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Seven Magic Mountains is a colorful art installation located off Interstate 15 (I-15) in Nevada. It is free and open to the public. The seven vibrant towers reach up to 35-feet above the rocky desert ground. These boulders are “locally sourced” and painted bright colors.

According to the artist, Ugo 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.”

About the Artist: Ugo Rondinone

Ugo Rondinone, born 1964 in Brunnen, Switzerland, lives and works in New York and has long embraced a fluid range of forms and media. By allowing himself such formal, Rondinone creates the conditions for an expansive emotional range. His work has become recognized for its ability to channel both psychological expressiveness and profound insight in the human condition and the relationship between human being and nature. Referring concurrently to the natural world, romanticism and existentialism, his works encapsulate a “mental trinity” that has underpinned his art for more than twenty years.

Taken from sevenmagicmountains.com

Exhibit Length

The cutting of boulders began in 2015 and the completed installation debuted on May 11, 2016. It was scheduled to be on display for two years, but in 2018 the Nevada Bureau of Land Management issued a three-year permit extension for the artwork. Seven Magic Mountains will be viewable until the end of 2021.

Getting There

From Los Angeles, drive north on the I-15 to Jean, Nevada (Exit 12). Turn right on NV-161 toward Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive approximately 5 miles north on Las Vegas Boulevard and the artwork will appear on your right.

To access the installation from Las Vegas, follow the I-15 South to Sloan Road (Exit 25). Turn left to Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive approximately 7 miles south and the artwork will be on the left.

Travel tip: Prepare for hot, dry conditions. Daytime high temperatures during the summer months average 104° F (40° C) and above. Wear sunscreen and a hat. Although the desert is dry, seasonal monsoons can occur with little warning and flash floods are possible!