We drove the "dusty" roads in/through Monument Valley and loved it.

Also - you can get a good Cliff Dwellers appreciation at the Navajo National Monunment (think a smaller Canon de Chelly) - which is about a 20 miles west of Kayenta (which is the entrance to Monument Valley from Arizona) and then 10 miles up the road - and you are in a beautiful Cliff Dwellers park. http://www.nps.gov/nava/index.htm

BTW - Four corners is really more of a novelty - which if it's on your way - great for a half hour stop but that's about it.