Awesome side trip while touring around the Salton Sea. We went after a heavy rain so we didn't get to ascend the golden stairs or go inside. We did get to meet Ron an artist who continues the legacy and offers background information. He's awesome. Well worth the trip. Be sure to contine on to East Jesus. You'll enjoy the visual overload! read more

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I have been hearing about this place for years. People talk about it, it's been written up a few times and I have seen a few photos. I always try to go to places with limited expectations, I like to form my own opinions and not be jaded either way by other peoples thoughts. This place can get hot and really there is no way to cool down, no shade and no air conditioned information center. I am amazed and taken back by the visual force that this work presents. The space that it occupies is worthless in many ways, it's dusty and dirty. The way that it sticks out of the landscape is possibly horrendous and abrasive to some. The message might not be understood by some but it's clear as day, maybe to some the obvious is not to be understood at all. The religious aspect is clear but also up for some interpretation. It is what it is and while its visually interesting to some it might not be stimulating at all to others. It might be Folk Art to some and it might be an environmental mess to others. It just all depends on how you look at it. As a road side attraction it's amazing, as a destination it has nothing to offer. Art is what art is and this place is unlike anything else. I find it interesting in many ways but it certainly has not changed my life. I am sad that I was not in time to meet the artist. It's a wonderful expression of his life. read more

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My wife and I decided to come visit as a last minute thing for the weekend and it is awesome. Even the trip itself to get here was fun. Driving along the Salton Sea on one side and a train going the same speed on the other. It's mostly desert but surprisingly there are great views all around to be able to enjoy. We didn't get a chance to check out more of Slab City but we mainly came here just for Salvation Mountain. Now let me tell you it's really hot. I mean what else can you expect from the desert during the summer. My wife got the girls dressed up for our Independence Day photo shoot, which we had planned to do it here already. Everything about this place is a must see and you can only experience it well if you just visit it. We got to check out everything from the top of the mountain to the caves but we did so in a hurry because of the heat. You can really see the detail and care given here when it was created which is just beautiful. This is definitely a place to add to your to do list for Southern California. read more

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Spontaneously decided to visit Salvation Mountain on this Sunday afternoon. One of the best experiences of my entire life, it's definitely a place everyone should visit. Took us about 15-20 minutes to get to Niland from Imperial Valley. Walked around for about 20-30 minutes just speechless admiring the colors and the scenery, it's absolutely breathtaking. It is quite the experience. Please be respectful of the art and bring cash for a donation. I recommend taking lots of water, possibly a hat and sunglasses. The heat is definitely no joke, it was 102 today. read more

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Leonard Knight's Salvation Mountain is a must see...pictures do not do justice. Salvation Mountain is Leonard's tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message: "God Is Love." It's truly a masterpiece. There are people that live on the property that will answer questions/give tours. Feel free to bring extra paint and cash to donate/tip. After Salvation Mountain head up the way to "East Jesus"...follow the signs. It has nothing to do with Jesus...such a sight to see. Then head to the Salton Sea since it is relatively close. read more

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A beautiful uplifting place. Super unique, colorful and easy to explore around. It's a huge art installation piece in the middle of nowhere, but it's so worth the drive. If you are in the Palm Springs area, you should definitely make a trip out to Slab City to see it. read more

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Kitsch roadside Americana at its finest! Really unique installation, so colorful and the message behind this massive folk art creation in the desert is simply timeless: God is Love. We were somewhat disappointed that the structures are no longer accessible to visitors but it's very understandable why, and it didn't ruin our visit. Bravo to the maker for his steadfastness and vision. A short drive up the road to Slab City after our visit was an interesting experience as well. Good to know: It's a long way from anywhere to visit SM so fill your gas tank and bring water and snacks for the trip. Free admission. Bring a hat and sunglasses, it's hot out there, folks. read more

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Whoever the guy is that decided to make Salvation Mountain his place of residence, you don't own the land. This guy is something else. Came out about 50 yards from his squatters camp, claimed we were parking in his front yard and wanted us the leave. Really rude so we moved on and skipped the place. No donation left and I will not recommend it to anyone. For squatters, these people are very possessive. I have the same rights you do to visit the land I served to protect. You don't own it. read more

What an awesome place to visit. We had a great drive out and Salvation Mountain was truly breath taking. We felt very connected to everything about Salvation Mountain and what I stands for. Most of the visitors were cool. You always have a couple of people that think the world revolves around them but they were the minority on this trip. Stay safe and FIGHT ON. read more

