Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

There is only one place in the United States where four states meet. That spot is where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet at Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park.

The land in this area was once home to the Ancestral Puebloans. Over time, the Dine, Ute and other indigenous people called it home. Spain once claimed the land, and Mexico took it in a war. Finally, the United States acquired the land by treaty and divided it into territories, which eventually became states.

To determine territory boundaries, the Washington Meridian, which bisected the dome of the Old Naval Observatory at a longitude of 77 degrees 03 minutes, was used to establish the longitude for 11 western states. The zero degree Greenwich Meridian wasn’t adopted until 1912.

The western boundary of the Colorado Territory, created in 1861, was placed at 32 degrees of longitude west of the Washington Meridian. A Congressional Act in 1863, signed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, established the line separating the territories of New Mexico and Arizona at the same 32 degrees of longitude west of the Washington Meridian.

The history of how the surveyors marked the boundary lines and determined the point where the territories met, is beautifully engraved at the current Four Corners Monument. Presented by the National Society of Professional Surveyors, the story is told on four different engravings, one dedicated to each of the four states. It includes how the accuracy of the location has been disputed over the years, by a lawsuit, and also by a joint resolution of Congress that was vetoed by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

Visitors to this fascinating geographical site cannot only see the exact spot proclaimed as the place where the four states meet, but they may take their turn to stand in the center and claim to have been in all four states simultaneously. Surrounding the perimeter of the monument are booths where Native Americans offer their exquisite wares, often including unique pottery and jewelry. Be sure to sample a delicious piece of Navajo fry bread.

Note: This is a rural location. There is no water or electricity at this park. There are no nearby services. Be sure to have enough gasoline and bring plenty of water, especially in the summer when the area is known for hot weather.

Reference:

https://navajonationparks.org/tribal-parks/four-corners-monument/

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Entry fee

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Interesting geographical and cultural site. Stand in four states at the same time.

Cons

Limited services available in the region.

Features

Family friendly
Big vistas
Historically significant

Location

Nearby Adventures

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