Camino del Norte to Chimayó: How does the Pilgrimage Work?

Camino del Norte to Chimayó

An effort was made in the summer of 2012 to create a pilgrim route to the Santuario de Chimayó in northern New Mexico beginning in Denver, Colorado. Chimayó is a popular pilgrim destination in the US with tens of thousands of pilgrims making the pilgrimage by foot every year, particularly during Holy Week. For information about this destination, follow the links in the side panel.

A series of three existing routes were used to lead pilgrims between Denver and Chimayó: first, a miner’s route connecting Denver with the silver mining area of Cripple Creek; second, the Ute Indian migration path between the Front Range and the San Luis Valley that was also used by Zebulon Pike during his early exploration of the region following the Louisiana Purchase; finally, the upper reaches of the Rio Grande river used by the Franciscan Missionaries during the time of the Spanish Colonials. Most of the route is made up of graded forest roads, with the remainder on paved country roads. The route would be suitable for foot, off-road wheelchair and mountain bike.

Unlike the caminos in Spain, no network of pilgrim houses exists appropriately spaced to facilitate the pilgrimage. The feasibility of a pilgrim house system in Colorado and northern New Mexico was tested in the pioneer effort. The route originates in Denver, crosses the mountains between Monument and Woodland Park, again at Cripple Creek to Canon City, and into the San Luis Valley at Pass Creek Pass. Although the route passes through some villages and towns, shade and water stations were set up to support pilgrims with refreshments.

The pioneer pilgrims who made the pilgrimage along this Camino del Norte a Chimayo varied widely in background and level of experience. The success of the journey was overwhelming. It was a challenge for most, far beyond any effort they had previously attempted. There was general consensus that the most difficult part was that the distances were beyond the comfort level of most. The spacing of towns cannot be changed, so it is what it is. Perhaps in the future, interim stations would be established to make the stages a bit shorter though it would extend the number of days of the pilgrimage.

Advice to others interested in making the pilgrimage reasonably includes being well prepared both physically - to be able to walk 20 miles without getting blisters - and mentally - to be able to spend hours on end alone and unattached to electronic devices. The scenery, history and culture that the camino passes through is remarkable. The camino is real.

Anyone interested in making this pilgrimage is encouraged to contact the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at 303 477 1402 or the Santuario de Chimayo at 505 351 9961. Alternatively, an email inquiry can be sent through the link above.

A pilgrimage is a journey to a specific destination, generally one of historical or religious importance. The journey is the more important element rather than the destination on its own but the desire to get to the destination is the impulse of the journey. To visit Chimayó, drive or take a bus tour; to make a pilgrimage to Chimayó, walk (or ride a bicycle or horse...) to experience every moment of the journey with full and focused awareness. Every pilgrim with gain something different from the experience and no one can be told ahead of time what the experience will be like for him or her.

The way the Camino to Chimayó is being organized in the 2012 pilgrim season is standard for all pilgrims

Pilgrims - alone, as couples or small groups of individuals, as organized parish, scout, youth or other types of groups, etc. -

begin at a pilgrim house,
receive a stamp in their pilgrim credentials,
get a map and guidance for the route to the next pilgrim house, including the locations of the shade stations
walk to the next pilgrim house following the map and markers
shower
wash clothes
eat dinner
socialize with other pilgrims
sleep
wake, eat breakfast
get a map and guidance for the route to the next pilgrim house

This is the general process. Ideally, perhaps someday, a guidebook will be available to enable pilgrims to visualize the path ahead of time. This is the beginning, though, and the route needs to be tested one segment at a time. The pilgrim house operators will know the route for the day to come and know what the particular hazards are, where to get water, where the shade stations are, where the route turns, etc. No worries. Someone in the first group will likely collect GPS waypoints for the use of GPSers following.

Each pilgrim house will be different and reflect the community that supports it. The specifications given to each community are that they provide pilgrims with hot water to shower and wash clothes, dinner, a place to sleep, and breakfast. Pilgrim house operators will stamp the pilgrim credentials and verify that the person is really a pilgrim going to or towards Chimayó. Pilgrim credentials will be provided at the initial pilgrim house a pilgrim or group of pilgrims has preregistered for.

In addition to the pilgrim credential, pilgrims are required to bring their own sheet and blanket or sleeping bag, towel, personal toiletries, and clothing. Another page covers the recommended packlist, but pilgrims should not have to carry more than 8 to 10 pounds in summer. Pilgrims are responsible for their transportation to the first pilgrim house and from Chimayó.

Example: say three buddies decide to make a pilgrimage for 10 days to Chimayó, they will register ahead of time, stating that they will begin in Westcliffe on an available date. The pilgrim house at Westcliffe will be expecting them and they gather there the night before they begin to walk and be given their pilgrim credentials and first stamp, dated by the pilgrim house volunteers. In the morning, they'll be given breakfast and a map, guidance, and briefing for how to get to the next pilgrim house. They walk, and can rest and replenish their water supplies at the intermediary shade stations. When they arrive at the pilgrim house in late afternoon, they will receive a stamp in the credentials and can take showers, change into their 'evening clothes', wash their walking clothes and hang them to dry overnight, eat dinner, relax, care for their feet, sleep, get up and repeat the cycle until they reach Chimayó.

Some pilgrim houses might have additional amenities such as electricity and wifi access, but others might be too remote. Mobile phone reception may not always be available.

Camino del Norte to Chimayó

How does the Pilgrimage Work?

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