Salvation Mountain - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

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Waaaay off the beaten path...I saw a story about this place and wanted to check it out on the way home from Joshua Tree. Just a short drive past Salton Sea and just right before Slab City. Some of the exhibits are off limits at the point for safety. Plenty of people here taking their IG famous pics of course. Not much else around this area to see...no stores....no gas...make sure you have plenty . If you are wanting to check out something different on a road trip...this could be your jam. read more

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This was a fun place to spend some time! My mom, sisters, and I went for a day to visit Salvation Mountain and East Jesus. Although it was a long drive, I'd say the adventure was worth it. The art is interesting and super fun to see. It's nice to be able to walk around the art itself, I hope it can stay that way over the years. We didn't feel unsafe, something my mom was unsure about until we got there. Although I wouldn't let young kids run unattended because there are a lot of cars around the area. There aren't bathrooms out there, so take that in to consideration. My favorite part to me honest was East Jesus. You HAVE to go there. It's just a bit past the mountain, there are signs for it, so just keep your eyes out for East Jesus. read more

This place is one of a kind and definitely worth the drive. You won't find it anywhere else in the country. Be prepared for some dirt roads, though! Some beautiful and inspiring artwork. Be sure to drive the 5 minutes further in to east Jesus and see the "slab city," signs. I, too, would also retreat here in the case of an apocalypse. read more

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Salvation Mountain might not be a place to visit for everyone, but if you love the desert, strange places, weird art, this might be right up your alley. If you visit Bombay Beach, continue on, it's just 15 minutes away. It could also be a fun day trip if you're staying in Palm Springs area. It's about 3 hours and a half away from LA. We read about it in New York Times and decided we needed to come and see it since it sounded so cool and we loved the pictures. It is easy to find, from Bombay Beach, just go toward Niland on 111, turn left off to the Main St. in Niland, continue on for 5 minutes past the train tracks (Niland it's an interesting place also to drive through). Main St. turns into Beal Rd. and soon you'll see the Salvation Mountain. There's plenty of free parking on the property. There were some other people around, visiting, but it was never crowded. We read the story behind it; it's great when people follow their passions, whatever they might be and build something out of nothing that we can all enjoy. The place looks just cool, unique, and vibrant. We explored the place, climbed on top, took lots of pictures, and admired the folk, naïve art that reminded me of Gaudi in a strange way. It's a very colorful place. And the message is simple and universal - love, whatever that means to each of us. Salvation Mountain doesn't have to be a religious experience (it can be if you want), but it can be a cool adventure to a place like no other. I love this place, it's better if you go during spring or fall, it could get hot. Bring water and food (there's not a lot of stores in the area). Free to visit. Continue on to Slab City, it's so close, 1 minute away to the left. Bring a passport or your green card if you're a tourist or a resident. On the way back (on 111), it's a border station (pretty strange), they'll stop and check you out and these guys are serious! Other than that, I hope you'll enjoy this place for what it is. It could be a cool experience. read more

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I think everyone should visit the mountain if possible. I took my three kids and we went early in the morning to avoid the crowds. It is quite an experience! Please be respectful of the art. Unfortunately we saw people climbing on the sides, which your not supposed to. And bring cash for a donation!! read more

Salvation Mountain - Climbing to the top, stay on the yellow path. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

I told my kids that I had no plans on joining them on this adventure. They begged and I complied, I'm glad I did. While this place is SUPER RANDOM, it's worth seeing. The formation itself is very Whoville in appearance. The people watching is priceless and the nature of this place is seemingly very special, for some it's a pilgramage, for me it was a fun exploration. read more

