If you’re interested in taking a surreal day trip into the desert just outside of Las Vegas, then there is no better place to visit than the Seven Magic Mountains. What are the Seven Magic Mountains you ask?
The Seven Magic Mountains are seven stacked towers of colorful boulders rising 30-35 feet above the Mojave Desert near Las Vegas. The Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone and the Nevada Museum of Art. It has become a popular Las Vegas attraction.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about visiting the Seven Magic Mountains, including its meaning, address, directions, hours, cost, and more, in a complete FAQ.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Are The Colored Rocks Outside Of Vegas?
- 2 Are The Seven Magic Mountains Still There and For How Long?
- 3 How Far Is The Seven Magic Mountains From The Las Vegas Strip?
- 4 Seven Magic Mountains Address, Map, and GPS Directions
- 5 Best Ways to Travel to Seven Magic Mountains From Las Vegas (Car, Taxi, Uber)
- 6 Tours To Seven Magic Mountains
- 7 What Does It Cost to Visit the Seven Magic Mountains?
- 8 Seven Magic Mountains Meaning?
- 9 Who Is Ugo Rondinone?
- 10 When Were The Seven Magic Mountains Made?
- 11 How Was The Seven Magic Mountains Built?
- 12 How Much Did The Seven Magic Mountains Cost to Construct?
- 13 Seven Magic Mountain Hours
- 14 What Are The Best Times to Visit The Seven Magic Mountains
- 15 Parking at The Seven Magic Mountains
- 16 Can You Park An RV at The Seven Magic Mountains?
- 17 Instagram and The Seven Magic Mountains
- 18 Is The Seven Magic Mountains on The Way to The Grand Canyon?
- 19 How Much Walking is Involved to Visit The Seven Magic Mountains?
- 20 Are The Seven Magic Mountains Dog-Friendly?
- 21 Are The Seven Magic Mountains Wheelchair Accessible?
- 22 Is The Seven Magic Mountains Worth It?
- 23 Can You Take Pictures of The Seven Magic Mountains?
- 24 How Long Will We Want to Spend at Seven Magic Mountains?
- 25 Can You See The Seven Magic Mountains At Night?
- 26 Are There Restrooms at The Seven Magic Mountains?
- 27 Are There Restaurants Near The Seven Magic Mountains?
- 28 What Else Is Near The Seven Magic Mountains?
- 29 Other Things To Know Before You Visit The Seven Magic Mountains
- 30 Seven Magic Mountains – Conclusion
- 31 Other Day Trips From Las Vegas
- 32 Sources
What Are The Colored Rocks Outside Of Vegas?
The brightly colored rocks just outside of Las Vegas, off Interstate 15, are called the Seven Magic Mountains. The Seven Magic Mountains is a temporary art installation consisting of seven stacks of large, colorfully painted boulders. The sculpture has become a popular tourist destination for visitors to Las Vegas.
Are The Seven Magic Mountains Still There and For How Long?
The Seven Magic Mountains were originally designed to be a temporary art exhibit that was to close at the end of 2021. Opened in 2016, the sculpture was originally scheduled to remain up for two years.
Due to its popularity, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permit for the artwork has continuously been extended and, as of now, will be there through May of 2027.
How Far Is The Seven Magic Mountains From The Las Vegas Strip?
The Seven Magic Mountains are found 21 miles (a 27-minute drive) from the center of the Las Vegas Strip, making it a perfect destination for a short day trip out of Vegas.
Seven Magic Mountains Address, Map, and GPS Directions
The Seven Magic Mountains are located in the Mohave Desert just off Interstate 15, heading south from Las Vegas. The Seven Magic Mountains address is: S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89054, and turn-by-turn directions can be found on Google Maps here.
Best Ways to Travel to Seven Magic Mountains From Las Vegas (Car, Taxi, Uber)
The best way to get to Seven Magic Mountains from Las Vegas is to either drive your own car or get a rental car. You can also take a taxi or an Uber, but only if the driver is willing to wait and you are willing to pay the wait fees.
It’s easy to get an Uber or Taxi to drive you out to the Seven Magic Mountains for a visit, but unless they wait for you, there will be no way to get back to Las Vegas. Trying to get a taxi or Uber to come to pick you up at this remote location will be next to impossible.
