The Best Things to Do Around the Four Corners Area

Four Corners is that unique spot in the United States where four different states--Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah--come together at one single point. The area is ruggedly beautiful and offers some of the best opportunities in the country to experience nature at its finest. Below are just a few ways to enjoy the Four Corners region of the United States:

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Best known for its dramatic rock formations that tower up to 1000 feet above the ground, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is one of the most visited sites in the Four Corners region. The 91,696-acre park, located in parts of Colorado, Utah and Arizona offers visitors a chance to take a narrated jeep tour of the park, learn about Navajo culture at the visitors center and hike the challenging 3.2-mile WildCat Trail. From May 1 through September, the park is open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. During the off-season (October through April), the park is open from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. Admission (2011 prices) is $5 per person. Children (age 9 and younger) are free.

Mesa Verde National Park

Located in southwestern Colorado, the 81.4-square mile Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park, created in 1906, is best known for its cliff-side dwellings that once housed the area's Anasazi people, the ancestors to the Pueblo tribe. Visitors to the park can learn about the Anasazi culture at the visitors center; take a ranger-guided tour of the archeological sites, including the Cliff Palace, and enjoy one of the park's many hiking trails. Mesa Verde National Park is open 365 days a year. Hours vary every two months (check Web site for current hours.) Admission, good for seven days, is $15 per vehicle from Memorial Day to Labor Day and $10 per vehicle the rest of the year (2011 prices.) Pedestrians and cyclists pay $8 in the summer and $5 the rest of the year. Tours are $3 per person.

Durango, Colorado

Located about 35 miles east of Mesa Verde National Park, Durango is a ski mecca in the winter and a popular fly-fishing destination in the summer. The former mining town is also known for being the home of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Railroad, an historic train track that connects the 45 miles between the two cities. The route hugs the Animas River and crosses mountain passes and river gorges along its way. Passage (2011 prices) starts at $59 per person for adults and $34 per person for children (ages 3-11.)

Arches National Park

Located in eastern Utah just outside of Moab, the 76,679-acre Arches National Park is home to more than 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the often photographed Delicate Arch. Visitors can hike through arches and around canyons on the park's miles and miles of trails. There's a trail for every skill level. You can also climb many of the park's dramatic stone formations, take an auto-tour of the area or participate in one of the many ranger-led programs. Arches National Park is open every day except for Christmas Day. From April through October, the park is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. From November through March, the park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission (2011 price) is $10 per vehicle and $5 for pedestrians and cyclists.

Four Corners Monument

The exact spot where the four states come together is marked with a bronze disc that shows where each state extends from the Four Corners point. There is also a small visitors center at the monument that offers information on the Navajo people and their crafts. The Four Corners Monument is open June through September from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and October through May from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $3 per person.

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