Seven Magic Mountains
It seems like Instagram opportunities are everywhere you look. I mean, a beautiful breakfast or a fun tile floor can qualify especially since IG is an app that lets you post whatever you feel like. It also seems like there are opportunities created just for the ‘gram like The Museum of Ice Cream or Color Factory.
And then there are candy colored boulders stacked in the middle of the desert which must be visited to be understood.
What is it?
Seven Magic Mountains is a site-specific large-scale art installation alongside Interstate 15 south of Las Vegas. Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone opened it to the public in May 2016 and it will be up for two years (we are closing in on the latter part of the installation).
How to get to Seven Magic Mountains
I knew that the installation was on the way to Las Vegas but I didn’t know how easily accessible it is. For comparison, I drove 22 miles out of the way to see ancient native glyphs and I have visited Salvation Mountain which is really out in the middle of nowhere.
To reach Seven Magic Mountains one simply has to keep an eye out and take exit 12 or 25 on the I-15 in Nevada and then take the side road. There are signs alerting you to the exits. We passed it (accidentally!) but it was a very quick backtrack on the access road. You can definitely see the installation from the freeway, but if you’re cruising at 75 or 80 miles per hour, blink and you will miss it.
There is something about the way the bright colors stand out against the muted desert landscape of brush growth and the purple mountains as a backdrop that makes these “magic mountains” all the more impressive and inspiring. Similar to Levitated Mass in Los Angeles, photos aren’t really able to convey the enormity until you see a person next to one of the pillars.
Photography tips
Arriving during sunrise or golden hour would produce some wonderful shots, I’m sure. The sun can be intense out there so make sure to use a filter on your camera (I only have a basic one* currently but would like to learn more about different filters). Thinking about how I could improve my photos has also resulted in these two hoods* sitting in my Amazon cart right now.
Playing with framing and angles is the best way to avoid unintentional bystanders in your photos. It is a popular place for selfies!
It’s pretty hot out there in the desert. I was photographing for maybe 10 to 15 minutes in May, and I got pretty parched. Definitely bring a water bottle with you if you plan on being out much longer. Oh, and there are no bathroom facilities so don’t expect anything like that.
I’m so happy we pulled off the freeway and backtracked to see these pillars. I’m even more grateful now that I know that they are part of a two-year installation and won’t be around forever. Have you visited Seven Magic Mountains or any other roadside art? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments.
If you’re headed to Las Vegas make sure to check out Viator for the best deals on shows and tours*.
All photos by Staci Jackson for The Voyageer.
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I love your photography tips. Smart move!
I stopped by this exhibition last June. It was very hot but I loved the colorful stack of rocks. I hope they keep this permanently. #TheWeeklyPostcard
I’ve seen and heard so much about this lately! I definitely want to go bc I love anything colorful! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!
how unusual! #theweeklypostcard
I love these photos!! I saw this on IG a while back, but to be honest I thought they were some kind of deflated balloons piled on top of each other. With bigger pictures, I can now see that they’re rocks! haha. Very IG-worthy indeed, and I think you took great pictures despite the other people around!
I didn’t get a chance to see them last time I was in Vegas. I didn’t realize they would only be there for 2 years! I need to get back there, I would love to see it in person and try my luck photographing it. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
We visited this installation in July and it was 115 degrees… needless to say our visit was short! LOL! Still I loved seeing the brightly colored “mountains!”
Oops! #theweeklypostcard
Oh! It’s the first time I see pictures if this place! Those figures are so curious! Very IG friendly, indeed. Thanks for sharing in #TheWeeklyPostcard.
What cool sculptures and a perfect IG subject. I am constantly amazed at the creativeness of IG photos and the photographers behind the lenses. I am always inspired. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Yeah I have seen many images for the Seven Magic Mountains on Instagram – they are colourful and having them as works of art in the middle of a desert is a brilliant idea! #TheWeeklyPostcard
I love them. It’s the first time I see them. Till when are they there? #TheWeeklypostcard
Thanks for sharing details about getting to Seven Magic Mountains. I’d love to visit these candy colored boulders stacked on top of each other in the middle of the desert. Hopefully I’ll make it to Las Vegas soon, before somebody decides to knock them down. #TheWeeklyPostcard
We stopped over the summer and really enjoyed our time there. I mean, where else can you find colored boulders in the middle of the desert, right!? We almost missed the exit ourselves too even though we knew we would soon pass them. Definitely a good idea to be ready for the exit! #theweeklypostcard
Still haven’t made it out to see this! Maybe a good excuse for a winter trip to Las Vegas. (As if one needed an excuse to visit Vegas. 😉 We’re with you on the desire to up our photography game, but we think your pictures of The Mountains came out really well! Thanks for sharing them on #TheWeeklyPostcard.