What You Need To Know Before Visiting Salvation Mountain

What you need to know before visiting Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain is literally a mountain of color in the middle of the desert in Southern California - Imperial County to be exact. It is a mountain full of colorful paint and religious phrases that inspire positivity and love in the middle of a desolate land, also known as Slab City in Niland, CA.

About Salvation Mountain
It is the creation of Korean War Veteran Leonard Knight, who according to the official Salvation Mountain website, created this monument out of native adobe clay and covered it with paint as a tribute to God and to spread a message of love.

Knight expanded his mountain to other structures next to the mountain made of adobe and straw where you can find a dome-like structure and what is called "the museum" which houses different artifacts given to him by friends and visitors.
Knight passed away in 2014 but Salvation Mountain continues to be maintained thanks to Salvation Mountain Inc., which was established in 2012 as a public charity to support the project.

Salvation Mountain was declared "a folk art site worthy of preservation and protection" in 2000 by the Folk Art Society of America and it is definitely worth a visit if you are in Southern California.

The colorful mountain in the middle of the desert stands out from the road as you approach it and it attracts many visitors. 
A Great Road Trip From San Diego
Since we live in San Diego, CA, this is a great road trip that lasts between two and three hours.

Salvation Mountain is easy to get to by just Googling the directions. If you depart from central San Diego, you have to take the Interstate 8 East or if you depart from Northern San Diego, you take the 78 East. Through both freeways you will have to then connect to the 111 North, which will lead you to Salvation Mountain.


There is no charge to visit Salvation Mountain, but make sure to plan your visit well since there are hours for visitors (open 6:30am - 5:30pm).

Here is a short video we put together to recap our visit to this colorful monument, Salvation Mountain:
(Photos after the video)














Sitting in front of Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain yoga pose

Jumping on Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain Cross


Salvation Mountain God is

Visiting Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain colorful branches


Couple inside adobe huts of Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain waterfall of colors

Salvation Mountain colors and waterfall

Salvation Mountain Yellow Brick Road

No comments