King of the Hammers is considered the toughest one-day off road race in the world. It is the largest off-road race event in North America in terms of both competitors and spectators. It combines desert racing and rock crawling. An estimated 50,000 fans will attend the race, transforming Johnson Valley desert into a small city dubbed Hammertown. General Entry Pass – $20 online $30 at the gate. One pass per person is good for all of KOH Week! Kids 10 and under are free.

credit: blmcalifornia

The iconic Saguaro cactus is the very embodiment of the Southwest, and indeed, the desert itself. The unique adaptations that vegetation comes up with for desert survival make some of the most interesting, unusual, and beautiful plants in the country. Wildflowers such as striking gold poppies and desert marigolds, red and pink penstemons, purple lupines, and orange globe mallows add welcome splashes of color. Seeing a blooming cactus is a special treat: ocotillos, chollas, and prickly pears all have vibrant, fragrant blossoms, as of course do the saguaros themselves. Saguaro National Park is split into two sections—the Tucson Mountain District sits west; the Rincon Mountain District sits east; and the city of Tucson and its 1-million residents sits in between the two. While the two sides of the park bare the same name and share likeness in desert landscape, they are quite different in terms of nuance.

credit: Max Goldberg

The Mojave Road is a 138-mile stretch of dirt road through the center of the Mojave National Preserve. The road leads from waterhole to waterhole, and is mostly a 4-wheel-drive trail. Located in California, it is one of North America’s more famous routes. This rough road, also called the Old Government Road, from the site of the old Fort Mohave (on the west bank of the Colorado River, roughly 10 miles southwest of Bullhead City, Arizona) to the site of the old Camp Cady (on the west bank of the Mojave River, roughly 12 miles northeast of Newberry Springs, California). This desert track is the remnants of a wagon trail once connecting the old Mojave Fort along the Colorado River, to CampCady, about 20-miles east of Barstow.

Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert

Old Bus Mojave Road

Old Bus Mojave Road

Mojave Road Fort Piute

Mojave Road Fort Piute

Government Holes

Government Holes

Bert Smith Rock House

Bert Smith Rock House

Bert Smith Rock House

Green Rock Mill

Green Rock Mill

Lava Tubes Mojave

Lava Tubes Mojave

Lava Tubes Mojave

Old Mine Mojave

Old Mine Mojave

Afton Canyon

Water Crossing Afton Canyon

Railroad in Afton Canyon

Spooky Cave Afton Canyon

Spooky Cave Afton Canyon

Spooky Cave Afton Canyon

Hole in the Wall Mojave

Hole in the Wall Mojave

Mojave Mailbox

Mojave Mailbox

frog shrine

Mojave Road End of Trail

Mojave Road End of Trail

credit: lovz2hike

Quseir Amra is situated 85 km to the east of Amman. It is the little palace of Amra, noted for its extensive fresco paintings which cover virtually all the interior surfaces. The paintings include themes such as hunting, dancing, and musicians, bathing scenes, cupids, and personifications of history, philosophy and poetry. This a small residence was discovered by the Czech traveler Alois Musil in 1898. The building\’s plan consists of a rectangular audience hall, a bath complex, and hydraulic structures. The main hall has three rooms along its south side. The baths are located on the east side of the main hall and are connected to a water tank. Qusayr ‘Amra was placed on the World Heritage List in 1985, due to its extensive cycle of mural paintings

credit: uwebrodrecht