When I flew home for a few days this summer out of Vegas there was one thing I knew I needed to in the short time I was there, and it technically isn’t even in what everyone thinks of as Vegas, the strip.
I had to see the Seven Magic Mountains, just a short drive from the strip. The piece was done by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. There are seven fluorescent rock towers arranged out in the middle of the desert. Two of the things I love. Art and the desert.
The weather wasn’t great, but it did make for some good pictures with the gray clouds. It also wasn’t busy at all when I went. There were a few other people, but nothing even close to annoying.
Obviously, I was able to get pictures without other people in them. It was something cool to see and would be the perfect stop to stretch your legs and see something exciting on a long road trip.
Helpful things:
- This is about a 20 minute drive from the Las Vegas strip and totally worth the visit.
- It’s super easy to find. Just keep going through downtown on I70 and eventually you’ll start to see brown signs that say Seven Magic Mountains. Just follow those.
- It’s only a two year installation and it will be done in May 2018. (UPDATE 2020: It’s still there, so I think it’s permanent now.)
Have you been to Seven Magic Mountains? Do you want to? What did you think of it?
Never heard of this. How awesome and great pics! Sharing!
Right!? I found it right before I was going there. It was perfect!
I love your photography, so vivid against the grey clouds. I have been to Vegas but have not seen that. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! I guess it was just put up last May so it’s fairly new. I think it was good timing on my part when I went haha
I have heard of this, I also heard that it is to be torn down at some point, Do you know if this is true?
As far as I know, yes.
Sad in a way, It is so Beautiful!
I agree, it’s so cool, but it was exciting getting a chance to see it. I didn’t even know it was a limited time thing until I wrote this.
I learned about it a few months ago, I can not recall though where I read about it.
This is so cool. When I first saw the pictures it didn’t even look real. I’ll have to keep this in mind if I ever find myself out that way.
Right!? It’s a cool stop if you have an extra hour in Vegas
Didn’t even know it existed, I feel there are a lot of hidden gems around Vegan and I’d love to explore them
The Quirky Queer
Right!? I think I saw it on Instagram or something and needed to know where it was haha. I would love to see more of Nevada, this and Vegas for a couple days are my only experience
This looks awesome! And different from the usual Vegas activities. I’m adding it to my list. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.theufuoma.com
Of course! It was a nice break from the strip, I can only imagine what it’s like at night!
I really want to do a big US road trip and THIS is so on my list of stop off points. Looks like fun. 🙂
Definitely! It’ll have to be soon though since it’ll be gone after May of next year!
This is so cool! I’ve been to Nevada before, but I’ve never heard of the 7 Magic Mountains before!
Right!? I started seeing it on Instagram all of a sudden then went when i was there and realized it was only a two year thing when I was writing this! Crazy!
I like the ominous sky. Makes it more interesting.
Yes, I loved the sky that day!
I’ve never heard of this, though I’ve admittedly never been to Vegas. It’s stunning, though—I love the contrast of the bright rocks with the desolate desert. Good to know about some less… hedonistic activities for when I eventually make it out to Vegas 😉
Yes! Unfortunately it’s only there until May of 2018, but that’s more time than i thought! It was super cool to explore, though, I loved it. I can’t say I spent much time in Vegas, either, just a few days, but it was enough then haha
I’ve never heard of this, but it looks really cool! Adding it to my bucket list!
Yes! I loved it! It’s only around until May of 2018, though, which is a bummer but kind of cool at the same time!
I have never heard about the Seven Magic Mountains. They look so colorful.. Would love to see them once. Will definitely put them among the bucketlist of the USA.
For sure! It’s nice and bright in the brown desert haha
So cool. Actually planning to go this summer. I actually saw the one in Miami 🙂
Awesome! I didn’t know there was one in Miami, but I bet it was cool! Hopefully I’ll be there this winter!
How cool! I love Vegas and the desert around it and this just makes me want to go back even more!
Yes! I love the desert and would love to explore more of Nevada’s!
I’m going to Vegas in June – is there any other way out there except for renting a car?
You could probably take an Uber or taxi! I don’t think it would be too expensive? I’d say it’s worth it, I really enjoyed it!
YES I do!! What a great spot 👌🏻
I loved it!
I had no idea where this was, and it’s so close to me! (I live in San Diego, so Vegas is pretty accessible.) I will definitely check this out. How pretty!
Yes! It was super cool!
I’ve been super interested in seeing these ever since I first heard they existed! Usually there are cheap flights to Vegas from my hometown, so I might just have to stop by…
Yes! It could be a fun weekend getaway! Valley of Fire State Park is just outside of Vegas too and awesome!
Such a unique place to visit. Will definitely be on my list if I go to Vega
Yes! It’s super cool!
