Located in a rugged and remote area, Four Corners contains a natural beauty that's been mostly unchanged over the years.

Like Utah's remote Monument Valley, Four Corners is not accessible directly from Utah. Visitors must come from either Colorado or Arizona to reach it. (The actual entrance gate to the site is in Arizona.)

According to a history by the Utah Travel Council, as well as information found in the visitors center at Four Corners Monument, Four Corners was first surveyed by the U.S. Government Surveyors and Astronomers in 1868, during the initial survey of Colorado's southern boundary line. New Mexico's west boundary and Utah's east boundary followed in 1878. The northern boundary of Arizona was surveyed 23 years later in 1901. A small metal and cement marker was erected at Four Corners in 1912.

Before 1992, the Four Corners Monument was very simple. It had three steps up on a concrete pad, with a few posts and highway guard rails surrounding it. The monument was redone in 1992 and now includes a flat granite-and-brass monument and surrounding state flags and emblems.

An elevated platform makes for superb photo opportunities, though visitors may have to be both patient standing in line, as well as courteous to avoid intruding in the photographs of others.

• To reach Four Corners: There is not a direct route from Utah — you have to go into Arizona or Colorado first. Either take U-163 east from Bluff. It turns into Colorado Highway 41. Turn southwest on U.S. 160. Four Corners is about 40 miles from Bluff.

Or take U.S. 191 south from Bluff into Arizona and turn east on U.S. 160 to the monument.

— Four Corners Monument is open year-round, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The monument is administered by the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department. Do not come at 4:45 p.m. because on slows days, the entrance gate may close early. Plan on at least 30 minutes to one hour for a visit.

Entrance fee is $3 per person. Visitors age 6 and under are admitted free.

For more information, call the San Juan Department of Community Development at 435-587-3235.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com