Planning a trip to the 4 Corners Area in June 2017. We have 4 kids travelling with us ages 11, 14, 16 and 19. They are all in great shape and love to hike, boulder hop, etc... I am looking for fun places/activities in Colorado four corners area that we can at least hike and boulder hop and am open to other suggestions (youngest has rappelled and will try pretty much anything and has no trouble keeping up with the rest of us). We want to spend as little time as possible in the car and mainly be outside doing stuff. We are planning on stopping in Mesa Verde for a day and hiking Fiery Furnace for a day in Arches. Have heard that Black Canyon of the Gunnison is amazing and I am curious to see what everyone recommends. We would be flying into Denver and renting a car and staying around a week.

Thanks so much!!!

http://www.colorado.com/articles/dis...gion-things-do

Consider flying into Albuquerque. Four Corners area is closer to ABQ than Denver. Southwest flies here and often has really good prices/sales [there's one now].

IF not in and out of ABQ; consider into DEN and out of ABQ or vice versa - saves making a trip back.

Be careful of our dry air and altitude. Drink LOTS of water, use sunscreen, hats. Be aware of altitude sickness and it's signs. Some folks are never bothered by it, others are so just know what to look for in case....

You are likely going to need a van, but you know that I'm guessing.

Oh, forgot -- Far View Lodge in MVNP is great but likely sold out. Cortez has a few decent motels and restaurants and is 10 minutes from entrance to MV. Durango is another alternative for hotel. Kennebec Cafe on SR 160 is a great place for dinner, reasonable prices too.

I totally agree with DebitNM, we've done trips from both Denver and Albuquerque. Usually the airfare has been about the same, but the car rental was much less from Albuquerque.

If you can't get lodging in Mesa Verde at Far View Lodge, make a reservation near by and call back as there are frequently cancellations since people make reservations way ahead and then cancel when they find they can't make the trip.

If you click my name above, you can find several TRs, most are to this area. The 2015 one was from Denver, 2013 from Albuquerque.

Have a fantastic trip.

Where are you flying out of? There are direct flights to Durango from Houston, Dallas and Phoenix. If any of those cities work, you could cut over 6 hours drive time each way off your trip. There are loads of great hikes including many fourteeners. There is a lot of bouldering in the Telluride and Durango area. Black Canyon is an option but you are eating into your time with driving. If you want to increase your activity time, I would limit the trip to Arches, Mesa Verde, Telluride and Durango. I live in Durango and am a big hiker. I could give you more specifics on hiking, rafting, 4-wheeling, kayaking, ziplining and paddleboarding in the area if you could give more details on your interests. I don't do bouldering but I know there are several options right on the edge of town in both Durango and Telluride. Arches can be very warm and lodging expensive in June. Other than your fiery furnace trip to Arches, I would recommend you use Durango as your base and make day trips, from there.

I also flew in and out of ABQ when I was visiting that area. I was staying in Durango a week at a dude ranch, but did some of these other trips. It's a real easy drive from Durango to ABQ, also.

ABQ to Durango is about 4 hours; I assume bailey is referring to Telluride.

Flying into Durango is expensive and limited. Southwest has decent sales into ABQ and it's an easy drive to Durango.