Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert spans the arid heart of the American Southwest, anchoring its vastness in southeastern California and southern Nevada, with small forays into Arizona and Utah. Its landscapes range from sun-baked bajadas and dunes to rugged canyons and salt flats; Death Valley National Park sits within this realm as the hottest and lowest place in North America. Within this desert, particularly notable places include Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave's cooler northern fringe and Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada line, both offering surreal rock formations and starry skies. The flora and fauna are exquisitely adapted: the towering Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree) spreads across the Mojave’s low hills, and animals like the Crotalus cerastes (sidewinder) and the desert tortoise thrive where water is scarce. Visitors can explore remote wilderness on the Mojave National Preserve, or seek out the pale orange dunes of the Hole-in-the-Wall area, while keeping in mind extreme heat in summer and the fragile desert ecology. Night skies here are among the darkest in the region, making stargazing a centerpiece of any trip.