Wow. Just wow! This looks absolutely amazing! I think the cloudy day worked out perfectly for your photos. This looks like my kind of Vegas trip! Adding to my list of things to see in the US
Agreed! I went back like a month later and spent time on the strip, but I would like this kind of thing much more. Valley of Fire State Park is like an hour away and super cool, too!
I hadn’t heard of this before, but it looks so cool!
It was super awesome! Apparently there’s one in Miami, too!
How cool. I was just in Vegas for a few hours, but I had no idea these existed. I’d like to do a real trip someday instead of a layover, and hopefully these are still there when I get around to it.
They’ll be there until May of 2018, so a little over a year. I’d like to see more of Vegas and the area around it!
I’m not familiar with this installation but it looks really interesting. Thanks for sharing!
For sure! Apparently there’s one in Miami, too!
I think the colours pop against the sky. Yay for grey clouds! I’ve not visited Las Vegas but it’s one of those bucket list destinations, for sure. Now I know I have a reason to hire a car and get away from the madness to explore the desert!
It’s definitely a good place to go for a little break from the vegas chaos! Valley of Fire State Park is awesome, too!
I love art pop ups in random places like that! I hadn’t heard of Seven Magic Mountains however it’s unlikely it was there when I visited Vegas several years ago now. Good luck with the Instagram competition!
Yes! This is the first I’ve seen like it and I think it’s only bee up since May 2016 (to 2018) and there’s a permanent one in Miami!
Wow, this looks so cool and vibrant!
Yes! It was wonderful!
I agree – there is something really neat about art in a desert setting!
It’s just so nice to see something so cool in the middle of the desert
This is really interesting every time I visit vegas I try to do something away from the strip, last year I did the neon boneyard but will have to try get to this before it leaves!
Ahh I wanted to do that but didn’t make it! It’s a little farther and youd definitely need a car, but Valley of Fire State Park is really cool, too! It’s like an hour away
Wow that’s cool to find art in the middle of the desert! I’d be very surprised if I found it by chance in the middle of a road trip. They look cool and it’s nice that you could visit without too many people around.
Yes! I don’t know what it’s like during the day, I went in the evening so I think that helped.
Didn’t even know about these. I want to see them before they come down. You’re they make good photographs.
Yes! I thought it was done this May, but at least that’s another year to see them! I’ll probably stop by if I’m in the area again!
Need to visit — Vegas AND the Magic Mountains. One day, one day. I like the gloomy clouds juxtaposed with the bright rocks.
Me too! Even when I went to the Strip, I didn’t do much. I’d like to go back to see more of it!
Beautiful pictures 💗
Great post!
Thank you! 😀
oouuoaoou!! what a magic! i never been to USA and its on my bucket list! 🙂
This is definitely some awesome to add if you’re here by May of 2018!
Art and the desert <3 two things i love too 🙂 I never knew this was out there. Did you enter the instagram competition?
I didn’t know about it when I went, but posted a few pictures for it yesterday because I was just excited about them and entered haha
I’m fascinated with art installations. Is there supposed to be a meaning on this? Or not? Was it done for aesthetics only?
“Visible across the desert landscape along Interstate 15, Seven Magic Mountains offers a creative critique of the simulacra of destinations like Las Vegas. According to Rondinone, the location is physically and symbolically mid-way between the natural and the artificial: the natural is expressed by the mountain ranges, desert, and Jean Dry Lake backdrop, and the artificial is expressed by the highway and the constant flow of traffic between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. That’s what the website says, kind of cool!
I am so amazed by all the amazing things to do outside of the typical vegas trip. I would absolutely love to see the Seven Magic Mountains, so thank you for featuring them. p.s. love your blog 🙂
For sure! I would highly recommend Valley of Fire about an hour outside of Vegas, too! And thank you! 😀
I wonder how they are fixed so they don’t fall down on each other or someone doesn’t force them down?
I was actually wondering that, too. I couldn’t really find anything about that.
Oh, I think I heard of this place before! I love your photos, this is exactly the kind of place i´d like to visit and of course, photograph! 🙂
I’ve been to Las Vegas hundreds of times and I’ve never even heard of this… how is that even possible?! Now I know! Can’t wait to go there now!! Thank you!
Haha, well it’s only been around since May of 2016 if that helps. I’m glad you’ll be able to see it now!
OMG this looks awesome! I haven’t had much interest in visiting Vegas, but I would love to go for things like this! Saving for future reference 🙂
I agree. It was never somewhere I was like I need to go there! It was cheap to fly out of and I happened to hear of this before I went so it worked out!
Amazing! I was in Las Vegas only once, and then a couple of days and time was clearly not enough, but I really liked it there. I think I will come there again, but for a longer period!
There is so much to do there, I hope you get to experience more of it 🙂