We travel to Las Vegas from Los Angeles and back quite often. It’s hard to miss the colorful rock formation off the I-15 near Jean Lake. Even though it’s a relatively new roadside attraction, it’s taken us up until recently to make our way to the mysterious Seven Magic Mountains.

According to the Seven Magic Mountains site, the story behind the mysterious Seven Magic Mountains, “Renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s colorful large-scale, public artwork Seven Magic Mountains is a two-year exhibition located in the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring seven thirty to thirty-five-foot high dayglow totems comprised of painted, locally-sourced boulders.”

“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.”

It’s an easy jaunt off the I-15 to the installation. There is ample parking, and a very short walk from there to to reach Seven Magic Mountains. You might have to get creative to get a good photo opp as there is a chance there will be a number of people competing to get a photo or video. If you are there just to take it all in, even better.

From the Seven Magic Mountains site:

GETTING THERE

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).

Please park in the onsite parking lot. Street parking is discouraged. No public transportation is available to the installation site.

For more info check out sevenmagicmountains.com