Desert Hills is the first track of the Flower Cup in Mario Kart DS. It reappears as a retro track in Mario Kart Wii as the first track of the Leaf Cup. It is set to return again in Mario Kart World[1].
As its name implies, the track takes place on a desert with many steep hills. There's also an oasis beside the first turn.
Layout[]
Mario Kart DS[]
Dessert Hills gameplay in Vs mode.
This track takes place in a plain desert and is one of the few tracks to have Pokeys. When a racer touches a Pokey, they flip to the side and drop their items. CPU racers sometimes may get hit by a Pokey, when the Pokey continues moving in their direction, continuously flipping them over and slowing them down greatly. It's also the first track to feature Fire Snakes (the second being Grumble Volcano).
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Entire Mario Kart DS layout of track.
If you touch a Fire Snake, you spin around. The sand here slows the drivers sharply. It ends with long, sharp, winding turns. In a similar vein to Airship Fortress, this track's inspired by World 2, Desert Land, in Super Mario Bros. 3 (which is also known as Desert Hill).
- Mission Information
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Funky Kong Gameplay in Mario Kart Wii version of the track.
Mario Kart Wii[]
This track returns as a retro course in Mario Kart Wii. It has many of the same features as the DS version, such as Pokeys and Fire Snakes (the Fire Snakes now have eyes). It's the first course in the Leaf Cup. The track still includes a shortcut involving the pyramid, but with quicksand replacing the pyramid to make the shortcut more challenging
Mario Kart World[]
Layout of the track in Mario Kart World.
In Mario Kart World, Desert Hills returns appearing as the first course of the Flower Cup. It is the first classic course in the series' history to be in the Flower Cup. The course is also the starting point of the Golden Rally and the final destination of the Cherry Rally.
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Dessert Hills time trial gamplay in World.
The course has been drastically redesigned, now featuring elements of Sarasaland from Super Mario Land alongside Desert Land from Super Mario Bros. 3. Part of the course has been widened. A stone arch over the finish line features carvings of the Angry Sun and Batadons on either side.[1] A new Glide Ramp shortcut was added near the end of the course. It is located in the southwestern desert region, and is the westernmost course in the game's map.[2]
Shortcuts[]
- Before the second turn, use a Mushroom or 2 to cut through the deep sand between the pyramid and the wall.
- At the last section with the winding road and sandy hills, use a Mushroom to speed onto the first big hill and angle yourself such that you will land in the middle of the second. Time a hop right as you land to bounce over the second hill, and you will have cleared both hills.
- At the beginning of the course, drive forward a bit and drift to the right. When you release your mini-turbo, hop into the sand. Next, line up the vehicle and use a mushroom. Spin drift and you'll proceed to clip the wall. If all done correctly, you'll land at the end of the first turn of the course.✱ for MKWii
Glitches[]
- If you hit the hit the left dark terrain right before you touch the water, you will fall through it with no splash.✱ for MKDS
Time Trial data[]
Mario Kart DS[]
Staff Ghost[]
| Course | Time | Player | Character | Kart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hills | 1:31:262 | Ninten★かつ |  R.O.B.
|
 ROB-LGS
|
World Record[]
| Course | Time (PRB) | Player | Character | Kart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hills | 1:09:375 (video) | MKDasher |  Dry Bones
|
 Standard LG
|
| Course | Time (Non-PRB) | Player | Character | Kart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hills | 1:09:805 (video) | MKDasher | Dry Bones
|
Standard LG
|
Mario Kart Wii[]
Staff Ghosts[]
| Character | Recorder | Time | Vehicle | Wii Wheel? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Normal | |||
| Nin★CHIA | 02:10.233 | 
|
No | |
| Expert | ||||
| Nin★solami | 01:52.686 | 
|
Yes | |
Trivia![]
- With the inclusion of the Angry Sun, Fire Snakes, and the various Pyramids and other structures, Desert Hills could be based on Desert Land from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Previous track:
Luigi's Mansion |
Current track:
Desert Hills |
Next track:
Delfino Square |
|---|
Previous track:
GCN Waluigi Stadium |
1st reappearance:
Mario Kart Wii |
Next track:
GBA Bowser Castle 3 |
|---|
Previous track:
DK Spaceport |
2nd reappearance:
Mario Kart World |
Next track:
3DS Shy Guy Bazaar |
|---|
| Mario Kart DS courses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitro cups | Mushroom Cup | Figure-8 Circuit • Yoshi Falls • Cheep Cheep Beach • Luigi's Mansion | ||
| Flower Cup | Desert Hills • Delfino Square • Waluigi Pinball • Shroom Ridge | |||
| Star Cup | DK Pass • Tick-Tock Clock • Mario Circuit • Airship Fortress | |||
| Special Cup | Wario Stadium • Peach Gardens • Bowser Castle • Rainbow Road | |||
| Retro cups | Shell Cup | SNES Mario Circuit 1 • N64 Moo Moo Farm • GBA Peach Circuit • GCN Luigi Circuit | ||
| Banana Cup | SNES Donut Plains 1 • N64 Frappe Snowland • GBA Bowser's Castle 2 • GCN Baby Park | |||
| Leaf Cup | SNES Koopa Beach 2 • N64 Choco Mountain • GBA Luigi Circuit • GCN Mushroom Bridge | |||
| Lightning Cup | SNES Choco Island 2 • N64 Banshee Boardwalk • GBA Sky Garden • GCN Yoshi Circuit | |||
| Battle Courses | Nintendo DS • Twilight House • Palm Shore • Tart Top • N64 Block Fort • GCN Pipe Plaza | |||
| Unused Tracks | Dokan Course • Test Circle • GCN Mario Circuit | |||