Four Corners Monument

Location:
36°59′56.31532″N 109°02′42.62019″W

Hours and Fees:
General Admission - $3.00 per person (Interagency Pass does not provide any discount because Monument is operated by Navajo Nation)
Ages 6 or younger - Free
Open 7 days a week (Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day)
May 1 - Sept 30 - 7:00am to 8:00pm
October 1 - April 30 - 8:00am to 5:00pm

Getting There:
From Farmington, NM: Travel west on Highway 84 to Teec Nos Pos and turn northeast onto Highway 160. Travel 6 miles on Highway 160 and turn northwest onto 4-Corners road, following it to the monument.

From Cortez, CO: Travel south on Highway 160/491 and follow Highway 160 to the southwest when the two highways diverge. Travel 19 miles on Highway 160 and turn northwest onto 4-Corners road, following it to the monument.

Site Information:
In 1875, the United States set out to define the boundary between the Colorado and Utah territories and using the surveying tools of the time were able to place the corner within 1800 feet from the location where modern surveying equipment would have placed it. The monument now marks the location where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together. The monument also marks the boundary between the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Reservation, with the Navajo Nation maintaining control over and managing the monument.

The monument has recently undergone a major face lift with the construction of an extensive complex of vendor booths and the addition of a large gathering area around the monument. Where once there was shacks surrounding the monument, there now lies four long and open-air block buildings to house the vendor booths.

Notes About our Visit:

We visited the Four-Corners Monument on our way from Farmington, NM to the Valley of the Gods in Utah. We were traveling in the off-season so there were only a handful of vendors selling their products. Although most of the merchandise looked to be mass-produced in China, there were a handful of individuals selling their hand-made art. We really enjoyed the work of Yabeny Pottery and ended up picking up a beautiful black-on-white vase and Christmas ornament.

The last time I (Beau) visited the monument was in about 1996 as an 8th grader (yes I know I am a young pup).  I can not begin to describe the difference between then and now.  I almost didn't think we were in the right place.  The renovation work of the last few years has really made an improvement, although I miss the way the vendor shacks used to be.  I think the new complex lacks the character of the original and feels more like a strip mall and less like a monument.

___________________________

Author

Beau Johnston is an engineer, writer, and photographer who is dedicated to proving you can find a balance between work and life. He is the Co-Founder and Publisher of Living Overland and a member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. When he isn't working, you can find him exploring National Parks, fly fishing, and camping with his wife (Krista) and their two dogs.

___________________________

If you found this article helpful, please consider using one of the affiliate links below. The price is the same for you, but a small percentage of the purchase price goes to us, which helps keep this site going. Thank you!