By Staff Writer James Schryver
This week we will be taking a little trip to Southeastern Utah. To get to the special place I have in mind, we will head West on US 64 towards Shiprock. After you pass Shiprock you will continue on US 64 to a little village named Teec Nos Pos. The road is very scenic with red dirt and large bluffs and mesas scattered around. From here take a right onto Highway 160. After several miles, of travel you will see signs for the Four Corners Monument. Take a right at the turn and see the point where the four states come together.
This site has four different quadrants that coincide with the states. Each quadrant has an outer area for visitors to sit and take in the view from the site. Also, how often is it that you can say that you’ve stood in four states at one time? On the outer edge of the monument, there are vendor stands for people from the different states to sell their handcrafted goods. Anything from necklaces to art. There are also informational stands for each state and how they mapped the state lines and a brief history of the journey. There is some speculation that the position of the monument is a considerable distance away from the actual intersection of the lines, but that has been disproven.
After spending a while looking around the monument, take Highway 190 back towards Teec Nos Pos. At the village, enter back onto US 64 which now turns into Highway 160 all the way to Kayenta, where you will take a right onto Highway 163. On Highway 163, you will come across Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This is a beautiful site with sandstone that has been beaten into perfection by nature.
Now continue back onto Highway 163 to Mexican Hat. Go all the way through Mexican Hat until you hit the turn onto Utah Highway 261. Now coming up shortly will be a turn onto Utah Highway 316. Take this turn and travel down the road to Goosenecks State Park. This is an amazing canyon like structure that winds back and forth with the movement of the San Juan River. There are multiple S-bend curves making up this natural feature. The overlook is over 1,000 ft above the water itself. Once, while visiting Goosenecks State Park, my dad and I kept hearing faint voices calling out to one another. This went on for a few minutes, and we had no idea what was going on. Then, from around one of the S-bends, a group of river rafters appeared. The echo of their voices had carried all the way up the 1,000+ feet from the bottom of the canyon and we could almost make out everything they were saying.
Once you are done taking in the awe and wonder that is this feature, find your way back to Highway 163 and continue North. Down the road, there is a location named Valley of the Gods. There is very little signage, but it is worth the several mile loop. This loop through the Valley of the Gods should be accessed with an off-road capable or 4-wheel drive vehicle. You are taken through a stunning portion of Utah country with bluffs, mesas, rock spires, trees, shrubs, and red dirt washes where the sand is softer than silk.
This trip is 100 percent worth the time and effort. I will advise to pack a picnic lunch because the options for food is not exactly plentiful.