Our absolute top pick for the area has to be the Rings Loop Trail where we descended into
Banshee Canyon via ringbolts attached to the steep walls. We climbed out the same way but you can also continue around the 1.5 mile trail and see petroglyphs left by native peoples thousands of years ago. Banshee Canyon is one of the most unique places we've ever seen having been formed when superheated clouds of ash and gas enveloped the area during a long period of volcanic activity As it has eroded it has left swiss cheese-like cliffs with cavities and unique rounded shapes. This is NOT what you'd expect in the desert.
There are two overriding words that apply to everything here - desert and remote. Mojave only gets between 5 and 10 inches of rain per year and there are very few people or services. We saw the Mojave area phone book white pages and it was a white page, just one, and that was about it for an area of 1.6 million acres. You also don't want to forget something from the store (that's a generous description) as the closest place for anything is 36 miles away. There are a few folks who live and ranch in the area but it is tough to make a go of it. Over the years, many more have come and gone than have stayed.
We were totally surprised by the variety of plants and animals here, but the Cactus Wrens and White Crowned Sparrows flit constantly through the bushes and if you love reptiles and spiders (S. P. we're talking to you) you would be in paradise. There are more rattlesnakes and tarantulas than you can shake a stick at, although personally I wouldn't recommend doing that.
Overall we loved the fragile beauty and the varied life, we give it a 10 and we will definitely be back.