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I would see Salvation Mountain a lot on Instagram and even some of my friends have mentioned about it, I was definitely intrigued and wanted to check it out. Firstly, I live in San Diego, so it's about 2 1/2 hours for me. So keep in mind about gas, food, and drinks! I packed a cooler full of ice and water and had a hydroflask full of water and ice too to keep us cool. Be sure to have your car checked out before going here too because of how hot it gets! (Tires have air, get an oil check, and have a full tank of gas!) Most people will complain saying it's too far when you mention it's towards El Centro, but it's about the same distance as LA but with a better scenic drive.. not to mention you can stop on the side of the road for awesome pictures, and not only awesome pictures there are some hidden gems on the way to salvation mountain!! (Will post some) Sadly the creator passed away, but that doesn't take away from how much he put his heart and soul into it! It's made out of adobe and straw, so therefore no heels to get sunken in! It's beautiful and smells like paint since I'm sure they paint it every so often so it doesn't fade! If you had lead-free paint, donate, and if you can't donate paint, donate some cash to keep it going! This place gets REALLY HOT so just know you'll be sweating way more than you would like. Definitely great for photo shoots and Instagram pics. Be sure to check out East Jesus which is only 6 minutes away! RECAP: - BRING WATER LOTS OF IT - BRING SNACKS - BRING EXTRA CLOTHES OR A TOWEL (WIPE UR SWEATY ASSES OFF) - BRING A PHONE OR CAMERA TO TAKE PICS (GREAT LOCATION FOR THEMED PHOTOSHOOTS) - BRING A SPEAKER AND GOOD COMPANY - DONATE SOME $$ FOR UPKEEP! - CHECK OUT EAST JESUS (6 MINS AWAY) - MOST IMPORTANTLY ENJOY THE ART! read more

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This place is fantastic. Bigger than I expected. get out of your car and explore a bit. He built interesting grottoes and rooms. The artist is now in a nursing home but a non-profit organization is maintaining the site. It's free but they accept donations. Lots of campers and trailers have started moved in nearby--I may be wrong but I think they call the area East Jesus...many artists types. read more

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This review is for the racist caretaker. Drove 3 hours to visit this attraction only to be yelled for being on the mountain taking pictures. He was very rude and even called me a dumbass because I couldn't understand how he wanted my gf and I to come down from the mountain. He threatened to call the cops on us and sic his dog on us. I was very apologetic at first but he just kept belittling us and cursing at us. It was our first time here and we were expecting good vibes and a welcoming environment. It made me sick that this guy was in charge of this divine place. He did not seem like a person filled with love, he gave off villain energy and he needs to go. Just. So. Much. Anger. Yikes! read more

Unique and inspirational, even if you're not religious. I mean, dedicating 30 years to a project? That's impressive. FYI - Leonard Knight, the creator/artist behind Salvation Mountain passed away in 2014. - Gets crowded so prepare to see tons of people posing for photos. Good luck getting a photo of the structure without people on it. Perhaps if you come during the week. - There is a small parking area but if you can't find a spot, I'm sure you can park along the side of the road. - I went on a Saturday and there was a caretaker there available to answer questions. - You can go up to the top via a yellow staircase (or Yellow Brick Road as the caretaker calls it). It's a bit dicey so be careful and wear comfortable footwear. - If you keep going all the way to the end of the road, you'll see a sign for East Jesus. Follow that to see a cool sculpture garden made entirely of junk. read more

Absolutely spiritual place! Make sure to walk on the pathways designated for visitors. They spend a lot of time and energy into maintaining this establishment. It's definitely a go-to if you're in SoCal!! Taking pictures there was a delight. Volunteers hand out pamphlets about the places history. Keep in mind it is the desert and it's hot!! Pack lots of water. It's truly in the middle of nowhere. read more

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Giving this 3 stars due to the care taker. The art is pretty unique and beautiful to explore. Kinda crazy something like this exists out in the middle of nowhere. Colors and size of it makes for the best photos even if you're an amateur photographer. You'll be happy to show them off to your friends and family later for sure. The caretaker really makes this place feel unwelcoming. I thought maybe we were the only ones that experienced this but after looking through all the reviews, it seems like it's a common occurrence. We drove just under 3 hours to get here. We planned on staying the night, which we did, so we had some beers with us. As we arrived and parked, we thought it would be a nice time to crack open a cold one with the boys and cheers after a long ride. As we walked over to the mountain we were harassed by the caretaker. He started barking about this place is a no alcohol zone. Ok guy there's no sign whatsoever and this place is in the middle of the desert. He looks like he's on meth anyway so I don't know why he's tripping. I calmly and politely informed him we didn't know and offered to finish drinking them and discarding them. He took the bottles and told us we weren't welcomed to climb the mountain. Super rude guy and I guess he gets off on being a jerk to the tourists. Forgot to mention he threatened to call the cops on us for drinking some beers LOL. After going to slab city and finding out cops don't respond to calls this far out of Niland just made me laugh. This guy is deranged. Overall good art piece but bad caretaker. read more

Salvation Mountain - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

This place is so cool! A bit of a drive from the LA area, but I had stayed with friends in La Quinta so it was only a 35 min drive.We came here around 9am and there was only one other person. It was nice because we avoided the crowds that were flowing in once we left. (Around 11) Follow the yellowbrick road to avoid damaging the paint/art, and unfortunately no RV's in the parking lot. Enjoy ! read more

