Four Corners is where four states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah) come together, the only such point in the United States. An attractive monument has been built to show where the state lines meet. Thus, it's possible to be a tacky tourist in four states simultaneously.

This was my third visit. I had been here in 1993 by myself, and again in 1994 with my brother. You actually enter from the New Mexico quadrant, and pay a fee for the honor. Three-quarters of the land is on the Navajo Nation, the Colorado quadrant is on the Ute Nation. The area is lined by simple swap-meet style structures where the locals sell their jewelry and other items. The surrounding lands are pretty. It's high desert with distant mountains and nearby canyons. We lucked out and didn't have to pay any fees. We spent 10 minutes at the monument. There's only so much excitement one can have standing in four states at once.

Our visit came at the end of a long but enjoyable day, which began in Gallup, New Mexico. We drove up through the Chuska Mountains and visited Roof Butte and Shiprock. From there we had lunch in Shiprock the town, then worked our way to Four Corners.

Here's an interesting article about the moument. It is the actual corner of the four adjoining states. Any newer datums and mappings that come along may shift the "actual" corner point somewhere else, but this point still wins out.

This model demonstrates how to stand on the corners.

The flags of the four states.

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(c) 2006-2020 Scott Surgent.