Las Vegas is full of unique sights and fun attractions, and the Seven Magic Mountains is one spot that has gained much popularity over recent years. This art installation is easy to access and makes for a great quick stop when in the Vegas area. Here are the need-to-know details for a visit.
About the Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone in collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art and the Art Production Fund. The site consists of seven stacked towers of colorful boulders sitting in the desert just south of Las Vegas. The bright totems are a representation of the meeting of the natural and artificial world – the mountains and vast desert landscape sprawling out on one side and the busy I-15 highway leading into the city on the other side.
The installation was placed here in 2016 and was only intended to be on display for two years. However, this has become quite the popular spot among those visiting Las Vegas, so the artist and producers have worked to keep it open and hope to continue to do so.
Getting to the Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic Mountains are quite easy to access as they sit right off I-15 just south of Las Vegas. From Las Vegas, head south on I-15 and take exit 25 towards Sloan Road. Turn left, crossing the freeway, then turn right onto Las Vegas Boulevard. Follow this road until you reach the Seven Magic Mountains parking area on your left. This is just a large dirt lot. The parking area is quite big, but it can fill up on busy days, so we recommend coming early to beat the heat and crowds.
If you don’t have your own transport, an Uber/Lyft or taxi is your next best bet since there is no public transport that runs to this area. This can get a bit pricey since it’s about 30 minutes one way outside of the city. Another option would be to consider a tour as some itineraries include the Seven Magic Mountains in their stops among other highlights in Vegas and around it. Various tours can be booked in the city or found online on sites like Get Your Guide and Viator.
There are no restrooms or amenities at the Seven Magic Mountains, though we did see some vendors selling ice cream in the parking area. Once at the parking area, it is just a few-minute walk down a wide dirt path to the installation.
Fees & Regulations
There are no fees to park at and visit the Seven Magic Mountains. The site is open 24 hours.
This is a popular photography spot, but note that photography is only permitted for non-commercial use. Visitors may fly a drone, but use caution as this is a very busy spot.
Do not climb on the sculptures. Pets are permitted. Please pack out all of your trash..
For more information and to check for any closures and updates, see the official website before your visit.
When to Visit the Seven Magic Mountains
To avoid the heat and heavy crowds, we recommend visiting in the early morning. If you’re there in the summer, prepare for temps over 100°F if you visit midday. For photography purposes, it is best to visit around sunrise or sunset when the light isn’t as harsh. Again, it will be less crowded in the early morning around sunrise than at sunset.
Overall though, this is really a fine spot to visit any time of day and year. If you visit midday and the parking lot is full, don’t worry. You likely won’t have to wait long for a spot to open up because this is a pretty quick stop for most.
What to Bring
This is pretty much a roadside attraction, so you don’t need to bring much! Following are a few items to consider.
- Water: It can get brutally hot out here and there are no places to buy or fill bottles
- Sun Protection: There is no shade here, so bring a hat, sunglasses, and/or sunscreen
- Camera: This is a popular place to shoot some photos
Is a Visit Worth it?
This spot has gained popularity on social media, so it is a common place among those looking to snap some photos.
There isn’t much to do in the area aside from taking pics at the Seven Magic Mountains, making a quick walk around the site to admire the art installation and surrounding scenery, and cruising the nearby OHV routes. So, while this is a unique little attraction and great free activity, it’s not somewhere we’d recommend going completely out of your way to see, especially if you need to pay for a ride here. In our opinion, there are better activities in and around Las Vegas.
But, if you have some time to kill or are passing through the area, the Seven Magic Mountains is an interesting roadside attraction and a cool spot to visit overall. We made a quick stop here before exploring Red Rock Canyon for the afternoon, and now we can say we’ve seen it!
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