Seven Magic Mountains

Seven Magic Mountains at sunset Stephanie Vermillion (Atlas Obscura User)

Most people visit Las Vegas for casinos and crazy night clubs, but drive 10 miles beyond the Sin City walls and you’ll come face to face with one of Nevada’s most unique and unknown sights, the Seven Magic Mountains.

Built as a public art exhibit by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, the 30-foot fluorescent “totems” stand like brightly colored beacons lighting up the desert sky. Rondinone used locally sourced boulders, and chose this location because it’s “physically and symbolically mid-way between the natural and the artificial.”

Visitors can walk right up to the stacked boulders, as well as read interpretive signage and use cell phones to listen to an audio tour.

Update as of July 2019: Though the Seven Magic Mountains were intended to be taken down in 2018, the Bureau of Land Management issued a three-year permit for the display to remain through the end of 2021.

Know Before You Go

Open sunrise to sunset. From Las Vegas: Follow I-15 S to Sloan Rd (exit 25). Turn left (east) to Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive approximately 7 miles south on Las Vegas Blvd. and the artwork will appear on your left (east). From Los Angeles: Drive north on I-15 to Jean, NV (exit 12). Turn right (east) on NV-161 toward Las Vegas Blvd. Drive approximately 5 miles north on Las Vegas Blvd. and the artwork will appear on your right (east). There are brown and white directional signs pointing to Seven Magic Mountains starting just before the exit off the I-15 and along the access road. Park in the dirt parking lot. No restrooms on site. Rattlesnakes have been seen in this area, so wear closed footwear and stay alert.