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Joshua Tree’s boom in popularity has created a wide array of experiences for visitors, from stargazing tours to sound baths in the middle of the desert. Consequently, animal activities have also been on the rise: horse trekking, goat hikes, glamping experiences in animal sanctuaries, and now, miniature donkey hikes!
Founded by Ashley and Matt, Mojave Mini Donkeys offers private guided hikes with their three miniature donkeys: Red Wing, Geronimo and Wolfie. Although Mojave Mini Donkeys has only been operating since August of this year, the donkeys have definitely made a lasting impression! In some of their videos on Instagram, you can see people’s joy petting them. I mean, who could resist those adorable faces?
Not only are miniature donkeys endearing and friendly creatures, they’re also known for being highly intelligent, observant and very affectionate.
As soon as I saw the miniature donkeys on Instagram, a sense of tranquility took over me. Given that miniature donkeys evoke so much peace and relaxation, imagine going on a hike with them while taking in the beautiful and unique landscape of the High Desert.
How did Ashley and Matt end up in the desert? After living in the Bay area for five years, they moved to LA in 2018.
Ashley said: “I did my PhD in Nuclear Engineering at Berkeley and went on to work at SpaceX for 5 years as a materials engineer for the rocket engine program. Matt was trained as an aeronautical engineer and worked at a start-up airline in San Francisco followed by moving into consulting for the aviation industry, which he still continues today working remotely from the desert and traveling to clients when needed.”
In June 2020, Ashley and Matt purchased a homestead in Morongo Valley. For the next two years, they drove every weekend from LA to work on the property. Ashley said: “The land itself needed a ton of cleanup to help restore it to be closer to its natural state.” In February 2023, Matt and Ashley moved to the High Desert full-time and got the donkeys later that year.
The private guided hike is $145 (fixed price) for a party of six, so even if you go by yourself, the price won’t change. The tour is two hours long and includes a meet-and-greet with the donkeys, where you’ll be able to feed them and walk with them from the homestead through a private canyon. You’ll also be provided with snacks and drinks for you and your party.
If you want to walk with the donkeys during sunrise, The Desert Sunrise Hike tour is a moderate three-mile hike. It’s $300 (fixed price) for a party of six, and the duration of this tour is three hours long.
On your next trip to Joshua Tree, you might run into Red Wing, Geronimo and Wolfie! As of lately, Ashley and Matt have been doing more pop-ups in bars around Pioneertown and Joshua Tree.
With this being said, the best way to bond with the donkeys and get acquainted with their unique personalities is by going on the private hike. I haven’t had the chance to meet them yet, but once I do, I’ll make sure to include my experience!
Here’s my interview with Ashley. Enjoy!!
Hello Ashley! What made you and Matt move to a homestead in Morongo Valley?
We had no idea we would end up here! Before living in the desert, we were city-dwellers. First in the Bay Area and then in Los Angeles for school and work. But, we both always longed to find a beautiful natural area closer to the mountains or desert to escape to and have as a home base. Morongo Valley really stood out to us as sort of an undiscovered gem – in the desert but with sweeping mountain views, close to an airport (Palm Springs), and with a real sense of community. In a few short years, we went from existing in offices and industrial parks to waking up with the sun to the sound of roosters crowing and donkeys braying, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Could you give me a breakdown of the tour? Is it a difficult hike? What type of clothing should people wear?
Our guided donkey hike is currently set out on a trail that leaves right from our property and meanders through a natural wash up, a desert canyon. It’s a moderate out-and-back hike that slopes gently uphill, and the donkeys set a relaxing pace that almost everyone finds comfortable. It’s really about taking in the scenery in the beautiful sunrise or sunset light and enjoying the enthusiasm and spirit of our little donkeys, rather than getting in a challenging workout! We accompany you on the hike and have everyone take a break at a scenic location halfway through for photos. For the time being, we’re allowing our donkeys to build up some muscle without carrying weight, but in the not so distant future, we will be introducing “pack hikes” where they can carry a picnic for you in their saddle baskets!
Your three donkeys are absolutely adorable and they emanate a very calming energy through the photos. What are some interesting facts about miniature donkeys that people may not know?
Gosh, so many things. Donkeys are kind of a forgotten animal in the US. They were once such a fundamental part of peoples’ lives throughout the expansion of the West and Gold Rush eras, but were subsequently left behind to fend for themselves when they were no longer needed.
Through taking our donkeys out to meet so many new people, we’ve discovered that most people have no idea how affectionate and tuned into our emotions they can be. Rather than having a strong flight response like horses, donkeys have more of a freeze response to new things. They really take time to contemplate and consider new things, and watching them think through things like that firsthand makes them feel so much more humanlike in their behaviors than you would expect. They’re also just incredibly affectionate, even towards people they’ve never met before. It’s always a surprise for people when Geronimo rests his head on their shoulder sweetly after meeting them 2 minutes prior!
If someone reading this is planning to visit Joshua Tree, why should they book a hiking tour with Mojave Mini Donkeys?
I would say because it’s truly something memorable and different! Yes it’s silly, it’s fun, it’s photo-worthy. But more than that, a chance to interact with animals this closely in an environment that they love, can change one’s outlook on life for the better. We’re happy to be just one piece of the growing number of animal-focused experiences offered by locals of the High Desert, from goat hiking, to tours of animal sanctuaries, to horseback riding on rescued mustangs. We recommend all of them to visitors, as they are truly authentic ways of experiencing the desert and everything its community has to offer!
