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Seven Magic Mountains Las Vegas: Complete Visitor Guide

Seven Magic Mountains Las Vegas: Complete Visitor Guide

Are you thinking about visiting the Seven Magic Mountains in Las Vegas? We took the short drive from the Vegas strip to see the Seven Magic Mountains during our latest trip to Vegas and we’re going to explain exactly how you can visit the vibrantly colored boulder tower art installation in the desert.

Is it worth the drive and time on your Las Vegas itinerary to visit Seven Magic Mountains?

In short, yes Seven Magic Mountains is worth a quick day trip from Las Vegas, especially if you are interested in photography or modern art concepts. But let’s cover this question in greater detail.

Here’s what we will show you in this guide:

  • Seven Magic Mountains location and how to get there from Las Vegas
  • Parking at the art exhibit
  • Photos of Seven Magic Mountains
  • Exactly what you can expect when you arrive
  • Our overall verdict of whether it is worth visiting

Let’s start planning your trip to the Seven Magic Mountains in the Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, Nevada!

What Is Seven Magic Mountains?

Seven Magic Mountains is a public art exhibit consisting of seven multicolored boulder towers stacked more than thirty feet high, created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone and located in the Ivanpah Valley of the Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, Nevada.

The strikingly vibrant art installation looks entirely out of place in the arid desert surrounded by dull mountains and Interstate 15.

But that is precisely the ingenuity of this creative concept. Seven Magic Mountains represents the middle ground between old and new, naturally made and man made.

Each of the individual structures was created by stacking between three and six locally sourced boulders painted in loud, flamboyant and dazzling colors on top of one another.

We have included Seven Magic Mountains in our list of 40 best things to do in Las Vegas.

Seven Magic Mountains boulders painted vibrant colors and stacked with people taking photos around the towers and a deep blue sky
All 7 of the Seven Magic Mountains in a line

Is Seven Magic Mountains Still Open?

Seven Magic Mountains is open 24 hours a day to the public without restrictions or barriers. At one time there were barriers in place surrounding the art exhibit but they are no longer an issue.

Originally opened to the public in May 2016, the Seven Magic Mountains exhibition was only slated to be a temporary fixture for two years.

However, the popularity of Seven Magic Mountains surpassed expectations and for now there is no concrete date in place for its eventual closure.

Where Is Seven Magic Mountains?

Seven Magic Mountains is located near Jean Dry Lake on Interstate 15 around ten miles from south Las Vegas in Nevada.

The exact location of these brightly painted and vividly colored boulders was chosen to represent the half way point between nature and the artificially constructed city of Las Vegas.

How Far Is Seven Magic Mountains From The Las Vegas Strip?

Seven Magic Mountains is exactly 21 miles from the Bellagio Fountain, which is half way up the Las Vegas Strip.

If you stay on the south end of the strip near Luxor the distance is 20 miles. But if you stay on the north end of the strip near the Venetian the distance is 22 miles.

How To Get There

Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Blvd run parallel to one another and either road will take you from the Las Vegas Strip to Seven Magic Mountains.

If you take I-15, you will need to exit onto Las Vegas Blvd either at Speed Vegas or at the Chevron garage near Jean and Goodsprings.

Anyone driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas will naturally pass by Seven Magic Mountains on the way into Vegas.

Take the slip road at the Chevron garage to stop at the art installation on your way in.

Can you take an Uber to Seven Magic Mountains?

Yes, you can take an Uber from Las Vegas to Seven Magic Mountains but getting back to Las Vegas could be an issue. You should make sure the driver is willing to wait for you at the exhibit and take you back to Vegas afterwards.

Parking lot on gravel with cars and ATV's filling the spaces
Gravel parking area for visiting the art exhibit

Seven Magic Mountains Parking

Parking for Seven Magic Mountains is located off Las Vegas Blvd. The gravel parking lot has plenty of space to accommodate visitors even during peak hours around lunch time.

We recommend you type “Seven Magic Mountains Parking” into your GPS or Maps app of choice. Or you can click here to load up the exact parking spot on Google Maps now.

Check to see if I-15 or Las Vegas Blvd is the quickest route based on live traffic at the time of your visit.

You can see Seven Magic Mountains from the parking lot and it’s just a short walk to the exhibit.

How Much Does It Cost To Visit Seven Magic Mountains?

There is no entry cost or parking fee associated with visiting Seven Magic Mountains. This is a free to visit art installation open to the public 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Not having to pay for something is always a nice bonus, but this is especially true in Las Vegas!

