We found ourselves blazing across the desert on the way to Sin City. In an almost alien world of nothing but brown dirt and the occasional slightly green plant, several colorful blobs started to pop up over the horizon. No, it is not a mirage or a hallucination, it is the Seven Magic Mountains!

STATS:

Where:
South Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89054.
Coords: 35°50’18.3″N 115°16’15.3″W

Parking:
free, dirt parking 

Hours: 
7 days a week

Estimated Completion Time: 
a super quick stop

Ideal Weather:
there is no shade so it does get pretty warm, especially under the desert sun. Morning or evening seems to have the best light.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

This is the realization of a project 5 years in the making from renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. They look small until you actually get out of your car and stand at the base of the rocks. Each pillar towers 30 to 35 ft over the desert floor. Ugo said, “in a desert landscape, the scale has no real meaning until you approach it”.

The formations have been amusing road-weary travelers since May 11, 2016. He used day-glow paint on the boulders (plus black, white, and silver) because they are the most artificial colors that exist. When he mixed the artificial with a location that is almost 100% natural, it gave him the balance that he was looking for, almost like the Yin and Yang. He hoped that rather than take away from the surrounding landscape, it would instead entice viewers to explore it deeper.

Unfortunately, this is not set up to be a permanent fixture in this desert surroundings. Seven Magic Mountains was actually only supposed to be on display for two years. However, with all of the attention it has been getting, the piece has been extended to run for at least 3 more years. So if you plan on visiting the mountains, you might not want to wait too long!

THE ADVENTURE:

You can see Seven Magic Mountains when traveling to Las Vegas on the 15 freeway. You will want to exit off before that though. GPS should be able to take you there with no problem. This place can get very crowded, so getting a shot without a ton of people can be extremely difficult. Luckily, the parking area is pretty large and can accommodate a lot of cars. If you visit in the warmer months, be sure to watch out for rattlesnakes.

To get to the Seven Magic Mountains if you are traveling towards Las Vegas, you simply exit on Main street, which is 13 miles after you pass the state line. Make a right on to Main street followed by a left on Las Vegas Blvd (yes it really does extend this far). From there, it is a straight shot about 5.1 miles until you reach the parking lot for the Seven Magic Mountains. It is a short walk from the parking lot to the mountains. They may not look like much when you see them from far away. As you slowly approach them, the mountains get a lot bigger. The colorful, giant boulders look like ice cream, stacking up towards the sky. It is not a place where you’ll spend a lot of time, however, it is definitely a unique location to stop by at least once on your way to Sin City.

Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and sign up for our newsletter!

RECOMMEND GEAR:

Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

•  Sunscreen:

   It’s hot out and there is no shade. We use Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen.

CAMERA GEAR:
•  Camera:
   Sony a7 III
   Gopro Hero 6 Black

•  Lenses:
   Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens    

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