonoma (Mission San Francisco de Solano, 1823)
Carmel (Mission San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo, 1770)
San Luis Obispo (Mission San Luis Obispo, 1772)
Solvang (Mission Santa Inés, 1804)
Lompoc (Mission La Purisima, 1787)
Ventura (Mission San Buenaventura, 1782)
San Juan Capistrano (Mission San Juan Capistrano, 1776)

Check The Compass and the California Club page of the AVA website for walk information.

South Bay Striders' next event, August 2 - 3 in Fremont, will feature Mission San Jose (1797), which is actually located in Fremont.

In 2009, northern California clubs will be sponsoring events that include:

Mission San Rafael (1817)
Mission Santa Clara (1777)
Mission San Juan Bautista (1797)
Mission Dolores (San Francisco,1776)