Parking lot near Seven Magic Mountains photo with drone to show walking distance between exhibit and parking area
Short walk from parking lot on Las Vegas Blvd to exhibit

Seven Magic Mountains Photoshoot

Most people are visiting Seven Magic Mountains to take photos. After all, it is an incredibly photogenic art exhibit in the middle of a dry desert.

We took our camera and we flew our drone quickly to snap a few arial photos of Seven Magic Mountains. There were several others flying drones and we waited our turn so the noise wasn’t too much for everyone else below.

Are you going to Seven Magic Mountains for a photoshoot or instagram photos?

You should be aware that it is almost always busy here. For the best Seven Magic Mountains photoshoot images with nobody else around, you are going to have to come at sunrise.

Photos Of Seven Magic Mountains In Las Vegas

We would have preferred to visit the colorful boulders at sunrise or sunset for soft light and much better photos. However, our itinerary fell another way and unfortunately we couldn’t make dawn or dusk.

The vibrant rock towers would be an excellent photo location for pro or serious hobbyist photographers who have the chance to visit during golden hour.

Here are just a few of the Seven Magic Mountains photos we took during our visit, starting with close ups and ending with drone photos.

Photographer posing against a pink colored boulder
Kristen stood against boulder for perspective
Wide angle photo of a boulder tower with paint in the desert
Wide angle photo to show full size of boulder stacks from below
Side angle photo of colorful art exhibit the Seven Magic Mountains in Las Vegas NV
Side angle photo of the exhibit with plenty of people taking photos
Tourists taking selfies with colorful boulder stacks in the Mojave desert
Slightly further out from the exhibit to show amount of tourists on site
Birds eye view drone photo of Seven Magic Mountains from directly above with crowds and shadows near Las Vegas
Birds eye view of Seven Magic Mountains drone photo taken from directly above
Drone photo of art installation in the desert with people walking to and from the exhibit
Aerial image to show the exhibit surrounded by mountains and desert
High up drone photo of Seven Magic Mountains art exhibit near Las Vegas with mountains in the background and I-15 running to the side
Photo from higher up looking down on the exhibit

What To Expect When Visiting The Exhibit

We think Las Vegas is one of the best places to visit in the USA and Seven Magic Mountains is an easy day trip option.

But what exactly can you expect to find when you arrive at the tall boulder stacks?

Crowds

Las Vegas is a year round tourist magnet and this is a popular attraction within easy drive of the Vegas Strip. So, the first thing you can expect is crowds.

If you want to avoid crowds, we recommend visiting Seven Magic Mountains between 6-8am or after sunset once the crowds thin.

We have to say that the sheer volume of people on site was by far the worst part of the overall experience during our visit. But that was our own fault for visiting at eleven in the morning.

Accessibility

Walking to the Seven Magic Mountains art exhibit is easy, flat and takes no longer than a few minutes.

The dirt path is made up of small stones and can be uneven but it should be no issue for robust strollers or wheelchairs. We even saw someone riding one of those electric self balancing hoverboard scooters.

If you want to find a quieter or unique spot to take photos you will have to walk among untrodden desert vegetation.

The Boulder Towers

We were pleasantly surprised by the Seven Magic Mountains art installation itself.

It isn’t gimmicky or pretentious. Instead, it is curiously thought provoking once you can see past the endless photo shoots and consider its deeper meaning.

You can walk around, between and through each of the boulder towers as you please.

Most people will be standing up against a colorful boulder at the base of a tower for perspective photos.

Man with camera walking away from colorful stack of boulders on sand
Mark walking away from one of the boulder stacks with camera in hand

Things To Do At Seven Magic Mountains

The best things to do at Seven Magic Mountains are to walk around the exhibit and take plenty of photos. If you appreciate modern art and cool concepts, you will enjoy the vibrant exhibit.

There really isn’t anything else you can do at Seven Magic Mountains.

You won’t find any other attractions, hiking trails, alternative photo spots or fun places to visit in the immediate area.

You will simply drive down from Las Vegas, park your car, walk around the Seven Magic Mountain art installation, take some photos and then leave.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Seven Magic Mountains is at sunrise when the light is soft and crowds are at a minimum. Visiting on a weekday morning will give you the best chance of being alone at the popular art exhibit.

Alternatively, if you enjoy astrophotography, we’re sure Seven Magic Mountains at night would make for a spectacular subject. You could us torches to light paint the exhibit under a Milky Way.

The worst time to visit Seven Magic Mountains is around lunch time on a weekend or holiday in peak Las Vegas tourist season.

Our Seven Magic Mountains Experience

We needed to get away from the Vegas Strip for a few hours during our third visit to Sin City, so we grabbed our camera and drone, hit the desert roads and set our GPS for Seven Magic Mountains.

