I had no idea wild donkeys existed in the United States, let alone so close to Phoenix! If you are looking for a fun, easy hike near Phoenix, I recommend the Wild Burro Trail at Lake Pleasant. In this post I will discuss how to get there, how to find the Burros, and the Wild Burro Trail.
Getting There:
Getting there is simple if you follow your GPS. Simply go north towards Sedona, and take the exit for Hwy 74 (Carefree highway). After driving ~9 miles west you will turn right towards Lake Pleasant Regional Park. There is a park fee that is very reasonable. The price differs on the vehicle you drive and what you bring with (boat, kayak, camper, etc) but for me and a guest it cost $7.
DO NOT fill up at the Shell that’s a few miles East of Lake Pleasant. I made that mistake. It was $2 more per gallon than the gas in Scottsdale! Highway Robbery!
Before You Hike:
I recommend driving around the Regional Park before hiking so you can find out where the donkeys are. Sometimes they are at the north side of the lake near Castle Creek boat ramp. Sometimes they are at the campground on the South side. More often than not, they will be near the south side, which is where the Wild Burro Trail is located. It will take about 15 minutes to drive around the park, but it’s worth it in my opinion. I was already happy to have seen many donkeys before the hike, but many people I met while hiking seemed defeated that they hadn’t seen any yet.
The Wild Burro Trail
The Wild Burro Trail is roughly 4 miles, out and back. It’s a scenic hike that travels near the water with less than 200 feet of elevation gain–a relaxing hike in my opinion. There is a parking lot with flush bathrooms in between the two trail heads if you would like a shorter hike. This is the Wild Burro Day Use Area.
I started on the south end at the intersection of S Park Rd and Desert Tortoise Rd. There is a small parking lot (5 cars) where the Wild Burro Trail ends and a different trail begins. When I got out of my car there were five burros standing on the hill. I walked up the trail a few hundred feet when a burro decided to cross the trail right in front of me! It was so cool, and the burros were very chill. They kept their distance from humans, but weren’t scared by the sight of them. I saw another climbing the hill by the Day Use Area, and then two more hanging out by the lake. I didn’t see any the last mile to the northern trail head. I only saw one burro on the hike back to my car. They are constantly moving.
Don’t be upset if you don’t see any on your hike. They seem to disappear out of thin air. Always look up and down the mountains and near the water. There were numerous times I told hikers there were burros 1/4 mile down the trail, and by the time they got there they were gone. Bring binoculars if you have any.
For example, can you spot the donkey in the picture below?
Hint: It’s somewhere on the ridge line.
More Hikes?
This is one of my most memorable hikes I have done in Arizona, and I highly recommend it. Remember to give the burros their space, and don’t feed them. If you enjoyed this post I recommend reading about other cool hikes near Phoenix, such as The Wave Cave and Fossil Creek.
