I Visited Seven Magic Mountains from Vegas – It’s Deep

Key Points:

• Seven Magic Mountains is a 30-minute drive from resorts on the Strip, just off I-15.

• The display consists of 7 colorful stacks of boulders that contrast with the desert environment they occupy.

• Admission is free, as is parking in a small lot nearby. No reservation is needed.

Seven Magic Mountains is an outdoor public art installation created by artist Ugo Rondinone, consisting of seven stacks of colorful boulders over 30 feet tall.

It opened in 2016 and was only slated to be open for a couple of years, but it is still kicking it thanks to its popularity. According to the website, there are plans to extend Seven Magic Mountains’ lifespan further.

The attraction is located in the middle of the desert, near the Jean Dry Lake Bed (visible in the distance in the image below).

The site is a 25-30 minute drive from resorts along the Strip, south on I-15, then onto Sloan Road. It’s an easy, scenic drive.

On the surface, the art installation doesn’t seem worthy of a trip from Las Vegas. Stacks of colorful rocks in the desert? Like… why?

But it’s the contrast that makes it interesting. That makes it a great photo opportunity, as it “punctuates the Mojave with a poetic burst of form and color.”

On the approach, there’s a sign that describes the thought process behind Seven Magic Mountains, and, as a non-artsy type, it gave me a deeper appreciation for the work.

The totems are inspired by Hoodoos, which are naturally occurring rock formations, and the art offers “a contemporary critique of the simulacra in nearby Las Vegas”.

I had to Google what “simulacra” means, but I think it means the art points out how artificial and out of place Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert by doing the same thing on a smaller scale, which is kind of deep. Consider me moved.

I pulled up at 7:30 am, and essentially had the place to myself for the half hour I wandered and snapped photos.

Most don’t equate a trip to Las Vegas with the outdoors, but few things beat venturing into the desert to sightsee, preferably in the morning, especially during the hot summer months.

Other outdoor activities near Vegas that should be on your radar include Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Valley of Fire State Park, the St. Thomas Ghost Town Site, Hoover Dam.

I slept on all of the above for years and years, thinking all the action was at the craps table, but boy was I wrong. This is the Ice Box Canyon hiking trail at Red Rock Canyon

Is Seven Magic Mountains Worth a Visit?

Look, it’s legitimately 7 stacks of colorful boulders in the middle of the desert. You likely know whether or not this is up your alley.

It won’t be for everyone.

As for me, I love venturing out into the desert as the sun rises and before the heat and crowds take over. It’s peaceful, and the photo opportunities are great. I may just screw around and put one of my pics on a canvas for my office.