Seven Magic Mountains

Seven Magic Mountains is a group of painted boulder towers by the Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, standing on open desert south of Las Vegas. It is well past LA, the one gem here across the state line, and it makes sense as a stop on the way to Vegas: about five miles off I-15 at Jean. It was never meant to last, so check that it is still there before you plan around it. A July 2025 report said its lease on federal land runs out in December 2026, older reports said May 2027, and what comes next is still being worked out.

What's Worth Seeing

The towers stand 30 to 35 feet tall, built from 33 boulders stacked in groups of three to six and painted in bright colors. They opened in May 2016 and were first planned to stay for two years. They stand out hard against the tan desert and the McCullough Range behind them.

Walk all the way around, since the colors and stacks change from each side. It is open desert with no shade, so bring water and a hat.

Good to Know

The site asks you not to climb on, move or deface the boulders, and defacing them can bring criminal penalties. Take your trash with you. There is no camping overnight, and sunrise to sunset is the preferred time to visit. Photos are allowed for private, noncommercial use, and the site does not allow professional gear like tripods and lighting umbrellas.

How to Get There

Coming from LA on I-15, take exit 12 at Jean, turn east on NV-161 toward Las Vegas Boulevard, and drive about five miles north. The towers are on your right.

Coming from Las Vegas, take I-15 south to Sloan Road (exit 25), turn east onto Las Vegas Boulevard, and drive about seven miles south. The towers are on your left.

The official visit page has the current rules and any notices. No reservation is needed.

Nearby

• Jean Dry Lake, the flat lakebed near the towers, drew earlier land artists including Michael Heizer and Jean Tinguely in the 1960s.
• Red Rock Canyon is west of Las Vegas if you want more desert on the same trip.
• Mojave National Preserve sits along I-15 on the California side, and it can break up the drive back.