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The guy watching the place was extremely rude. While we were taking pictures, we heard him on the speaker saying that we need to keep our masks on. And so we did, just that I took a few seconds longer and then we hear him say "lady in the red dress put on that mask and don't disrespect god". Later, when another girl with us was posing, her mask fell out, so she held it and put it back when she was done posing. Then we see him coming to us and saying "get out. You're not wearing a mask and disrespecting god. You're not welcome here" when we pointed out another family was also not wearing a mask, he says "I'll deal with them later" and later, he takes pictures for them :) At this point, we were just sharing photos on our car at the parking lot, in which he proceeds to drive his car over, knock on our window, and tell us to leave. Although I'm not Christian, but I'm pretty sure this is not how disrespecting god works. We respect the history and creation of this place, but the one who watches over this place really made this a horrible experience. I have no idea what offended him so much, but this is definitely not a all-inclusive place. While reading the other reviews, I'm really questioning whether he's just a racist towards Asians... read more

I'm not sure when you would ever find yourself in this area, but if you're close enough and have some time, it's a pretty cool sight to see. It's in a very small town and the nearest city that people might know is Indio. We were lucky enough to go on a day that wasn't too windy or hot, but many of the reviews talk about how dusty it is. I had sandals on and some sand got on my feet but it's not the end of the world, so just wear shoes if possible. There are tons of photo opportunities here if you're into that too. Also, make sure you follow the signs that tell you to follow the yellow brick road, they mean it!! These two people kept going off of the yellow path to take photos in other areas and the guy came out of his camper and yelled at them to get down from the mountain and leave the property because there were plenty of signs about it. read more

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Let me just tell you what a unique place this is. Salvation Mountain is tucked away in the most southern desert area of California. It was made by a visionary, Leonard Knight. He made the eye catching mountain out of straw and adobe clay. To keep the mountain from eroding and to spread his message of God's Love, he coats it all with paint. It is estimated he used over 100,000 gallons of paint. A lot of the paint was donated by Snowbirds and local residents. It is said this " mountain" took him 28 years to build. This beautifully strange mountain is a folk art masterpiece. It's visually shocking; in a good way!!!!!!! RIP Leonard Knight read more

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LOVE...IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK! BACKGROUND: After Leonard Knight's balloon refused to fly, he decided to leave the area. Forever trying to promote what was burning so deeply inside of him, Leonard decided to stay one more week to make a "small statement" before he left for wherever his van and his faith would take him. Armed with half of a bag of cement, he fashioned a small "I was just going to stay one week. It's been a very good week" L.Knight 1996 monument. One thing turned into another - days turned into weeks and weeks turned into years. Each day, Leonard would put a little more cement and a little more paint on the side of a forgotten riverbank. Ah heck, too much information to post, yet too interesting not to share.... http://www.salvationmountain.us/history2.html STATS: Free on-site parking Cash donations are welcomed EXPERIENCE: Salvation Mountain was BroTha, SisTa and my second stop on our weekend adventure in the desert. Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Over the hills, and through the tunnels to the Christian Cross on the top of the mountain. The view from above, of the near desolate desert below, is quite an exquisite sight for city eyes. Take care coming down the mountain, it may not be wet, but it can be slippery. Continuing on our tour we found ourselves kids again, peeking and peering up, down, and all around at the nifty colored paint schemes and collectibles Leonard embedded into the walls. The non-traditional design of the mountain reminded me of The Watts Towers in South LA. From an outsiders perspective, it seems like a hodgepodge of stuff randomly placed with no rhyme or reason. Yet, when you look at the overall mountain, you can see a masterpiece. Granted Salvation Mountain is waaaaaaaaay off the beaten path, but this mixed with Salton Sea, and our third stop on this weekends adventure, it's all worth it. Off to the third and final stop for the day. You in? Seat belt fasten? Vroom vroom!! read more

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Took my engagement photos here. The place is wow. I don't really know what the purpose of the creation was but the place is phenomenal to look at. There's something to look at at every turn and it goes into tunnels with even more to see. There are also little art pieces on the sides of vehicles and just in the area. Don't wear heels while you're walking up the mountain and stay on the yellow path. It gets slippery as you get closer to the top. ALSO, try not to go in the summer. The desert heat there should not be messed with. Or put on a lot of sunscreen. Also a lot of offroading in the area so don't drive too fast. read more

