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SOUTHWEST INSPIRATION | Rocks, Canyons & Ruins
The Four Corners area, which encompasses the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona, is not unknown to travelers but it offers a new surprise at every turn. It can be the sunlight projected onto a butte at sunset, the traveler's state of mind, their chosen pace of travel or an unexpected experience that makes unforgettable their venture into this very special region. The land shows an incredible palette of colors varying from green to firing reds, to yellows to all the nuances of ocher. Time, natural forces and geological events have created some unimaginable shapes playing in and with the land; the native people who inhabited this vast area centuries ago left behind their tracks and mysteries; rivers have carved dramatic canyons; and even the first explorers and pioneers who brought western culture to this vast landscape seem to still exist. The parks are well organized and many offer lodging and food service. But there are also many opportunities to explore on your own. And there is a world to discover in between. It is particularly wonderful when one takes the time to sit among ruins or near a rushing river or atop a canyon and just be.
Ideas of Places to Visit
All itineraries are designed to respond to the travelers' desires and interests. The ones that follow suggest ways to travel through this part of the world and the many places there are to visit.
The Four Corners at a Glance - 10 days
Departing Denver the traveler will immediately encounter amazing scenery on the road to Pagosa Springs, where on the first night the vacationer is rewarded by soaking in one of the town's many natural mineral hot springs. The next day, the magnificent Anasazi ruins of Mesa Verde are close at hand. The visit can take half a day or more, depending on the traveler's level of interest. It is less than a three hour drive from Mesa Verde to Moab, Utah, the small town at the center of the stunning Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, where river rafting on the Colorado River offers another incredible experience. In this area there are many other places to discover and rivers to enjoy that see limited numbers of tourists. From there the traveler can hike into areas where vestiges of unspoiled Anasazi dwellings become unveiled.
From here the visitor starts a journey that feels like they are going underground, into the earth, through the Valley of the Gods, the winding serpent created by the San Juan River, Mexican Hat and the most famous of all, Monument Valley. An additional gem is Canyon de Chelly, located to the south. One can experience the Canyon by traveling above on the two canyon rims as well as into the canyon itself, they are two very different experiences. This is a very important historic place for the Navajos and it is inspiring to hear about the history of this place and its deep meaning directly from the local native storytellers.
Not too far, but still a few hours drive away, lies the Grand Canyon! In the summer it can be difficult to maneuver through the long line of tourist busses. Better to explore this natural wonder as a bird by helicopter or consider traveling the extra miles to the north rim which is more remote and usually less crowded. Traveling northeast the traveler will pass by Shiprock, New Mexico, with its amazing shape that resembles a sailing ship floating on the desert. Before stopping for the night, it is interesting to visit the Anasazi ruins in Aztec, New Mexico along with its reconstructed kiva which presents the true atmosphere of this sacred Indian chamber.
The last stop takes the visitor to one of the most important archeological sites in the Southwest, Chaco Canyon. This collection of Anasazi ruins shows the fabulous masonry skills of the Ancient Ones and is worth at least a half day visit.
That afternoon the visitor will travel back north to Colorado to spend their last night in Durango. This famous western town was founded in 1880 as a railroad hub to the neighboring mining towns.
The next day a beautiful drive will take travelers from Durango back to Denver for their departure. (*)
The Four Corners area at its best - 3 weeks
This itinerary offers the opportunity to not only see, but to become part of the landscape and feel the power of history, nature and of the sheer beauty of the entire area. This itinerary includes more places to visit and more time to enjoy ones preferences ( *).
Following more or less the same route as the The Four Corners at a Glance tour, this itinerary provides the traveler with many more places and unique experiences to discover. After driving to Pagosa Springs from Denver a stop at Chimney Rock where up to 200 rooms built by the Old People (Anasazi) are situated is a must. Near Cortez, before or after visiting Mesa Verde, there is the Ute Mountain Tribal Park which can encompass a full day visit, guided by local Ute experts.
Before reaching Moab, Utah, there is the beautiful and quiet Hovenweep National Monument where six prehistoric villages are spread over 20 miles, both on the rim and on the floor of the canyon. The tower buildings are unique to this site. A walk of 1 to 2 hours includes many ruins as well as the experience of appreciating the remoteness and peacefulness of the environs. In Moab one can spend several days exploring some of the incredible wonders this place has to offer including discovering amazing hidden petroglyphs,
Next, on to Capitol Reef and to the immensity of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, a world unto itself, with old Indian ruins, petrified forests, dinosaur fossils, rocks of all colors and sheer natural beauty. From here it is easy to visit Bryce Canyon with its “hoodoos”, the unique rock formations that make this site look like a stone red forest. The traveler's next stop is Lake Powell where the blue water plays around the red rocks and can visit an amazing slot canyon,
The next stop is Monument Valley, Utah/Arizona. Here it is interesting to go off-the-road with an expert Navajo guide and spend the night in a hogan , the traditional Navajo home, listening to a native storyteller and learning the culture of this tribe. If one is traveling off season a stop at the Grand Canyon is a must. During the summer it can prove to be disheartening because of the number of tourists and vehicles. There are many ways to explore the Canyon's astounding beauty, which one is usually determined depending on allowable time and how fit the travelers are in each group. Once again the experience of a Seven Directions guide can be helpful in determining which option to choose.
Heading south to Canyon de Chelly one should allow enough time for a horseback ride into the canyon a truly unique experience, which should include spending the night listening to the call of coyotes at the far end of one of the canyon's two branches, incredible! The next day, close by is one of the remaining and historic trading posts where the beautiful weavings of Navajo women are sold and where a traditional Native lunch can be enjoyed while listening to the history of the area and the role that trading posts have played in Native people's lives for over a century.
In Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, one can spend the night camping out under the stars in order to observe the universe and, with the help of an expert park ranger; discover the astrological knowledge of the Chacoan people and the influence the sun, the sky, the planets and the entire Universe had on this civilization.
Before heading back to Colorado the traveler has two more days to explore the landscapes that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe and Taos where the 1000 years old Taos Pueblo, (one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites), presents a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Taos offers world class shopping and museums, and a visit to the Rio Grande Gorge bridge is breath taking as the traveler peaksover the edge 650 feet below to what this river has created over millions of years.
* In order to fully understand the area, to access the places otherwise not easily discovered and reached, and to meet the most interesting people one must go beyond reading the tourist brochures by calling upon the expertise of Seven Directions.