Tours To Seven Magic Mountains
If you’d like to visit the Seven Magic Mountains while you’re in Las Vegas but don’t have a car, you should consider taking one of several tours available to the art installation on Viator.
- Seven Magic Mountains Adventure Tour: Self-Guided on a Can-Am Ryker!
- 3 Hour Hoover Dam Mini Tour and Seven Magic Mountains: Small Group Combo Tour
- Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, 7 Magic Mountains: Small Group VIP Tour
- Hoover Dam Walk-On-Top Tour with Seven Magic Mountains: One tour, two must-see attractions.
What Does It Cost to Visit the Seven Magic Mountains?
There is no cost to visit the Seven Magic Mountains. The sculpture is a public artwork which makes it free and available for all to enjoy.
Besides being a free Las Vegas attraction, the Seven Magic Mountains can be viewed 365 days a year.
Seven Magic Mountains Meaning?
The Seven Magic Mountains is said to allow visitors to consider the vastness of the desert while pondering the stories of humans that have lived and traveled through its natural abundant space over time.
The 7 Magic Mountains are meant to symbolize the contrast between natural and artificial environments.
You’ll understand this the second you see it. The stacks of brightly colored fluorescent rocks surrounded by the vastness of the rugged desert certainly juxtapose the natural landscape with that of the artificial artwork.
Seven Magic Mountains elicits continuities and solidarities between human nature, artificial and natural, then and now.
Ugo Rondinone (Artist)
Who Is Ugo Rondinone?
Ugo Rondinone (1964) is an accomplished artist born in Switzerland and now based in New York. He is known for his wide range of modern sculptures and paintings. However, he is perhaps most well-known for designing and building the temporary land-based art piece Seven Magic Mountains found near Las Vegas, Nevada.
When Were The Seven Magic Mountains Made?
The Seven Magic Mountains art exhibit opened in May of 2016 as a temporary art installation with an initial viewing schedule of two years.
How Was The Seven Magic Mountains Built?
The Seven Magic Mountains was constructed using thirty-three locally sourced limestone boulders, each weighing between 10 – 25 tons. The entire project took five years from conception to completion and required a large group of engineers, fabricators, and heavy cranes to build.
How Much Did The Seven Magic Mountains Cost to Construct?
The Seven Magic Mountains art installation cost $3.5 million dollars to build. Since it is a public art project, it was paid for by public tax dollars along with a small donation of $100,000 by the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
Seven Magic Mountain Hours
The Seven Magic Mountains is open for viewing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including all holidays. These hours cover both the artwork itself and the parking area.
What Are The Best Times to Visit The Seven Magic Mountains
The best times to visit the Seven Magic Mountains are weekday mornings before noon in order to avoid the heat and the largest crowds. Weekend mornings are a good time as well, but keep in mind that long holiday weekends and afternoons can get quite crowded.
Also, keep in mind that during the summer months of June through mid-September, it can get incredibly hot out in the desert. This makes the months of late September through May the best time to visit Seven Magic Mountains.
Parking at The Seven Magic Mountains
There is a large gravel parking lot at the Seven Magic Mountains. Parking is free, and there is plenty of room for oversized vehicles.
Can You Park An RV at The Seven Magic Mountains?
Yes, you can park an RV, trailer, or motorhome in the Seven Magic Mountains parking lot. As long as it is not too crowded, there is plenty of room in the parking area for a large RV or other oversized vehicle. The earlier in the day you visit, the better for parking large vehicles.
Instagram and The Seven Magic Mountains
The Seven Magic Mountains are one of Las Vegas’s most instagramable spots. When visiting, expect to see many people working hard to get the best images for their social media accounts.
Is The Seven Magic Mountains on The Way to The Grand Canyon?
Unfortunately, the Seven Magic Mountains are not on the way to the Grand Canyon. The three rims of the Grand Canyon are east of Las Vegas, while the Seven Magic Mountains are located directly south.
If you want to see the Grand Canyon, here’s how to get there from Las Vegas.
How Much Walking is Involved to Visit The Seven Magic Mountains?
