Joshua Tree Excursions

What Joshua Tree Excursions does

Joshua Tree Excursions, legally organized as 29 Trail Tours LLC, is a privately-held, veteran-owned outdoor adventure tour company founded in 2014 by Kelly Crawford, a former U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. The company provides private, customized guided experiences in Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding Mojave Desert, including hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, stargazing, photography, and camping/backpacking tours. Its primary customer segments are individual and group tourists seeking personalized eco-adventures, with secondary segments in corporate retreats, weddings, and experienced backcountry users.

The company operates under National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization permit PWR-JOTR-CUA16071, which it holds alongside 50+ other permitted climbing guide services in the park. It differentiates itself by combining transportation and nature interpretation with climbing instruction, and by employing AMGA/PCGI-certified rock climbing guides, wilderness first responders, professional astronomers, and professional landscape photographers. Technology infrastructure is intentionally light: the operating backbone is a FareHarbor-powered booking and payment platform integrated with PayPal, supported by optical equipment (telescopes, binoculars, laser pointers) for astronomy experiences.

Revenue is generated through professional-services tour fees charged per person or per group, with a 50% deposit (or full payment within 14 days of departure) required to secure reservations, customary 15-20% gratuities, an additional 18% gratuity on groups exceeding seven or special events, and a 3% credit card surcharge. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website, phone, email, and an Airbnb Experiences listing. Digital gift cards are sold through FareHarbor. The company is co-owned by Kelly Crawford (Founder/CEO) and Amy (Sunflower) Harvey, who acquired an ownership stake in 2019, and operates from a single headquarters at 61325 Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree, California.

Name

Joshua Tree Excursions

Legal name

29 Trail Tours LLC

Website

https://joshuatreeexcursions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Joshua Tree Excursions is a veteran-owned private outdoor adventure tour company operating in Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert, offering private customized guided hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, stargazing, photography, and camping experiences to individual tourists, corporate groups, and backcountry adventurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC), Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA), Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Outdoor adventure tours
• Guided hiking tours
• National park tours
• Rock climbing guides
• Stargazing tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Joshua Tree

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Guided Tour Services: Private customized tours of Joshua Tree National Park and surrounding Mojave Desert including hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, stargazing, photography tours, and camping/backpacking. Tour pricing is per person or per group with deposits and balance payments required. 15-20% gratuity is customary.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Joshua Tree Excursions is a private, veteran-owned guided outdoor adventure tour company that leads customized hikes, sightseeing tours, rock climbing, stargazing, photography expeditions, and camping/backpacking trips in Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding Mojave Desert. Each tour is led by certified guides and includes transportation, nature interpretation, and park access (with permits for off-trail wilderness travel), with reservations booked directly through the company's website or by phone.

Product overview

Joshua Tree Excursions operates as a single unified outdoor adventure tour company offering a portfolio of tour products centered around Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert. The core offerings include stargazing tours with professional astronomers, guided sightseeing tours, custom private hiking expeditions, rock climbing experiences, camping and backpacking adventures, and photography tours led by professional photographers. The company also provides corporate event and wedding packages, and offers a 'Build Your Own Journey' customization option. Tours are booked through FareHarbor integration, with pricing varying by tour type and duration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Stargazing Night sky observation tours in Joshua Tree National Park led by professional astronomers using optical and digital telescopes, binoculars, and laser pointers to view constellations, planets, the Moon, and other celestial objects. Designed for visitors who want a guided, safe after-dark experience rather than exploring on their own.
• Sightseeing Tour Half-day guided group sightseeing tour (about 8:00am to 12:30pm) for all mobility levels that includes transportation from the Joshua Tree office, nature interpretation, and short walks to iconic park sites such as Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Garden, Skull Rock, Arch Rock, Cap Rock, and Keys View.
• Custom Private Hiking/Sightseeing Tours Approximately six-hour private, fully customized outdoor adventure that scales from an accessible car-side experience to miles of untracked backcountry travel, with permits for off-trail wilderness exploration. Itinerary is tailored to the group's interests and abilities.
• Hike and Climb Outdoor rock climbing experiences in Joshua Tree National Park (America's most-climbed national park with over 7,000 routes) led by AMGA- or PCGI-certified guides, with all necessary modern safety equipment and instruction provided, plus transportation and nature interpretation — a combination unique among the park's 50+ permitted climbing guide services.
• Camping & Backpacking Multi-day wilderness camping and backpacking expeditions in Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding Mojave Desert, led by experienced wilderness guides for travelers who want more than a day trip.
• Photography Tour Guided photography expeditions led by professional landscape photographers, with opportunities to capture iconic Joshua Tree landscapes, rock formations, and astrophotography of the night sky.
• Corporate Events, Groups & Weddings Customized half-day to full-day outdoor packages for corporate retreats, team building, scavenger hunts, weddings, and group celebrations, including optional combo experiences such as dinner plus astronomer-led stargazing. Activities can be run from the customer's own transportation or with company-provided transportation.
• Private Hike, Dinner, and Stargazing Combined evening experience featuring a guided hike followed by dinner and a professional astronomer-led stargazing session under the desert night sky, often used for vacation rentals, wedding venues, and special occasion groups.
• Build Your Own Journey Self-directed tour builder that lets prospective guests design their own personalized adventure by choosing activities, duration, and difficulty based on their interests and abilities.
• Digital Gift Cards Electronic gift cards purchased through FareHarbor that can be gifted and redeemed against Joshua Tree Excursions tours and experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7000 climbing routes available in Joshua Tree National Park - America's most-climbed National Park

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sedona Adventure Tours: Adventure and sightseeing tour operator offering guided hikes, jeep tours, and stargazing in the Sedona/Red Rock area. Comparable on multi-activity guided desert tours including stargazing.
• Austin Adventures: Small-group guided active travel company offering hiking and adventure itineraries across U.S. national parks. Comparable on guided multi-activity national park tours and customized itineraries.
• Mountain Trip: Guided mountaineering and alpine expedition company. Comparable on guided small-group climbing/mountaineering experiences with certified guides in U.S. wild areas.
• Wildland Trekking: Multi-region guided hiking, backpacking, and camping tour operator in U.S. national parks. Directly comparable to Joshua Tree Excursions on core activity (guided hiking/backpacking in protected areas), service model, and customer type.
• Moab Adventure Center: Outdoor adventure tour operator in Moab/Arches region offering guided hiking, 4x4, rafting, and sightseeing. Comparable on multi-activity guided tours in a U.S. national park destination market.
• American Alpine Institute: Mountaineering and rock climbing guide service offering instruction and guided climbs across multiple U.S. destinations. Directly comparable on guided climbing instruction and certified-guide service model.
• Sierra Mountain Guides: AMGA-certified rock climbing and mountaineering guide service in the Eastern Sierra. Comparable on certified-guided climbing instruction in a U.S. protected-area destination.

Broad incumbents

• REI Adventures: REI's guided travel arm offering small-group adventure trips in U.S. and international destinations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in guided outdoor/national park experiences.
• Backroads: Large active-travel tour operator offering guided hiking, biking, and family trips across U.S. national parks and globally. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the guided active-adventure tour category.

Regional players

• Arches National Park Guided Tours / Moab Tourz: Small guided tour operators in the Moab/Arches region offering hiking and sightseeing tours in a different national park destination. Comparable as a regional peer serving a different protected-area geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/joshuatreeexcursions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Joshua Tree Excursions