Southwest USA - A roadtrip through the deserts

A dusty journey of 4000 miles through California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. Featuring Death Valley, Area 51, Roswell, VLA, Bryce Canyon, White Sands, Antelope Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Salvation Mountain, Tombstone and more.

  • The long and winding road

    Death Valley, California

  • King of the hill

    A proper sunrise is worth an early climb before breakfast.

    Death Valley, California

  • I found the green

    This salt pan is called Devil's golf course. I just think those golfers were lazy.

    Death Valley, California

  • The wretched hive

    This is Dante's View overlook, but perhaps better known as the Mos Eisley Overlook, where Luke and Obi-Wan looked down upon the city in Star Wars Episode 4.

    Death Valley, California

  • Don't get a flat tire

    Route 6, Nevada

  • Sculptured by nature

    This part of the canyon is 400 meters in length.

    Reine in Antelope Canyon, Arizona

  • No hugs for you

    Some of these cactus are even taller than me. The saguaro is the familiar state symbol of Arizona and it can grow to be over 20 meters tall.

    Reine in Saguaro National Park, Arizona

  • Lucky Luke territory

    Probably the bumpiest road I've ever driven on, but the car survived somehow.

    Monument Valley

  • Lucky Luke territory

    Probably the bumpiest road I've ever driven on, but the car survived somehow.

    Driving through Monument Valley

  • Number of the beast

    Route 666 through New Mexico had very high fatality rates and it was one of the 20 most dangerous highways in 1997. Combined with the biblical implications of the number, it was aptly nicknamed Devil's Highway. It was later renamed into Route 491 in 2003.

    Reine somewhere in New Mexico

  • God save the queen

    One of the formations supposedly looks like Queen Victoria, but I think you can find anything in them if you look long enough.

    Queen's garden in Bryce Canyon, Utah

  • Downhill

    Bryce Canyon, Utah

  • Just passing through

    Bryce Canyon area, Utah

  • Reach for the sky

    Bryce Canyon area, Utah

  • We come in peace

    Route 375 was officially designated a much easier name to remember in 1996, as this is the road closest to Area 51.

    Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada

  • Holy ground

    Reine at the Front Gate of Area 51, Nevada

  • Ironic photo opportunity

    Back Gate of Area 51, Nevada

  • Black or white

    The so called Black Mailbox was believed by many to be the official mailbox of Area 51, but it actually belonged to a local farmer. He got so irritated at lunatics going through his mail that he replaced it with a white one.

    Reine in Nevada

  • Large green men

    "Mulder, I found them! The aliens are hiding in the street lights!"

    Reine in Roswell

  • Heavy research

    Reine in UFO library, Roswell

  • ET phone home

    The observatory area contains 27 antennas, where each dish has a diameter of 25 meters. They are moved around using rail tracks, which at one point even crosses Route 60.

    Very Large Array, New Mexico

  • Chilly dunes

    This place really lives up to its name. The world's largest desert of gypsum sand is cold to the touch.

    Reine in White Sands

  • Chilly dunes

    This place really lives up to its name. The world's largest desert of gypsum sand is cold to the touch.

    White Sands

  • Batcave

    No photograph can describe the sheer size of it all.

    Rock of Ages, Carlsbad Caverns

  • Moria

    Notice the man with the headlight.

    Carlsbad Caverns

  • Reach out and touch faith

    This is the life work of Leonard Knight. Since 1985 he has been busy painting his vision.

    Salvation Mountain, California

  • Reach out and touch faith

    This is the life work of Leonard Knight. Since 1985 he has been busy painting his vision.

    Salvation Mountain, California

  • Hanging with the crowd

    The area is named for the concrete slabs that remain from the abandoned WW2 marine barracks. Many people live here to get off the grid.

    Slab City, California

  • Thou art art

    This area in the middle of the desert was created by Charles Stephen Russell, creating art installations from the garbage found lying around Slab City.

    East Jesus, California

  • I see dead fishes

    Bombay Beach is a semi-deserted town on the east shore of the Salton Sea. It also marks the southern end of the San Andreas fault. Due to very high salinity, very few fish species can live there.

    Bombay Beach, California

  • No more no less

    This gravestone has one of the best descriptions ever: "Here lies Lester Moore, Four slugs from a .44, No Les No Moore." It is located near the graves of Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury, the men who were gunned down by Wyatt Earp's party in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral 1881.

    Boothill Graveyeard outside Tombstone, Arizona