Along the Way
Our expected drive from Great Sand Dunes National Park to Durango was 3 hours and 25 minutes and then another hour to Four Corners Monument for a total of 4 hours and 25 minutes. There were many, many miles of roadway that weren't all that interesting but then there are those unexpected, amazing gems that you just happen upon along the way.
Treasure Falls
Just as we were getting a bit road weary, we happened upon a beautiful waterfall. We actually passed it and had to make a quick turn around head back to see it. Treasure Falls is located right on US 160 about 15 miles Northeast of Pagosa Springs. The name Treasure Falls comes from a local legend of a treasure of gold in the mountain that the falls plunge from. There is a trailhead right off the highway in the pullout area. You can see the falls from the parking lot or you can make a 15 minute climb to see the falls closer up. The walk is moderately steep. If you are passing by, this is definitely a great place to stop for a few minutes, stretch your legs and see some beautiful scenery. Chimney Rock National Monument
As we continued on US 160 we started to see a distinct rock formation in the distance. A quick look on Google showed that we were very close to Chimney Rock National Monument. Unfortunately the National Monument is open from May 15 - Sept 30 and we were about week early. However, we were able to get some pretty good pictures of the rock from the highway. A quick stop along the side of the roadway and we were on our way.Four Corners National Monument ($5.00/person. Under 6 Free)
Ever since we studied the Four Corners in school, I had wanted to see this place where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet. While we were planning our mini vacation, we realized that we were going to be relatively close to this area when we were visiting Durango, Colorado. So of course we had to make sure we got there if for nothing else than to cross it off our bucket list!
When I first started doing research on this area I wasn't even aware that there was a monument on the 
So we continued on our trek to the Four Corners. Once we hit Durango we figured we were pretty close. Our estimated time was 59 minutes from Durango, however with the major road construction that we hit, our time was almost doubled. This area is very REMOTE. When I say remote....I mean it really is in the middle of nowhere! There are however some really cool rock formations that you see along the way!
Once we arrived at the Monument, we followed the signs, paid our admission fee ($5.00 per person over the age of 6) and headed to the parking area. There was plenty of parking available and parking was close to the monument itself. There were porto-potties set up around the area but I did not see a true restroom.
Once you walk into the monument there is an area in the middle where the states are shown as well as a metal disk marking the exact location where the 4 states meet. There was a small line to stand on the marker. Once you are there you are welcome to take as many photos as you like. People were very courteous and helped each other other with taking photos and patiently waited their turn. There is a seating area "in each state" and viewing area where you can take photos.
When I read the online reviews of the area, many reviewers wrote about the amount of Native Americans who were selling items. Yes, there were some people selling souvenirs, jewelry, etc but they were inside of booths that surrounded the monument on the outside of the seating areas. I honestly didn't feel that this took away from the monument itself. If you wanted to visit the booths during your visit you could. If you didn't, just don't walk over to them! Not once did I feel like the booths were in my way or that there was any pressure to shop there.
I also didn't feel like the admission charge was exoribant....I've paid a lot more at attractions where I felt I got less. I can see where it becomes expensive if you are taking your whole family....there were just two of us so $10.00 seemed quite reasonable.
I think that you have to weigh cost, location, and whether sale of trinkets by locals will take away from your visit when considering a trek to Four Corners National Monument. If you do so, I think you will have an enjoyable time if you go or you may decide this isn't the attraction you want to visit.
Personally, I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived. After reading the reviews, I was a little concerned but had an idea of what to expect. The experience far exceeded my very low expectations. Considering the remoteness of this location, it is very unlikely that most people will visit this attraction more than once in a lifetime. To me being able to see it and cross it off my bucket list far outweighed the negatives that people expressed in their reviews. However, as with anything it is a personal decision so just "know before you go".
Homewood Suites Durango
The Homewood Suites in Durango was our home away from home for the next two nights. We found this to be a very nice hotel. The employees were very friendly. We even decided to eat the free dinner at the hotel on our first night. (We were pretty road weary after a long day of driving and staying in sounded good!). The food was decent and included wine and beer options as well as soft drinks. The coffee is always on so it's nice to be able to grab a cup anytime of day. The rooms were nice and included a full kitchen and sitting area in addition to the separate bedroom with bath.
Breakfast was decent. It is your basic Hilton breakfast (similar to the Hampton Inn Breakfast with a few additional options). While not always exciting, it is dependable and a good way to eat something without having to find a restaurant before you are on your way to your next stop.
The location was a bit out of the downtown area of Durango but is a short 5-10 minute drive to get there. I would recommend this hotel if you are staying in the Durango/Mesa Verde National Park area.
No comments:
Post a Comment