4 Corners Overlanding Trip - Trail, Hikes, Camping, and the"must-see" Sights Suggestions

Hey everyone,

I am planning a 2-3 week overlanding trip from Nashville, TN to the 4 corners area and I am looking for suggestions on places to go and trails to ride or hike. I have been to CO a couple times prior and have hiked and cycled the Garden of the Gods, Flat Irons, Red Rocks, and more places around Denver so I am planning to zoom past those areas this time in search of new adventures.

I will head West going North through CO then return East by going South through New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. I have driven from central Texas to Nashville, TN before and I know that Arkansas is pretty boring so I would like to take advantage of New Mexico and Texas prior to hitting the Oklahoma and Arkansas stretch. I am not familiar with these states so any recommendations on sights worth seeing on my way home are welcome.

However, I would like spend most of my time in the 4 corners area spanning up to MOAB so all recommendations for trails, camping, hiking, or vistas is are greatly accepted! As of right now, I am not very familiar with the trails in these areas. I plan to continue my research and gain "internet" knowledge but that will only tell me part of the story. Since this has been a great community so far, I was hoping you all would be able to provide some firsthand experience recommendations from your adventures.

In semi order, below is the short but ever-growing list of places I plan to explore:

1. Arches National Park
2. MOAB, UT via I-128
   • Burr Trail Road
   • Cathedral Valley
   • Capitol Reef National Park
   • OHV - Schaffer Trail (Canyonlands National Park)
3. Blanding, UT
   • Hotel Rock
   • House on Fire Ruin
4. Telluride, CO - Silverton, CO - Ouray, CO
   • OHV - Ophir Pass
   • OHV - Last Dollar Road
   • Black Bear Pass
   • Hiking - Box Canyon Falls
   • Camping - Highway 550 (Million Dollar Highway) near Clear Lake
   • Camping - Alta Lakes
   • Bolam Pass
   • Mesa Verde National Park (Cortez, CO)
5. San Juan National Forest, CO
6. Rio Grande National Forest, CO
7. Four Corners National Monument
8. Monument Valley
9. Grand Canyon, AZ
10. Sedona, AZ
11. Acoma Pueblo, NM
12. Albuquerque, NM
    • Bisti Wilderness Area
    • Shiprock
13. Amarillo, TX
    • Palo Duro Canyon State Park

As for my rig (see pics below), I have a 2008 Tacoma DCSB Prerunner with a Detroit True Trac differential. Also, a 2.75" lift on Bilstein 5100s with 265/70/17 General Grabber AT2s. I have built a sleeping platform in the back and that is where I plan to camp. Unless it gets too hot then I will setup my tent and sleep outside. As for wheeling, I understand that my rig being 2wd will have limitations but I like to think my True Trac diff makes me handicapable instead of handicapped! Therefore, I am looking for moderate to light trails that will provide adventure (great views are a bonus!). I plan to save the rock crawling till I upgrade to a TRD offroad!





Thanks for viewing my post and any feedback is welcome! (shameless plug Instagram: @andrewtheadventurer)

 

Monument Valley. On the Arizona/Utah border. And of course, the Four Corners National Monument. Just so you can get your picture taken standing in 4 states at once. Acoma Pueblo, which is west of Albuquerque. Old Town Abuquerque. There are a lot of great places in that neck of the woods. Be sure to browse the brochures at all your stops. I live in the southern end of NM so I haven't had the pleasure of doing any off-roading in the north. Just vacations with family seeing the major sites.

 

Great info!! I have added Monument Valley and Acoma Pueblo, NM! I thought the Four Corners National Monument was assumed but I should have had it on my list from the jump so I added it too! Thanks for your input!

 

You're welcome. By the way, I bought my truck in ABQ so if you want you can stop off at Larry H. Miller Toyota and give them all a big hug for me.

 

Tell yah what if they will give me a great deal on a 2008-2015 DCSB TRD Offroad, I may just do that! haha

 

You also might want to swing by Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo. It's the second largest canyon in the US. It has a paved road to the bottom and campgrounds. It's pretty nice. Not something you'd expect to find in that part of the state.

 

Bisti Wilderness Area just south of Farmington, NM is a must see. Pack plenty of water and spend the day exploring ... its like nothing you've ever seen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoykz7g5rvQ

Shiprock is also near by and worth a trip.

Fly fish the San Juan River just east of Farmington.

Clear lake trail near Silverton ... Camping, Hiking and fishing

Durango ... stop for a beer and food at Steamworks.

 

Thanks fot your input! I will have to check these place out. Bisti looks really sweet!

 

can't tell you of my secret spots.........

hopefully this ugly stretch of weather goes away sooon.......

Boulder Mtn......Capitol Reef........Cathedral Valley.......Burr Trail......to name a few...

