Four Corners Monument
Visiting Four Corners Monument
During our stay at Mesa Verde National Park, we decided to spend one of our days exploring a place that had been on our list for a long time—Four Corners Monument.
After hearing about it for years, we figured it was one of those places you have to see at least once when you're in the area. Plus, how often do you get the chance to stand in four states at the same time?
The Drive to Four Corners
We left Morefield Campground in the morning after making breakfast and made the drive south toward Four Corners Monument.
The drive took us through the open landscapes of southwestern Colorado and into the Navajo Nation. As we got closer, the scenery became more wide open, with long views across the high desert and mesas stretching into the distance, which really means…….. nothing to see…. wide open desert……
Our First Look at Four Corners
When we arrived, the first thing we noticed was just how unique the monument is.
There aren't many places in the country where you can stand in four states at once. The monument marks the point where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah all meet.
Of course, the first thing everyone wanted to do was stand directly on the marker. The one thing that surprised me was that there was an actual line to take pictures at the monument. So many people lined up, waiting to take pictures, waiting to do the same thing as us. Before long we were taking turns posing for photos, putting hands and feet in different states, and getting the classic Four Corners picture.
It's one of those places that's hard to fully appreciate until you're standing there.
Standing in Four States at Once
The kids thought it was pretty cool that they could be in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah all at the same time.
Each kid got to do a fun pose in all four corners. Hudson did a push up, Macie did the bridge, Lincoln stood in all four corners and posed nicely for the camera.
We spent a while walking around the monument and reading some of the displays explaining the history of the area and how the monument came to be established.
While the actual marker itself isn't huge, it's the uniqueness of the location that makes it memorable.
The Local Vendors
One of the most enjoyable parts of our visit wasn't the monument itself—it was spending time walking through the vendor area surrounding the plaza.
Several Navajo vendors had booths set up around the monument selling handmade jewelry, artwork, pottery, crafts, and souvenirs.
We took our time walking from booth to booth, looking at the different items and talking with some of the vendors. It was interesting to see the craftsmanship that went into many of the pieces and learn a little more about the local culture.
The kids enjoyed browsing through the different displays and picking out their favorite items, while we appreciated seeing products that were actually handmade rather than mass-produced souvenirs.
Hudson took interest in all the knifes, arrows, and handmade items from the men at the vendor booths. He loved watching the craftsmanship from them, and even now he is trying to make his own arrow, Macie loved all the turquoise colors and jewelry.
There was a wide variety of items available, from turquoise jewelry and artwork to carved figures and traditional crafts. Even if you aren't looking to buy anything, it was worth taking the time to walk through and see everything.
Macie picked out a beautiful hairclip to bring home and the boys both got an arrowhead as the survivors.
A Fun Family Stop
Four Corners isn't the type of destination where you'll spend an entire day exploring, but we're glad we made the trip.
The kids enjoyed the novelty of standing in four states at once, we all had fun taking pictures, and the vendor area added much more to the experience than we expected.
Sometimes the best stops aren't necessarily the biggest attractions. They're simply unique places that create memories and give you a chance to experience something you can't do anywhere else.
For our family, Four Corners was exactly that—a fun stop, some great photos, and another memorable adventure during our time in the Southwest.isiting Four Corners Monument
During our stay at Mesa Verde National Park, we decided to spend some of our days exploring different places that had been on our list for a long time—Four Corners Monument was one of them.
After hearing about it for years, we figured it was one of those places you have to see at least once when you're in the area. Plus, how often do you get the chance to stand in four states at the same time?
-Kayla