So colorful So dusty A pinch of creepy A perfect Instagram/Snapchat photo opportunity. How did we end up in Niland, CA? *Explore the nooks and crannies *Border patrol inspection station to Palm Springs (today is NOT the day to look or act suspicious) *Salton Sea & Ruins of Bombay Beach on the way read more

Salvation Mountain - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

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Features: -By now, I am sure you know that this art instillation was made by Leonard Knight as a tribute to almighty God. This artistic mountain is made using donated paint and local adobe clay. This took the artist 25 years and still, it remains unfinished. He sure dedicated a lot of hard work to create this that so many people come to admire. To live in the middle of a dessert with no electricity and no water and be able to stay here 25 years to create this, is extreme motivation and dedication. -I hope you will enjoy this as much as I did. And remember, you can climb the paved yellow path up to the top (not dangerous in my opinion). Make sure you walk around and see the little rooms with different tributes to God. -Since you will be in this area, make sure you also check out Bombay Beach, East Jesus, and Mud Pots! Improvement: -None Tips: -Bring water, it was really hot walking around for half an hour. -Please be respectful and don't climb in the areas where you shouldn't. -Make a small donation to help this masterpiece continue! read more

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So due to this whole pandemic, I decided to take a drive here to get out of the house and figured it was a destination isolated enough to be considered safe social distancing. I haven't heard much of this place other than it's a cool little spot to check out and take pictures at. Being a photographer, I thought - perfect! Of course it was closed. I was bummed but part of me kind of figured it would be. I wasn't sure if it was just a free open spot or if it was an area owned by someone. I pulled over to the side of the road or as they like to call it - their "parking lot"... to at LEAST get pictures from afar. Cue young dude yelling at me from the other side that I need to leave because I probably already have the virus. Not asking me politely - yelling. Really??? THAT's how you're approaching people? Not very Christian like for people who promote it. I get the concern but I was obeying every law and I'M SORRY but the side of the road is public property. Not everyone is out to break the law and trespass. I was respectfully taking pictures after a 2 freakin hour drive to get here. I have pictures I did manage to get from afar that I'll be posting within the next day or 2 for those of you that may wanna see what the surrounding area looks like and the mountain itself read more

I made the pilgrimage in November of 2014 to Salvation Mountain trying to figure out what Leonard Knight was doing and hear the message I had been hearing second hand for over 20 years. It seems I missed him, but only by a few months! (Actually he passed away in Feb 2014 but had been off site since 2011) Salvation Mountain is a really neat place, lots of time and energy were put into this creation. The guy who worked on this place did it for 30 years non-stop with his hands and back; sweat, tears and love with just the donations of paint that the locals and visitors gave him. Since his passing there is a group of individuals that have taken over the up-keep and creation of this place which I am fairly sure is on public land. I think he wanted most to create a situation where he was sharing his faith with all of those who wanted to see his creation, the mark he made on the earth. The mountain is symbol of love for all that see it. Even if you don't believe in a "Higher power" you have to believe in LOVE or what is life worth? If you have the time to make this trip it's absolutely worth it! Not at all a trip if for those looking for 5 star hotels and dining, but you may learn more about your fellow man than you would from the bell boys in La Quinta! I didn't venture too far from the mountain but I understand that the locals in Slab City will take you on a tour of their town too if you ask nicely. I would assume you would want to tip them as they all live a pretty hard scrabble life. Most of their houses cobbled together out of whatever they find or are tents or dilapidated RVs. This is a completely different way of life than anything you'll understand if you live in a brick and mortar home read more

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Awesome historical folk art. Check out Slab City, too, if you've come this far for a taste of what a post-apocalyptic America will soon look like. read more

Wow. JUST WOW. Had the time of my life here. Left San Diego at about 530am and about 2.5 hrs later, we found ourselves here at Salvation Mountain. Almost fairytale like with all the colors. All my life I have tried to get right with the lordt. My soul was screaming out, hence, the reason I found myself here. I can tell you that you have to at least visit salvation mountain once in your lifetime. More pics on Instagram: Bettyebug read more

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Getting saved has been on my bucket list for a while now. However, Salvation Mountain not only resurrected my spirituality, it rescued me from a creative drought. This magical hill is a Seuss-like adventure with proud, colorful messages of love and life. The religious verbiage did not dissuade me from soaking in the marvel of such an amazing artistic wonder. In fact, it added to the charm and I respected the pure passion and virtue from which the artist found inspiration. There are an infinite amount of photo ops but, more importantly, a myriad of chances to connect with the world. It's an intersection of man, God and universe. I am grateful to experience such beauty and gratitude centers me. It frees me to keep living, creating and giving. 5 stars x infinity. read more