 

Those views are beautiful! I will add them to the list!

Secret spots.... hit me in the DMs! haha

 

Some suggestions: run Black Bear Pass, if it's open. You won't regret it.

My wife and I are from Albuquerque, now living in Houston. In the last five years, ABQ has really gone downhill. It leads the nation in auto theft, as well as several other categories of crime. So, as a native, I'd recommend avoiding it, or, at least, being super cautious while you're there. Hotels, especially along the freeways, are targeted by thieves. That said, if you're a craft beer enthusiast, Albuquerque has some exceptional local breweries. I recommend La Cumbre, Bosque, and Boxing Bear, among others.

Durango and the surrounding area is awesome. Steamworks is very good, but Ska Brewing is the clear leader in that town. You also have Mesa Verde NP west of Durango.

As you make your way into Utah from CO, the Comb Ridge area about 15 minutes S/SW of Blanding is absolutely spectacular. Hotel Rock and Comb Ridge trails both start in Comb Wash, immediately off US 95 SW of Blanding. Hotel Rock does have some moderately difficult spots, so consider whether or not you feel comfortable running it alone. The Comb Ridge trail is a short section of shelf road with awesome views, and is not difficult. There's all the hiking you could want in this area, too.

In terms of easy, super-scenic trails around Moab, and as a back way into Canyonlands, check out Potash Road and the Shafer switchbacks.

Along Black Bear Pass, just above the 2nd hairpin:


Hotel Rock, the namesake of the trail:


House on Fire ruin, about an hour S/SW of Blanding, and an easy 45 minute hike into Mule Canyon:


Shafer switchbacks from the top, inside Canyonlands:

 

Well, we can only blame that on Walter...

 

Did you go yet? Any advice? My 9 yr old daughter and I leave in a couple weeks from N. Ga. We will be camping in my new CVT RTT. Leer Cap was delayed but is supposed to be in on Wed.

All from internet research, hopefully we're hitting some good spots.

Most camping stops are 2 nights

Blanchard Springs Caverns, AR ( Camping )
Palo Duro Canyon ( Camping )
Cadillac Ranch
Petrified Forest
Flagstaff Arizona ( Hotel rest )
South Rim Grand Canyon
North Rim Grand Canyon ( Camping )
Zion National Park ( Camping )
Capitol Reef National Park ( Camping )
Baby Doe Campground, near Denver ( Camping )
Push home from here, undetermined hotels

 

The only spot you mention that I've camped at is Palo Duro Canyon. I highly recommend it. I also camped in a RTT there and it wasn't bad at all. There are porta-potties at the tent sites but the showers/real bathrooms are a short drive away. It's going to be hot this time of year. Even at night. 90+ degrees. I opened all the flaps and got some air circulating so it was ok. It's a beautiful place even if you stay on the pavement but the real hidden gems require some hiking. I hiked the 6 mile round trip to lighthouse rock. It was hard on an old man. That one might be too much for a 9 year old but there are shorter trails. She will enjoy all the wildlife. I lost count of the deer, turkeys, roadrunners and such I saw. They obviously were born there and have no fear of humans. One roadrunner jumped on my table and tried to steal my crackers. The campground is very clean and well maintained. I enjoyed it a lot.

 

Thanks for the info. My daughter will love seeing the wildlife. Ive been watching the weather at the grand canyon and I'm bringing a heater to warm the tent before we do to bed. I had not looked at Amarillo. I think we are going early enough. The forecast shows 60 lows with 80's and some 90's as highs. Hoping not to melt at night.

 

I would look at bolam pass from Rico to purgatory. Ophir pass from East to west might be feasible with 2wd. I difinatly would not tackle black bear pass with a 2wd. It's 4wd only road

 

Haven't gone yet.. the plan is September to take advantage of labor day (free PTO). Camping is free and less rigid in National Forests than in National/State parks.

Sounds like an awesome trip man!! I hope all goes well!

 

Great info! Thanks for sharing! I will add them to the list! (I may have to take more time off work.... haha)

 

From my research, Black Bear Pass doesn't seem as difficult as it is perceived to be... what aspects of the trail do you think are impassible via 2wd with a locked diff? The time that I am planning on going will be in early September so snow should not be an issue.

I will check into the bolam pass! Thanks for sharing!

 

I've been going over black bear pass since 1988 and although they have improved the road since then I think there is a spot or two you might have difficulty getting up in 2wd. After the steps on the second switchback it is a very sharp steep turn. I had my 85 toyota automatic hubs disengage on that turn and I spun out. I had hemroids till that happened. Needless to say have manual hubs now on that truck. There is several good YouTube videos on black bear pass. Watch a few. Anyway when you get this way I'll be happy to run a trail or two with you. When you get to Cortez will have a beer or 2