Sacred Sites
A pilgrimage from Mission San Rafael Arcángel to Mission Dolores in San Francisco, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and the historic mission trails of California.
Sacred Sites
The sacred sites along the Camino de San Francisco invite pilgrims to step into the humble and grace-filled spirituality of St. Francis. These places—missions, chapels, quiet groves, and small shrines—are woven into the natural landscape and into the history of the Church in this region.
As you walk, each site becomes a moment of encounter: a chance to pause, breathe, and allow God’s presence to reveal itself in simplicity. Here, prayer rises from the earth itself; silence becomes a companion; and every stone, tree, and doorway whispers a story of faith handed down through generations.
In the spirit of St. Francis, these holy places call you to open your heart with gratitude, to see creation as a brother and sister, and to recognize that God’s love is not bound to buildings alone but lives in every corner of the journey. Visiting these sacred sites is not merely an act of sightseeing—it is a pilgrimage of the soul, inviting you to walk gently, listen deeply, and be renewed by the quiet beauty of God’s presence.
Each sacred site along the camino invites you to slow down, open your heart, and discover God’s presence woven into the land.”
Mission San Rafael
San Rafael Originally built as a hospital mission in 1817 by Father Vicente Francisco de Sarría, the parish church was built in 1919. A replica chapel was built in 1949 to replace the mission church which had been removed in 1870.
St. Sebastian-Greenbrae
Established in 1951 to serve the growing Marin County community, the church building opened in 1955 and features notable stained glass windows created in 1958 by Carl Huneke.
St Patrick - Larkspur
Established in 1915, and named after the co-patron of San Francisco, the parish has served the Marin Catholic community for over a century. The church continues to be a place of prayer, reflection, and hospitality for parishioners and pilgrims alike.
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge – opened in 1937. The year before, secretary of state of His Holiness Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII) made a brief visit to the bridge. Also of note is that in 2024 it was the starting point for the “St. Junípero Serra Route” of a cross-country pilgrimage to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone led a procession carrying the Eucharist across the bridge. Thousands of people joined the walk, making it a historic moment for the local and national Catholic community.
Crissy Field
On September 17, 1987, Saint John Paul II arrived by Marine helicopter at the old airfield of the Presidio. He was greeted by Archbishop John Raphael Quinn and Mayor Diane Feinstein. The Army decommissioned the Presidio in 1994, transferring it to the U.S. National Parks. From here he wen to the Golden Gate Bridge for a brief visit.
Presidio Main Post Chapel
Built in Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in 1931 by the U.S. Army, the chapel is built on the site where the first Catholic Mass in the area was held. Father Francisco Palóu, OFM presided on September 17, 1776 (see plaque on the western side of the building). In front of the nearby Officers’ Club is an interpretive landscape representing the subsurface foundations of the 1780 chapel and sacristy.
Saints Peter and Paul Church
Built in 1924, Saints Peter and Paul church was founded by the Salesians to serve the Italian immigrant community of North Beach. The church has been featured in a number of Hollywood movies, and was where Joe DiMaggio and Dorothy Arnold were married in 1939. His funeral Mass in 1999 was also held here.
National Shrine of St. Francis
Originally constructed in 1860, and interior was reconstructed after the 1906 earthquake. Pilgrims can visit a scale replica of the Porziuncola Chapel, one of the chapels restored by St. Francis. In 1999, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (future Pope Benedict XVI) visited the Shrine with Archbishop William Levada.
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption
Completed in 1971, St. Mary’s is the third church to serve as the Cathedral of San Francisco. In 1987, Saint John Paul II visited with Catholic and the following day representatives of the Catholic Lay People of America during his papal trip to San Francisco.
Mission San Francisco de Asís
Also known as Mission Dolores (because of a nearby creek), was consecrated in 1776 and completed in 1791, making it the oldest intact mission and structure in San Francisco. The basilica features Ohlone Indian ceiling designs and was visited by Saint John Paul II in 1987.
The Route
Rooted in California’s mission history, this 24.5-mile route follows the path connecting Mission San Rafael Arcángel and Mission Dolores in San Francisco. As you walk, you enter a living tradition of pilgrimage—one where nature, history, and prayer come together to shape a meaningful encounter with God.
Section 1
Mission San Rafael to Manzanita (approx. 9.2 miles)
Section 2
St. Patrick Larkspur to Manzanita (approx. 7.6 miles)
Section 3
Manzanita to Golden Gate Bridge (approx. 6.0 miles)
Section 4
Golden Gate Bridge to Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) via National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi and The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (approx. 8.5 miles)
Spiritual Exercises for the Path
Pilgrimage is an invitation to encounter: with God, with others, and with creation. Every conversation, landscape, and moment of stillness can become a meeting place of grace. St. Francis himself discovered God’s presence in all things—in people, in the poor, and in the beauty of the natural world. Pilgrims are encouraged to take time to meet and converse with people along the way, taking time for silence by limiting use of technology along the way, and taking to the stop to reflect
Recommended Reading:
- The Road to Emmaus– Luke 24:13–35
- Faith is a Journey, Meditations for Pilgrims and Wayfarers – Pope Francis
- Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction – Ian Reader
- Pilgrimage: In Search of the Real California Missions – Christian Clifford
- Francis of Assisi: A New Biography – Augustine Thompson, O.P.
- The Mission Walker – Edie Littlefield Sundby
- California Mission Walk: The Hiker’s Guide to California’s 21 Spanish Missions Along El Camino Real – the California Mission Walkers