Salvation Mountain - Saved at last! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

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Wanted to offer this review to assure that salvation mountain is open for limited access. You are unable to climb the mountain but can walk the ground floor with a face covering. Hey read more

Salvation Mountain - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

Back in April 2011, my friend and I had the honor of seeing Leonard Knight at Salvation Mountain before he was placed in a care facility months later. I wanted to introduce myself but he seemed so frail and occupied at the time. One day... Point of this review being: if you're in Niland, this is a must-see destination! It's incredible what one man's dedication and passion can amount to! Of course in later years Knight acquired additional help from others, but think of the blood, sweat, and tears it took especially in the mountain's initial years. And the maintenance! Great place for people of all ages and backgrounds to see! Friends, family, kids, lovers, black, white, yellow, you name it. Amazing piece of life-size art! read more

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Was in need of getting out of LA and off the beaten path. I am SOOO glad I stumbled upon Salvation Mountain and the greater Slab City artists community. Though the extreme religiosity of the place kind of weirded me out at times, it is really a remarkable testament to the creativity of the human spirit. And the message that LOVE IS UNIVERSAL is great whether or not you are a Christian. Though it wasn't super crowded, it was busy and I was pretty annoyed with people who were blocking paths taking a million selfies or having glamour shots taken. My suggestion is if you want to avoid a crowd come either midweek or early on a weekend morning. read more

Salvation Mountain - Somehow managed to get a few shots not ruined by the throngs of selfie takers and wanna be models/Instagram celebrities. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Niland, California

Be prepared! I repeat be prepared to DRIVE miles and miles and miles from here to LA! 1 star off just for that! Our halfway point was Palm Springs and even then I thought we were already close by! But I was wrong! It was another hour and a half on a one way road so beware of slow drivers! Make note that if you happen to see a gas station on your way there, make sure you stop and refuel because the closer you get you will not see anything but dirt paths. This place is definitely a good place for photo ops and a great tribute indeed! The only downfall is its dusty and a bit dirty. So just make sure you wear something comfortable and clothes you dont mind getting dirty! read more

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I visited Salvation Mountain (SM) in the summer of 2008. I found out about this place after watching "Into the Wild," where SM is featured for about a minute or so. Let me just say that the movie doesn't do justice to what this place holds. It's so much more. For those who haven't seen the movie, here's the part of SM + Leonard Knight (the guy who made SM): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_G00TJ45zM. I really like this scene bc you can tell it was a real visit and very little is scripted. Anyway, SM is located in Niland, CA (where???). Yeah, it's like north or east or west of Palm Springs. Haha, sorry but it's in the middle of no freaking where. If you check out the website, you'll be able to get directions. I remember spotting SM from afar in the car and got so excited. You're in the middle of the dessert, and then all of a sudden you see a tiny, brightly-colored area in the distance. As you drive closer and closer, all you can feel is excitement, like you're coming home after being away for so long. As you park and get out of the car, you really can't believe Leonard turned a hillside into a beautiful, artistic masterpiece all by himself. My friend and I were there by ourselves for a good 20 minutes until Leonard showed up. He was so sweet and thanked us for coming. For every visitor, he gives them a tour of the place and shares his story. Even if you don't believe in God, there's no way you can be in that place and NOT feel something, be it God or love or peace or awe. For me, it was all four. After the tour, Leonard welcomes you to stay and hang out. I managed to make my way to the top of the hill where the cross is. Just sitting at the top and looking out at the desert around me, I was quieted. I was reminded at how powerful God's love is through the arts. At the end, Leonard gave us a DVD about SM and a puzzle. He gladly accepts donations -- he doesn't outright ask -- and asks to visit again anytime. Again, regardless if you're a believer or not, this place is a MUST SEE if you live in CA. Go out and support Leonard and his message. GOD. IS. LOVE. read more

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One of the craziest places I've ever visited, just wish I had more time there. Arrived around sunset, which was meant less heat and more colors. Very vivid piece of art, that you can actually walk on and interact with. The artists working on the restoration were very kind and willing to offer a story or two for those willing to inquire. They even invited me to a concert down the road once the sun set. I can't accurately describe how visiting salvation mountain with words, so just go and see for yourself. It's well worth it. read more

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