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.

Stage 1 Denver to Littleton

The camino is presented in 18 stages, 3 of which end without a village nearby so arrangements must be made for accommodation.  The Northern Section covers the stages from Denver to North of Canon City.


Stage 1: Denver to Littleton
14 miles   /  14 miles from Denver  /  336 miles to Chimayó

Exiting a major metropolitan area is often far from tranquil, yet the transection of Denver by the South Platte River makes the effort more pleasurable.  Both the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish church and St Mary parish church are situated quite close to the bike path that follows the river through the urban area.
The safest way to access the South Platte River Trail from the church is to walk along Kalamath Street southwest, parallel to I-25, crossing 20th Street at the traffic signals where the road, now called Central Street, continues parallel to I-25 to the 16th St pedestrian bridge over the highway.  After crossing Platte Street, the pedestrian way passes over the South Platte River Trail.  Take the stairs down to the riverside without crossing the river.  The paved trail is shared by bicyclists, skaters, and pedestrians.  Pedestrians stay to the right.  Continue south (upriver) on the South Platte River Trail for approximately 10 miles (about 4 hours).
Shortly after passing under Hampden Ave (map left), the river trail divides at the confluence with Bear Creek.  Take the left over the pedestrian bridge and continue walking south (upriver) along the South Platte River.  The paved trail is now named Mary Carter Greenway Trail.  Continue on this path for almost 4 miles (less than an hour and a half) to the juncture with the Lee Gulch path.  Take this to St Mary’s Church.

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