It was approaching lunch time and despite visiting Las Vegas in November, the temperature was warm enough for jeans and a light sweater. The sky was a deep blue and the sun was blazing.

We tried to wait for a cycle of crowds thinning but it never really came so we didn’t stick around too long. In total, we were on site for no longer than 30 minutes.

If we were to go back for a second visit, we would arrive at Seven Magic Mountains around one hour before sunrise so we could enjoy both night photography and sunrise photography.

Is Seven Magic Mountains Worth Visiting?

So, to summarize, do we personally think Seven Magic Mountains is worth it?

Well, honestly yes and no.

Here’s who should visit Seven Magic Mountains:

  • Pro and hobbyist photographers, instagrammers and those on photo shoots
  • Art enthusiasts or anyone who genuinely appreciates modern artistic concepts
  • Those with at least 3-4 days in Las Vegas looking for a quick, easy and free day trip

Here’s who should NOT visit Seven Magic Mountains:

  • Those not interested in photography or art
  • Anyone who would prefer to take a more active day trip from Las Vegas
  • Those with just one or two days in Las Vegas

We stand by our claim that visiting Seven Magic Mountains is one of the best things to do around Las Vegas, because for many visitors it will be a highlight.

But if you’re not interested in art or photography, you should give Seven Magic Mountains a miss and instead hike in Red Rock Canyon or explore the stunning Valley of Fire State Park.

Seven Magic Mountains FAQ’s

Let’s take a quick look at some of the most asked questions about Seven Magic Mountains near Las Vegas, Nevada.

How long do people spend at Seven Magic Mountains?

The average visitor should plan to spend between 30 minutes – 1 hour on site at Seven Magic Mountains. However, if you are visiting the exhibit with the intention of taking plenty of instagram photos, you will need to allow for more time.

Is it free to visit Seven Magic Mountains?

Yes, it is completely free to visit Seven Magic Mountains near Las Vegas. It is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year and you can walk around the art exhibit at any time of day or night.

Can you hike at Seven Magic Mountains?

There are no designated hiking trails at Seven Magic Mountains. Visitors will walk a short dusty path from the parking lot to the art exhibit but there are no hikes leading away in any direction.

Las Vegas Guides

Things To Do – Do you know exactly what you will do in Vegas? If not sure yet, read our ultimate guide to the 40 top things to do on and off the Las Vegas strip both on and off the famous strip.

Best Hotels – Which of the iconic hotels will you stay at on the strip? Read our comprehensive guide to the 25 best Las Vegas hotels on the strip to see which looks best for you.

Best Shows – Do you know which Vegas shows you want to watch? Here are the 30 best shows in Las Vegas to help choose the perfect experience for your visit.

November – Planning a visit to Vegas in Autumn? Here are 10 key things you need to know about taking a trip to Las Vegas in November.

Food Tour – Want to try something unique in Vegas? Read our review of the Las Vegas Secret Food Tour to see if tasting celebrity chef dishes is a good fit for your travel plans.

Las Vegas Day Trip Guides

Day Trips – Planning a day trip on your visit to Vegas? Here are the 10 best day trips from Las Vegas with details on how to DIY or take a tour.

Death Valley – Want to stand at the lowest point in North America? Plan your day trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley with these two action packed itineraries.

Valley of Fire – The most photogenic landscape near Las Vegas, here’s our complete guide to the 15 best things to do on a visit to Valley of Fire state park.

Fire Wave – Exactly what you can expect from hiking Fire Wave Trail in Valley of Fire State Park (the most popular thing to do).

Red Rock Canyon – Looking for another awesome place to hike near Las Vegas? Here’s our guide to the 10 top hiking trails at Red Rock Canyon less than half an hour from the Vegas strip.

Hoover Dam – Are you planning to visit the Hoover Dam on your trip to the US southwest? Read our complete guide to visiting Hoover Dam from Las Vegas and exactly what you can expect.

US Southwest Guides

Grand Canyon – A must visit landscape, here is our ultimate guide to visiting Grand Canyon South Rim and our popular hiking guide the 17 best hikes at Grand Canyon South Rim.

Sedona – One of our favorite places to visit in the US, here are our guides to the 20 best things to do in Sedona, the 20 best hikes in Sedona and the perfect Sedona itinerary.

Zion – One of the most popular US national parks, here are our guides to the 20 best hikes in Zion and the perfect one day Zion itinerary.

Want more Nevada content? Head over to our Nevada Travel Guides to explore State Parks, beautiful landscapes and the best things to do in Las Vegas.

We hope this guide to visiting the Seven Magic Mountains helps with planning your visit to Las Vegas, Nevada!

Please let us know if you have any questions about visiting Seven Magic Mountains or Las Vegas below in the comments.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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