For most 11-year-olds, adventure might mean mastering a tricky level in a video game or counting down the days to a weekend playdate. But for Henry—better known as “Henry the Hiker”—adventure looks a little different. This spring, it means trekking 800 kilometers across an entire country.

Henry and his mom, Carola, are setting out on the Camino Frances, a historic pilgrimage route stretching from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France all the way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It’s a bold goal for anyone, let alone a pre-teen. But for Henry, it’s a natural next step in a hiking journey that began right in his own backyard.

Henry’s love for hiking started at just seven years old during the early days of the pandemic. His family home backs onto Ontario’s Bruce Trail, and what began as an outdoor escape quickly turned into a lifelong passion.

Since then, he’s learned to read maps, follow trail markers, and truly connect with nature. His adventures have taken him all over Canada, including a memorable five-day backpacking trip through Frontenac Provincial Park. When faced with a tough decision—turn back or burn some gear to lighten their load—Henry and his mom chose to press on. Their reward? A breathtaking sunset over a secluded cove.

Henry has no shortage of hiking goals. Among them:

• Complete the entire Bruce Trail (500 km down, 400 km to go)
• Hike in every Canadian province and territory
• Explore trails around the world, starting with the Camino Frances

His dream trail? The Appalachian Trail—a 3,000 km epic from Georgia to Maine. But with that hike requiring a six-month commitment, Henry found inspiration elsewhere: The Way, a movie about the Camino de Santiago. After watching it, he was hooked.

For Henry, the Camino Frances isn’t just a physical challenge—it’s a journey of healing. After a difficult experience at school, where he was swarmed by other students, Henry has been working through anxiety. His mom hopes the trek will restore his trust in people and remind him that the world is full of kindness.

“The Camino is more than a walk,” Carola says. “It’s a path of reflection, of learning, of growth.”

Henry and Carola began their hike on April 6 and are currently in Pamplona, having completed the first major challenge: the crossing of the Pyrenees. The hike so far has been blessed with clear skies and sunshine, and the views across the mountains were, in Carola’s words, “epic indeed.” On their second night, they stayed in a monastery and were awoken in the morning by the singing of monks—an unforgettable moment of peace and wonder.

To fund the trip, Henry has been hustling—selling handmade merchandise, running bake sales, and even collaborating with an Alberta-based artist to sell clay tokens. 

They’re doing their best to document the journey, updating Henry’s Instagram and Facebook pages daily so friends, family, and fans can follow along. You can also find links to his social media and order handmade tokens on his website: www.henrythehiker.com.

Henry and Carola plan to walk up to 23 km per day, staying in Albergues—hostels built for pilgrims along the trail. Unlike their backcountry Canadian hikes, the Camino offers infrastructure, towns, and support along the way.

Henry’s hiking must-have? A bottle of ketchup. “I can’t imagine life without it,” he says. They’re also packing their favorite snacks, toiletries, water, and a single change of clothes each.

For Henry and his mom, hiking is about so much more than just putting one foot in front of the other. It’s a space for reflection, connection, and resilience.

“We have a rule,” Carola shares. “‘What’s said on the trail, stays on the trail.’ It’s where we have our most meaningful talks. Where Henry learns that when things get hard, you keep going—because no amount of complaining will bring the car any closer.”

Despite his hiking feats, Henry is still just a regular kid who loves Minecraft, VR, and YouTube. He doesn’t always feel like lacing up his boots—but once he’s on the trail, he never looks back.

He’s even sharing the experience with the world through his own YouTube channel, inviting others to follow along on his journey.

Now, he’s taking the biggest step yet.

50 days. 800 kilometres. A journey of healing, growth, and discovery.

And it all started in his very own backyard.