Salvation Mountain
No trip to this part of the California desert is complete without a detour to Salvation Mountain. Located east of the Salton Sea, about an hour and a half south of Palm Springs, this trippy art installation was created by local eccentric Leonard Knight. Salvation Mountain California is an ever-changing and evolving site. This means the landscape will always look different, no matter when you visit. Each year the murals and the scope of the mountain change, with new items and salvaged goods added almost weekly.
The “mountain” and its many nooks and crannies are made of adobe bricks and covered in thousands of gallons of paint—much of it donated by visitors—which spell out Bible verses and other religious languages. Knight passed away in 2014, but his psychedelic wonderland lives on thanks to the efforts of volunteers.
You are free to climb the mountain as long as you stay on the yellow brick road, and even though it does not appear to be very tall, it is over three stories high when you reach the top. The top offers a spectacular view of the surrounding desert and town.
- Google Rating: 4.5/5
- Website: http://www.salvationmountaininc.org/
- Opening Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Address: Beal Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233
