Salvation Mountain
Niland, CA
A hillside of adobe, straw and thousands of gallons of donated paint, built by one man over almost 30 years.
In 1984 Leonard Knight (1931–2014) began turning a hillside into a statement of faith on the edge of Slab City, northeast of Niland and only a few kilometers from the Salton Sea. His first structure collapsed in a rainstorm in 1989, and he rebuilt. The work is about 15 m (50 ft) high and roughly 90 m (100 yards) wide, made of adobe mixed with straw, old tires, windows and car parts, all covered in thousands of liters of paint. Its central message is "God is Love," along with Bible verses and Christian sayings. For about 27 years Knight lived in the back of a pickup truck at the foot of the mountain, with no electricity or running water.
In 2000 the Folk Art Society of America declared the site a folk art site worthy of preservation. Since 2011 the nonprofit Salvation Mountain, Inc. has looked after its upkeep with volunteers and donations, which the desert climate makes a constant job.
- Nearest town
- Niland, CA
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 33.2541, -115.4726
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually February–May and October–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January, June and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
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Nearby
© Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Salton Sea State Recreation Area
© No machine-readable author provided. Miskatonic assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5Fonts Point
Photo by Vladimir Haltakov on UnsplashJoshua Tree National Park
Photo by Richard Hedrick on UnsplashGalleta Meadows sculptures
Campsites nearby
- Oasis Mobile Village RV ParkMotorhome stopover3 mi from Salvation MountainMotorhomes
- Del Yermo RV ParkMotorhome stopover9 mi from Salvation MountainMotorhomes
- Bashford's Hot Mineral SpaMotorhome stopover17 mi from Salvation MountainMotorhomes
- Glamis North Hot Springs ResortMotorhome stopover17 mi from Salvation MountainMotorhomes
All campsites in California · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Salvation Mountain?
Salvation Mountain is in Niland, CA, at GPS 33.2541, -115.4726. It is about 16 mi from Bombay Beach.
Can you camp near Salvation Mountain?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Oasis Mobile Village RV Park, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 4 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Salvation Mountain?
Salvation Mountain is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Desert art and strange sculpture and Anza-Borrego and the Salton Sea.
What is there to see near Salvation Mountain?
Places worth a stop nearby: Salton Sea State Recreation Area (31 mi), Fonts Point (42 mi), Joshua Tree National Park (49 mi) and Galleta Meadows sculptures (51 mi).
When is the best time to visit Salvation Mountain?
The most pleasant months are usually February–May and October–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January, June and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)