You only started doing the hikes this year. How has the reaction been?
We’ve had the boys for over a year now, and have spent the better part of that time working up to this: socializing them as much as possible, training them on the halter and lead, and getting them used to going places in their trailer. But even in this short time, the reception has blown us away – we had absolutely no idea so many people would be interested in meeting and hanging out with these three little donkeys! It’s really made us excited about finding more trails we can host hikes on and more places to take them to. It’s just become a wonderful thing for everyone – people enjoy it, we enjoy it, and the donkeys sure enjoy it too!
Are there any safety tips for the hike that people should be aware of?
Of course, all the usual safety tips for hiking in the desert apply – stay hydrated, wear layers and sturdy footwear, etc. In terms of interacting with donkeys specifically, it’s always a given that animals can be unpredictable, but we pride ourselves in having raised and trained our mini donkeys to be well-socialized, accepting of new people, and easy to walk on lead, even for small children! The small size and weight of mini donkeys also makes them dramatically safer and easier to handle than larger equines. To put things in perspective, our smallest donkey, Wolfie, is about the size of a large dog! Of course, the safety of anyone hiking with us is our utmost concern, and we take every precaution necessary to make sure any experience with our donkeys is safe and enjoyable.
Could you tell me more about your partnership with Beer Burros & Brands? I see on your Instagram that you and Matt are doing pop-ups in bars around Joshua Tree and Pioneertown.
Yes! We met Heather of Beer Burros & Brands completely by chance when she came to our place to pick up some baby chicks that we raised. Heather single-handedly started a very successful small business taking her own miniature donkeys to weddings, parties, and other events as “beer burros” where they serve beverages to guests straight from their saddle baskets.
Since then, she has branched out to different locations working with other donkey owners to be able to serve more events and regions than she alone could ever manage. It’s a wonderful partnership for us between Heather’s expertise and management of our clients and web traffic, and our ability to start being booked for events across Southern California immediately!
The income from these private events is what has enabled us to spend more time bringing the boys out for fun community gatherings and pro-bono events. I have always said and still maintain now — I want the donkeys to be for everyone, and we’ve truly managed to make that happen, in no small part thanks to Heather and Beer Burros & Brands.
High Desert
What do you like about living in the High Desert?
There are so many things I could rave about. Proximity to the wilderness is a huge one – the High Desert has such an otherworldly landscape, and being within it in the right light is very creatively stimulating. I love the way the climate and dryness make it possible to have basically year-round indoor-outdoor living. This is also the first place I’ve ever lived where I feel part of a community. People love to claim outsiders are not welcomed, but we have never experienced anything remotely in that vein. I’m sure the High Desert has changed a lot over time, but it’s still a place you can escape to and live the life you want in peace.
What are your favorite places in the Joshua Tree area?
I always find myself longing to go back to Pioneertown, whether it’s for a sunrise hike in the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, a stroll down Mane Street with our mini donkeys, a good show at Pappy & Harriet’s, or a couple Palomas at Red Dog Saloon. It’s always been funny to me that the most authentic-feeling area in the High Desert is a town that was manufactured for Hollywood! Of course, it’s set in the most gorgeous boulder-strewn landscape I’ve ever seen. But beyond that, Matt pointed out recently that Pioneertown is one of the very few walkable and lively “third places” that exist out here. We feel lucky to be so close to it in Morongo.
What are your favorite restaurants, coffee shops and places?
I would literally have a Paloma and a couple of mushroom asada tacos at Red Dog Saloon every day of my life if I could! The Copper Room, Luna Bakery, The Tiny Pony Tavern, and Mas o Menos also make my top 5! I really haven’t explored enough of the shops out here still, but Mojave Flea Trading Post has come in great handy for picking up gifts for friends and relatives when I want to give them a taste of the desert to take back home.
I love mas o Menos! I think they have the best coffee in the Morongo Basin!
I wish I was a coffee person, I’m sure I would love it if I was! Matt is and he agrees with you, but he also loves the new Desierto Alto spot for coffee!
Are there any business owners in the area that you want to shout out?
I have to give a shout out to Christian, the owner of Mas o Menos. Since we first reached out about bringing our mini donkeys to Mas, he has been nothing short of amazing and welcoming to us. It feels like he’s really trying to build a beautiful place for locals that supports other businesses, makers, artists, chefs, musicians, and more! It’s not just super cool, it’s also a great business decision and one I wish more places in the area would adopt.
We also had the pleasure of recently meeting the owners of Cascade Trails Mustang Sanctuary, Chris and Marissa, and WOW! Talk about being in the presence of greatness. They’re out there literally rescuing and training wild mustangs, and we’re over here, like, taking our tiny donkeys to the bar 😂 😭. We’re so blown away by their kindness and what they’ve created.
What does your ideal day in the High Desert look like?
My ideal day in the High Desert revolves around getting the most out of the sunrise and sunset light! For sure, the best days include a morning hike and an evening outside with tasty food and drinks, especially when we can bring the donkeys along for either (or both!).
What are your favorite hikes in the Joshua Tree area?
I love the hikes in Joshua Tree National Park that are lesser traveled and accessed without going through the park entrance. Anything from Black Rock and the Covington Flats area. The fact that one can be completely alone on some of these trails despite the overwhelming visitor numbers at the park is magical. Not to mention we can bring our donkeys and access the park’s network of equestrian trails from these areas! I feel super lucky to have these hikes so close by.
Mojave Mini Donkeys: Website and Instagram
