Four Corners and Northern Arizona
Leaving New Mexico, we faced such a delay due to our rental car. We ended up wasting almost the entire day because we had to drive south back to Albuquerque to try to get our rental car exchanged to no avail. To this day, I haven’t received a resolution from Enterprise.
While we were in Albuquque, we stopped for a very late breakfast at Cafe Chica. The quaint locally owned donut shop sells rotating bombas flavors daily along with a varierty of beverages. I ordered the lavender matcha with a vanilla bean and bananas foster bomba. There are other food options in the outdoor food hall.
We were finally on our way to Four Corners, the points where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona meet. The Navajo Nation owns the monument and access to it. Gates to enter the monument close at 6pm daily, an $8 entrance fee is required, and they accept card payments. We arrived 15 minutes before they closed after the 4-hour journey, and they let us in. Others arrived after us that they allowed in as well. Vendors in stalls sell souvenirs like magnets, t-shirts, and keychains, all handmade. The vendors accept card payments as well, but I recommend bringing cash because you’re in the middle of nowhere, and reception is unreliable. Each of the 4 states’ flag is represented at the monument, and there is a circular monument inside a square that borders each state, so if you try really hard and get on all fours, you can be in 4 states at once. The scenery outside of the monument didn’t vary between the states and the Navajo Nation surrounds the area for miles, so there are no distinguishable landmarks or populous areas for miles.
Because we were pushed for time, we didn’t get a chance to visit Window Rock or Gallup from Santa Fe to Four Corners, but if you have time in your schedule, you should make a stop at those attractions.
There was nothing to do besides take pictures, admire the view, and purchase souvenirs from vendors. I assume if you come earlier, there may be tours or guides available to ask questions.
After the quick pit stop, we were finally on our way south, to Flagstaff, Arizona! We stayed at High Country Motor Lodge, the tour of our room and the property is linked below to You Tube. We stayed there for 4 days, and I wish we had more time to utilize more of the amenities of the property. High Country looks like a converted motel, but operates like a 4-star hotel. There’s a conference room, restaurant, convenience store, bar, outdoor seating with fire pits, games, a pool that goes 9’ deep, hot tub, and a sauna that allows for a cold-plunge experience.
High Country has been one of the best hotels that I’ve stayed at because it’s thoughtfully decorated and modern.
Flagstaff has its own airport, and most people come for The Grand Canyon and to access northern Arizona. In my opinion, Flagstaff reminds me of a suburban city, giving you access to Northern and Central Arizona. There are most of the nation’s chain restaurants in Flagstaff, big box stores like Walmart and Target, along with local diners and restaurants. In Flagstaff, you’ll find a good assortment of accommodations from branded properties, extended stays, and boutique hotels like High Country. Traveling north towards the Grand Canyon, you’ll find a limited selection along the highway.
On our first full day in Flagstaff, we had breakfast at Brandy’s Restaurant & Bakery, a local restaurant that serves breakfast all-day and specializes in pancakes, eggs, and espresso. I dont know why we thought it was a good idea to start each day with heavy meals, but when on vacay, #yolo! Even though I rarely drink coffee, I tried the Mexican spiced iced latte which was really tasty and didn’t make me crash. I also ordered the Swedish oat pancakes with bacon, eggs, and potatoes. My friend ordered the same, but with a biscuit and traditional buttermilk blueberry pancakes. Will you look at that soft fluffy butter melting on the pancakes and apple topping! Everything on the menu looked amazing, but the food was really good and filling. The staff was so sweet, and the restaurant was filled with locals. Luckily, when we were visiting, they were celebrating their 30th anniversary.
Now that we had fuel, we were on our way to THE GRAND CANYON!!! I’d gone to the Grand Canyon once before on a day trip from Vegas on a bus tour, but actually taking my time to explore, and see what I wanted to see without a time limit was amazing. Neither time did I have a tour guide, (maybe on the next visit I will), but I was able to go at my own pace to learn more about the Grand Canyon and take in as much of the view as my heart’s content.
2019 vs 2023
The Grand Canyon is absolutely massive, and there are multiple points of entry as the park spans over 1.2M acres! You can enter based on where is geographically convenient for you, or if you have specific points that you’d like to view, you’d have to drive miles outside of the park to enter a different entrance. To enter, we paid $35 for the vehicle pass which allows 7 days of entry. From Flagstaff, we entered the South Rim which was about an hour and a half drive.
We didn’t realize it at the time, but the South Rim receives more visitors than the North Rim, is more accessible, and has more features + amenities. There is a free shuttle that you can hop on and off at different stops if you don’t feel like walking the entire span of trail. You can also bike a few designated trails at the Grand Canyon, if you don’t have your own bike, you can rent one near the Visitor Center.
