El Camino Real Award Hike for Cub Scouts from Mission San Luis Rey to Guajome Pk

Overview: El Camino Real Award Hike for Cub Scouts from San Luis Rey de Francia to Guajome is about 5.4 miles long and located near Oceanside, California.

The purpose of the El Camino Real Award is to encourage Scouts and Scouters to learn about the history of the California Mission System and the way of life of our earlier settlers.

One of the requirements for Cub Scouts and Cub Scout Leaders to earn this award is to hike 5 miles along the El Camino Real or a designated route known to have been used by the early Padres or a similar trail in the California backcountry.

This route is proposed as a designated route that would have been used by the mission to travel between Mission San Luis Rey de Francia and Pala, one of its six historic ranches.

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was one of the last of the California Missions to be built and it filled a key gap between San Diego de Alcala and San Juan Capistrano. However the El Camino Real in this area probably lies underneath the highway that bears its name to the south and to the north it lies inaccessible because of the presence of Camp Pendleton.

The San Luis Rey Trail serves as a good alternative because of the natural state of the San Luis Rey river and the abundance of wildlife to be found. In addition this route includes the recovered cisterns for the mission, Heritage Park in Oceanside.  At the Guajome terminus, Guajome Park offers camping and an exhibit of plants used by Native Americans. The nearby Rancho Guajome Adobe and Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum also provide a glimpse into California's rich history.

Tips: Bathrooms can be found along the route at Heritage Park and Mance Buchanon Park.

Ice Cream can sometimes be purchased at Heritage Park, but for cash only.

One of the cross streets before you reach the San Luis Rey River Trail is Via Los Padres, another name for El Camino Real.

The Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum is familiar to Cub Scouts in the Santa Margarita District. It is the site of summer day camps and Scouter training. Some units even camp here.