Visiting Four Corners Monument
If you find yourself in the southwestern region of the United States you have a chance to do something pretty unique. In the corners of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico sits the Four Corners Monument. The only spot where you can stand in four states at once. A unique experience celebrated by many and a good way to explore the region.
Where is Four Corners?
Four Corners is located in southwestern Colorado, southeastern Utah, northwestern New Mexico, and northeastern Arizona. The closest towns are Teec Nos Poz, Arizona (6 miles), Bluff, Utah (65 miles), Cortez, Colorado (41 miles), and Shiprock, New Mexico (35 miles). The surrounding area is really beautiful desert landscape as far as you can see!
Four Corners is on Navajo Land and the monument is run by Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation. There is a fee of $8 to enter and the monument is not open 24 hours so make sure to check their website before making the trip. (The hours vary by season.) Only credit cards are accepted at the monument and National Parks passes are not accepted.
The Monument
The monument is within the circular structure ahead of the entry gate. The outer ring of the structure are small shop stalls that sell souvenirs, Navajo art and jewelry, and are really great people to talk to about the area and custom made items. The inner circle is a concrete pad where the Four Corners are located. There are flag poles that rise above the monument to honor the states that are represented.
Each State is then represented with a triangle slice of concrete with the states name and seal stamped into the ground.
At the center of the of the four states is the Four Corner Marker. People line up for a few moments of time on the marker to take pictures and videos on the spot. The lines can be long and the monument can get hot so make sure you are prepared to wait. I visited close to closing time and still had about a 30 minute wait for about a minute of time on the marker. One of the best parts was watching strangers become friends in line and take pictures for each other!
Food and provisions
There are no nearby facilities to the Four Corner Monument so you will want to make sure to have plenty of fuel for your car and water. You will also want to make sure that you have proper clothing to protect from the elements. There are no electric hookups or water available either. You will need to bring anything you need.
There are a couple of food stands on the property that may be open. I highly recommend grabbing some fry bread or a Navajo Taco while you are there. Fry Bread was created by the Navajo in 1864 and is delicious. Plus, it makes up the base of the Navajo Taco!
Wrapping up Four Corners
Four Corners was a really fun place to visit on my last trip out to Cortez. I met some great people while I was standing in line for my moment on the corner. We were all just happy to be there. Then I spent some time talking to one of the Navajo Nation artists who had a small shop. He explained his art and some of the history it depicted.
It was a great trip! I was able to learn more about the region and people. Plus, how often do you get to stand in four states at once! I don’t know that I would plan an entire trip around a visit, but the monument is a great addition to any trip to the area that you are planning to take!
I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!
Gallery of Four Corners Monument
