“How Cool is that?” I thought as I lay on the ground with my body in each of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah at the same time. I had found myself at the Four Corners Monument.
Having attended the US Open golf at Pinehurst, I then flew to New Mexico for a visit to the western part of the United States. After spending a few days in Albuquerque, where I stayed at the very lovely Hotel Parq Central, I then drove to Farmington. You may want to follow a similar route, and if you do so you many want to stay at the very acceptable Quality Inn & Suites in Farmington.
After leaving Farmington early in the morning, heading further west towards Shiprock, I headed towards the Four Corners Monument, found on Google Maps here. A fascinating yet remote destination on land owned by the Navajo Nation, this is the spot where four states, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, come together to form the Four Corners Monument.
Honestly, there is not a lot to see at the monument, but the five dollar entrance fee is well worth it. The highlight, without doubt, is the small round disk at the center of a larger round concrete slab, etched with the words “In Freedom, Under God, Four States Here Meet”. Make sure that you strike a pose with two hands and two feet planted firmly on the ground, with both hands and feet in different states at the same time. This is a unique chance to do something interesting, and there is no other place in the United States where you can be in four states at the same time.
Having spent around 40 minutes at the monument, mainly taking photos and watching other people do the same, it was soon time to leave. You are unlikely to have too many people at the Four Corners Monument when you are, especially given its remote location. Take your time, enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast and then head west from Farmington towards the monument, stopping along the way to take many photos of the beautiful desert scenery and rocky outcrops before you reach the monument. You may even want to stop and take a photo at the Navajo Nation Welcome Sign, something that I did not know existed until I found it on Google Maps here when I was writing this article.
After your visit, head south-east back to Farmington in New Mexico or continue your journey north-east towards the beautiful town of Durango in southwestern Colorado near the border with New Mexico. Consider a ride on the Durango to Silverton railway as detailed here.
Consider one of the accommodation options in Albuquerque, New Mexico by clicking in the box below with booking.com or with Agoda here.
Booking.comOur other posts on the United States may be found here.
(Visited in June 2014)