Seven Magic Mountains & Las Vegas Sign tour: stacked boulder art

Stand beneath vibrant stone towers that defy the desert’s vastness and time

This tour visits two public art landmarks near Las Vegas: Seven Magic Mountains, a site-specific installation of seven colorful boulder towers standing over thirty feet high in the Ivanpah Valley, and the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign, the 1959 landmark on Las Vegas Boulevard. Hotel pickup is included, and the tour runs two hours. Choose the 8am departure to beat the heat and crowds, or the 3pm slot for a later start; a 4pm option runs in summer only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Seven Magic Mountains and Las Vegas Sign

• See Seven Magic Mountains art installation
• Visit Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign

The Experience

Seven Magic Mountains sits about ten miles south of Las Vegas, near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15. Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone designed the installation as seven towers of stacked, colorful boulders — each standing more than thirty feet high — arranged in the Mojave Desert within the Ivanpah Valley. The work was produced by the Nevada Museum of Art and opened in May 2016. Originally planned for two years, it has remained on view because of its popularity, and the artist has expressed interest in keeping it at the site. No reservations are needed; you simply arrive and walk among the towers.

The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign is the second stop. Designed by Betty Willis in 1959 and funded by the Clark County, Nevada, the sign sits in the median at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South, roughly four miles south of the city limits. It marks what many consider the official southern end of the Strip. The sign has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the region, and the tour includes time to photograph it and take in the surrounding area.

Pickup starts at 7am for the 8am departure, 2pm for the 3pm departure, and 3pm for the 4pm summer-only departure. The entrance fee to Seven Magic Mountains is included. The entire outing takes two hours, making it a compact addition to a Las Vegas itinerary without eating into a full day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• entrance fee to Seven Magic Mountains.
• guided visits to both Seven Magic Mountains and the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Las Vegas and Grand Canyon Tours

Is this one for you?The 8am departure suits anyone who wants to photograph both sites in natural light and avoid the desert heat; the 3pm option works better if you're sleeping in or prefer an afternoon outing. Both visits fit easily into a single morning or afternoon without dominating your day.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

175 verified traveler reviews

5 ★160

4 ★5

3 ★7

2 ★1

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How far is Seven Magic Mountains from Las Vegas?

Seven Magic Mountains is located approximately ten miles south of Las Vegas, near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15 in the Ivanpah Valley.

What is Seven Magic Mountains made of?

Seven Magic Mountains consists of seven towers of stacked, colorful boulders, each standing more than thirty feet high. The installation was created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone as a site-specific public art work in the Mojave Desert.

Do I need to book in advance to see Seven Magic Mountains?

No reservations are necessary to visit Seven Magic Mountains. You can walk among the towers when you arrive as part of the tour.

Which departure time should I choose?

The 8am departure (pickup from 7am) is best if you want to avoid the midday heat and see the site with fewer crowds. The 3pm departure (pickup from 2pm) works if you prefer a later start; a 4pm option runs during summer months only.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and the entrance fee to Seven Magic Mountains are included. The tour lasts two hours and visits both Seven Magic Mountains and the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign.