Four Corners
 

I'm interested in seeing the four corners area in northwestern New Mexico. Where should the starting point be? How many days would this trip require? Which airport?

Must sees in the area are Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Bandelier National Monument. I also liked driving out to Ship Rock just for the views. El Morro Natinal Monument was interesting but a long drive for what was there.

Just outside of Albuqureque is Petroglyph National Monument.

You mentioned 4 corners...did you plan to venture into AZ, CO and UT too?

Utahtea

I would like to include Durango, Co.

Mesa Verde is a must-see.

If you go to Durango, then by all means make time for Mesa Verde National Park.

How long can you take for this trip?

Utahtea

I'm thinking the trip will be 7 - 10 days.

I'm not into cities, so take that into consideration when I tell you what I would do with 10 days.

Fly into a Albuqureque, NM. Day one spend the first day and visit Bandelier National Monument and spend the night in Santa Fe.

Day two get up early and make your way to Chaco Culture National Monument and spend the day there. If you don't mind camping, you could spend the night there, if not make your way to Farmington for the night.

Day 3 drive to Durango. You might want to stop at Aztec Ruins National Monument on the way.

Day 4 spend the day in Durango and if you're into trains, then take the train ride to Silverton. If not, then take the drive to Silverton!

Day 5 visit Mesa Verde and spend the night either in the park or at Cortez.

Day 6 spend the whole day in Mesa Verde.

Day 7 Drive to Monument Valley and take a late tour that day or early the next morning.

Day 8 Drive to Canyon de Chelly. Site see on the rim

Day 9 Take a guided tour in to the canyon at Canyon de Chelly. Guide tours are the only way to really see the canyon because it's an Indian Reservation.

Day 10 drive back to Albuqureque.

Utahtea

Take a map of the SW US and draw a circle with about a 300 mile diameter with the actual '4-Corners' (point where the 4 States/AZ, NM, UT & CO) as the center. This is the 'Golden Circle' of the Scenic SW. It could take 6 months to a year to really see all the wonderful sights within this area. Do skip the actual '4-Corners' as it is mostly a Native American series of gift stalls. Utahtea has good ideas for a possible schedule for your first trip. You will be back once you sample this unbelievable area. Enjoy!

Utahtea has given you an excellent itinerary.

Utahtea, Thanks so much. Just the info I needed. I'm sure I'll want to go back and see the whole four corners region.

The above posters are talking about the already so named GRAND CIRCLE.

http://grandcircle.org/

IMO the most beautiful circle in America!

Another vote for Mesa Verde. Not to be missed! We stayed at the motel in the park and had a wonderful, reasonably priced dinner at the restaurant.

I've done Days 2 thru 9 almost exactly as Utahtea recommends. Not that her consistently wonderful advice needs my confirmation, but it really is a great itinerary that she suggests.

Thanks so much for this site, wanderluster. I showed it to m u husband and that is going to be our June trip next year. Tahnk you Utatea for a great intinerary! :-)