It is just under 1/8th of a mile (600ft.) from the gravel parking lot to the Seven Magic Mountains sculpture along a mostly flat, dirt walkway. You will also want to do some additional walking in and around the neon-colored stacks of boulders.
Are The Seven Magic Mountains Dog-Friendly?
Yes, the Seven Magic Mountains is a dog-friendly location. You must keep your pet on a leash, and please be prepared to clean up after them and carry out their waste as there are no trashcans at the site.
Are The Seven Magic Mountains Wheelchair Accessible?
The Seven Magic Mountains are wheelchair accessible. While the parking lot and trail (1/8th of a mile) leading to the art installation are fairly flat, they are all dirt and gravel. Having an electric wheelchair or a strong pusher is required.
Is The Seven Magic Mountains Worth It?
A visit to the Seven Magic Mountains is absolutely worth it, especially since this artwork may not be here forever. If you are looking for something to do in Las Vegas away from the Strip, take a couple of hours to enjoy these vibrant boulders located not far away in the Mohave Desert.
Can You Take Pictures of The Seven Magic Mountains?
Absolutely! You are free to take all the personal pictures and videos you would like at the Seven Magic Mountains. Commercial photo shoots, pictures, and videos, however, are not permitted without written permission from the artist as the installation is a copyrighted work of art.
How Long Will We Want to Spend at Seven Magic Mountains?
You can expect to spend an hour at the Seven Magic Mountains. This will give you plenty of time to walk out to the sculpture, meander in between the tall, neon-colored towers, take pictures and walk back to the parking area.
Can You See The Seven Magic Mountains At Night?
Yes, you can visit the Seven Magic Mountains at night as the site is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. However, be aware that this is a remote area, and there is no artificial lighting. You will need to view the rock totems by flashlight or moonlight. It is recommended that you visit during daylight hours for the best view.
Are There Restrooms at The Seven Magic Mountains?
Officially, there are no bathrooms at the Seven Magic Mountains. On occasion, however, you may find a single porta-potty available for use, but there is no guarantee.
Are There Restaurants Near The Seven Magic Mountains?
Seven Magic Mountains is in a remote location even though it is just off the freeway, and as such, there is very little in the way of restaurants nearby. However, if you turn left (south) when leaving the parking lot, you can continue about five miles to the small town of Jean, where you can find a steakhouse and a truck stop.
Sometimes, but not always, there is a vendor that sets up shop in a trailer in the Seven Magic Mountains parking area. Here you can purchase snacks, drinks, and ice cream.
What Else Is Near The Seven Magic Mountains?
The towns of Primm (18 miles) and Jean (5 miles) are both located near the Seven Magic Mountains. You can also find the famous Pioneer Saloon about a 15-minute drive away. Finally, if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, you can check out the Jean/Roach Dry Lake.
Find on google maps:
- Primm
- Jean
- Pioneer Saloon
- Jean/Roach Lake
Other Things To Know Before You Visit The Seven Magic Mountains
- There is a mobile phone self-tour available at the Seven Magic Mountains. The tour is available in both English and Spanish by calling (702) 381-5182 once you’ve reached the site.
- Most months of the year, be prepared for hot and dry conditions. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. During late spring through early fall, expect temperatures in excess of 100°F.
- If rain appears imminent, be prepared for possible flash flooding in the area.
- Keep an eye out for snakes and the rare desert tortoise, and don’t disturb them if encountered.
- Do not climb or deface the stone sculpture.
- Please pick up after yourself and your pets.
Seven Magic Mountains – Conclusion
Visiting the Seven Magic Mountains is a surreal experience due to the combination of the vibrant neon towers and its remote desert location. When you’re visiting the artwork, it’s hard to believe that the casinos, lights, and action on the Las Vegas Strip are just 30-minutes away!
Recommended Reading: Best Las Vegas Day Trips (Ultimate Guide & Map) – This is a complete guide and map showing all our favorite Las Vegas day trips.
Other Day Trips From Las Vegas
- Red Rock Canyon from Las Vegas & Best Hikes
- Hoover Dam From Las Vegas
- Best Places for Stargazing Near Las Vegas
