If you’re dreaming of towering red rock formations, ancient cliff dwellings, winding desert roads, and incredible mountain views, a Four Corners road trip needs to be on your bucket list!
This adventure takes you through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, where you’ll discover some of the most incredible scenery in the American Southwest.
And the best part?
You’ll get the unique opportunity to stand in four different states at the exact same time!
We’ve rounded up the best stops, must-see attractions, and scenic drives to help you plan an unforgettable Four Corners road trip without missing the good stuff.
1. Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona
Sandstone cliffs, ancient dwellings, and incredible desert views make Canyon de Chelly National Monument one of the coolest stops on your Four Corners road trip.
The monument covers nearly 84,000 acres and features canyon walls rising to 1,000 feet, as well as ancient Puebloan ruins like the famous White House Ruin that was built into a sandstone cliff around 1060 AD.
Journey along the North and South Rim Drives to see Spider Rock, an 800-foot sandstone spire, or stop at overlooks like Junction Overlook and White House Overlook for amazing views.
For an even better experience, book a guided canyon tour to explore the ancient ruins, rock art, and working farms in the area.
2. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona/Utah
The previous canyon walls are just the beginning, because Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park takes things to a whole new level with its massive red sandstone buttes rising to 1,000 feet above the desert floor along the Arizona-Utah border.
Famous for its appearances in Western movies such as Stagecoach and The Searchers, this Navajo Nation landmark is home to the iconic East and West Mitten Buttes, which look like giant hands sticking out of the ground!
Explore the Monument Valley Scenic Drive, a 17-mile dirt road that winds past famous formations such as Merrick Butte, Elephant Butte, and the Three Sisters, with plenty of stops for photos.
You can also join a safari tour to check out restricted areas you can only visit with a local guide; here, you can find sandstone arches, isolated cliffs, and even more incredible views.
3. Valley of the Gods, Utah
Just when you think the red rock scenery can’t get any better, Valley of the Gods in southeastern Utah surprises you with tall sandstone buttes, massive mesas, and incredible desert views, about an hour away from Monument Valley.
Often called a mini Monument Valley, this lesser-known area features millions of years of erosion carved into unusual rock formations, including Setting Hen Butte, Rooster Butte, and the Seven Sailors Butte.
The highlight is the 17-mile Valley of the Gods Road, a route that takes you past these incredible formations, with plenty of opportunities for photos and wide-open views of the surrounding landscape.
Unlike Monument Valley, there’s no entrance fee or guided tour requirement here, and you can even camp for free at existing dispersed campsites beneath the towering sandstone formations!
4. Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Swap the lofty sandstone buttes of Valley of the Gods for three massive natural stone bridges at Natural Bridges National Monument, located about one to two hours from Valley of the Gods.
This 7,636-acre park is famous for its Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo Bridges, which were carved by flowing water over thousands of years, the tallest being the 220-foot Sipapu.
Follow the 9-mile Natural Bridges Scenic Drive and walk to the best overlooks to see all three bridges, or hike the 0.5-mile round-trip Owachomo Bridge Trail for a closer look at the bridge’s incredible 180-foot span.
Here’s a fun fact: Natural Bridges became the world’s first International Dark Sky Park in 2007, making it an amazing place to see the Milky Way after sunset.
5. Hovenweep National Monument, Utah/Colorado
Ancient stone towers steal the show at Hovenweep National Monument, where you’ll find the remains of six Ancestral Puebloan villages scattered across the Utah-Colorado border.
Built mainly between 1200 and 1300 AD, these incredible structures include multi-story towers, cliffside rooms, and circular buildings that have stood for more than 700 years, with some balanced right along canyon edges.
The best way to explore the site is the 2-mile Square Tower Group Loop Trail, which takes you past impressive ruins like Hovenweep Castle, Twin Towers, and, of course, Square Tower.
Albeit less grand than the cliffs of Mesa Verde, Hovenweep offers a peaceful experience where you can see ancient buildings and learn how Puebloan communities once lived, all while avoiding big crowds.
6. Four Corners Monument, Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico/Utah
Standing in four states at once might sound impossible, but that’s exactly what you can do at Four Corners Monument, the only place in the United States where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet at a single point.
Located on Navajo Nation land about an hour from Hovenweep National Monument, this famous landmark features a bronze disk marking the state boundaries, surrounded by granite slabs engraved with each state’s name and seal.
The main attraction is posing for a photo with your hands and feet spread across all four states, making this one of the most unique photo opportunities on your Four Corners road trip.
You can also browse Navajo vendor stalls selling handmade jewelry, local food, and souvenirs, but don’t forget to set aside money for the entrance fee to the monument!
7. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Entire villages built into sandstone cliffs make Mesa Verde National Park one of Colorado’s most fascinating destinations, located about 1.5 hours from the Four Corners Monument.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects nearly 5,000 archaeological sites, including around 600 cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloan people, with the famous Cliff Palace featuring about 150 rooms and 23 kivas (ceremonial chambers).
For an unforgettable adventure, book a ranger-guided tour of Balcony House, where you’ll climb a 32-foot ladder, crawl through a narrow tunnel, and explore ancient rooms built high into the cliffs.
You can also drive the 6-mile Mesa Top Loop Road to see ancient pithouses, archaeological sites, and incredible views of Cliff Palace!
8. Durango, Colorado
All aboard for Durango, one of Colorado’s coolest mountain towns, where historic steam trains, rushing rivers, and snow-capped peaks make for a fun change of scenery after exploring Mesa Verde National Park.
The biggest attraction is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, an 1882 steam train that travels through the San Juan Mountains, following the Animas River past steep cliffs, waterfalls, and forests on its way to Silverton.
Back in town, explore Historic Downtown Durango, where you’ll find 19th-century buildings, local shops, and restaurants along Main Avenue.
You can also walk and bike along the 7-mile Animas River Trail.
If you’re craving more adventure, try whitewater rafting on the Animas River or drive the spectacular Million Dollar Highway, a 25-mile mountain road between Silverton and Ouray.
9. Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico
Trade Durango’s mountain scenery for the ancient stone buildings of Aztec Ruins National Monument in northwestern New Mexico, taking you back 900 years to an incredible Ancestral Puebloan community.
One of its main attractions is the West Ruin, a massive stone complex built around 1100 AD with more than 500 rooms, some standing three stories tall, plus original wooden roof beams that have survived for centuries.
Follow the half-mile Aztec West Great House Loop to walk through ancient doorways, explore connected rooms, and step inside a reconstructed Great Kiva, a circular ceremonial building measuring over 40 feet in diameter.
Despite its name, the ruins were built by Ancestral Puebloan people, not the Aztecs of Mexico, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is free to explore!
10. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
If you’ve had your fill of desert scenery, you’re in luck, because Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness looks like another planet, with bizarre mushroom-shaped rocks, colorful badlands, and clay hills spread across roughly 45,000 acres.
Millions of years of erosion have carved the soft sandstone and shale into strange formations called hoodoos, including the famous King of Wings and Alien Egg Hatchery, also known as the Egg Factory.
Best of all, this expanse of wilderness is free to visit, and its remote location makes it fantastic for stargazing, especially on clear, moonless nights.
Gorgeous as this landmark is, there are no marked trails here, so do bring offline maps, GPS navigation, or any reliable tool to find your way if you want to explore the area.
Related Posts
