Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT (7-2-08) - dwhike

Looking At Four States...

Four Corners, AZ/CO/NM/UT (7-2-08)

Four Corners...what can I say? Not worth a drive across the country perhaps but being in the area we had to go. We made the half hour drive from Cortez and made it shortly before sunset. What an amazing place the southwest is at this time of the day! The drive out to the corners was beautiful and added something to the uniqueness of the place. We each did the tourist thing and stood (or, in my case, sat) in all four states at once and added two more states to our growing list of first-time state visits for our trip. A very cool little piece of roadside Americana...

Mileage Hiked: 0.5 miles Trailhead Temp: 85'F Min. Elevation: 4,950' Max Elevation: 4,950'

Directions to Park Entrance: -Four Corners Monument is located off US-160 about 6 miles north of US-64 in Teec Nos Pos, AZ or 19 miles south of its junction with US-491 south of Cortez, CO.

Storms sweep the desert plains to the south, in New Mexico...
This was a very stark, isolated corner of the country...
Trees in the valley mark a small stream as we near the Four Corners over the next rise...
Welcome to New Mexico!!!
Entering Four Corners Monument...
The Four Corners lies on the land of the Navajo Nation, this is the visitors center that gives good info on the area...
Four Corners Monument
Looking At Four States...
Standing in four states at once...
Sitting in four states at once...
The sweeping view into Arizona from the Four Corners...
The view into Utah from the Four Corners...
Looking into Colorado from the Four Corners with Ute Mountain in the distance...
The view into New Mexico left something to be desired...
Looking back towards the entrance station at Four Corners...
Small shacks housed native americans selling native "gifts." Due to the late hour many were already closed up...
Another look towrds the monument...
The lone spire in the distance is Shiprock, New Mexico...
The setting sun created wonderful colors on the landscape...
A dry creek bed crossing on the way back to Cortez from the Four Corners...
Storm clouds were hanging over Ute Mountain (9,978') to the north...
This chimney-like tower of rock sits near the junction of US-160 & US-666 about 20 miles east of the Four Corners. It sits on Ute Tribal Land and "No Tresspassing" signs were everywhere...
The setting desert sun as we made our way back to the hotel in Cortez...