Four Corners Monument

We had planned on driving out to the Four Corners Monument and then on up to Mesa Verde today. But we checked Mesa Verde's website last night and found out most of it isn't open yet and won't be until mid-April.

We left the campground and went north on US-163 passing by the Valley of the Gods

to US-162 at the town of Bluff and saw this historic fort

then south and entered Colorado on CO-41

to US-160 west to the Four Corners Monument - a trip of 96 miles.

The entrance fee for Four Corners Monument was $5 a person. Behind us you can see the booths that the Navajo set up their pottery, jewelry, woven goods and other items to sell.  We bought a Navajo
Wedding Vase and a Four Corners Christmas tree ornament.

Unfortunately, only service dogs are allowed to enter the monument, so Tinker had to stay in the car. No photo of Tinker with 1 paw in each state - bummer! I know he was looking forward to it - Okay, so maybe we were.

Then we took a different route back on US-160 west 

to US-191 north

to US-163 south back through Mexican Hat. Mexican Hat is name for the rock formation near the town.

We stopped to eat at Valle's Cafe and had a pizza with pepperoni, green peppers and onions. 

On the way back to the campground, we passed by motorists waiting for traffic so they could take their Forrest Gump point photo.

Our return trip by a different route was 104 miles.