After we paid admission, we first went to the Desert View Watchtower. It is free to enter and go to the top of the watch tower. No reservations are needed, but the guides only allow around 20 people up to the top at a time. The tower offers unobstructed views of the canyon for miles. If you chose to remain on the ground floor, you’ll still have unobstructed view of the canyon with seating, access to the gift shop, and fireplace. Near the watchtower are restrooms and a few cafes to grab water or snacks before your journey. On our way to the trail entrance there was a restroom and a water fountain. So if think you may need a snack or to fill up on water, I would get that near the watch tower.
We picked up a map, and spent around 4 hours on the trail. I followed the Trail of Time, staring at the Geology Museum which is almost 3 miles long each way. As the name entails, you walk back in time around 2 billion years ago when the Grand Canyon was formed to view the rock formations from that time. There are plaquards on the ground to signify the year that you are walking past. Every meter represents one million miles. The trail is fully accessible, and while there are a few forks in the road to get you closer to the rim, there is a substitute course that is paved flat. This was so cool to experience to be able to touch rock from periods long ago.
Now, if you are more adventurous, there are tours that hike down in to the canyon and overnight camping that you can get a permit for. You can also kayak the Colorado River with a guide or your own permit.
Upon leaving the grounds, we spotted these beauties! Most cars stopped on the side of the road to take pictures and get close to them, but no one knew what they are. I assume they are some type of deer, but if you know, please let me know below in the comments!!!
After a well-rested night, day 2 in Arizona consisted of driving to Page, AZ, which is a little over a 2-hour drive from Flagstaff. Page almost sits on Arizona’s northern border, so it’s accessible if you’re staying in southern Utah — or, if you plan your days right and get up early, you can visit both The Grand Canyon and Page in one day. We booked a half-day trip with Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours to visit both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. They only operate 2 time slots, at 11am and 2:30pm daily and we paid $159 per person for the 3-hour journey. Once we arrived at their facilities and checked in, we all hopped in the open-air Jeep to head to Antelope Canyon. You will be out in the elements for the entire trip, so you can bring snacks, and water is recommended. They sell water in the lobby, but also have filtered ice and water to refill reusable bottles. If all else fails, The tour company is across the street from Wal-Mart and a few chain restaurants, so if you have enough time, you can stop there to grab something to eat and drink.
Before I visited Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend, I assumed that the canyon and bend were national parks owned either by the state or the federal government. During the tour, I learned that both pieces are on private property owned by Navajo Nation land. The tribe allowed tours and visitors to the area in the 1980s. Because it is private property, you cannot drive or walk up to the canyons or bend, to visit, you have to book through a tour company. Antelope Canyon was said to have formed from flash flooding and erosion. Yes, I couldn’t believe it either that flooding happens in the desert. Our guide Moses showed us proof, that the canyon sometimes sees rainwater 16’ high with debris left behind from the aftermath.
Once we were transported from the tour headquarters on the jeep, we first saw the slot canyons. Before entering the slots, there are several low-frequency monitors scattered about to scare away wildlife from the walking path. In the desert, you can come across a variety of wildlife, like scorpions, spiders, rattlesnakes, and larger animals like coyotes. We came across a small garden snake upon exiting, so the sensors are great at keeping those animals away and visitors safe.
The slot canyons are difficult to capture with photography, but Moses has been doing this so long, he gave us the best tips on camera settings, angles, and what to shoot. Everything was catpured on my iPhone 14 Max Pro, and he recommended the vivid warm filter when shotting the canyons. You will get a little dirty moving about the canyons and this tour is not handicap accessible. You will have to use your hands and feet to climb over small obstacles and fit in small spaces, so depending on your level of claustrophobia it may present some challenges. I would not recommend wearing white, 1) because you will get dirty easily, and 2) because it will wash you out in pictures. I wore this blue 2 piece set from Old Navy, and it photographed beautifully, and came out vibrant.
While we only visited the Secret Antelope Canyon, we saw some of the more famous slots. There are other tour companies that go to Upper and Lower Antelope, so if you have a specific slot or canyon that you’d like to see, you’d have to research which tours go where.
These wayfinders help hikers who may not be familiar with the trail or somehow become disoriented find their way to a landmark. You’ll see wayfinders throughout trails and parks in the southwest, so if you see them, know that you are close to a main trail, or remember to put rocks together to make a wayfinder to help you and your group get back to a destination if you end up on an unfamiliar trail.
Once we finished at the canyons, we hopped back in the Jeep and drove across the highway to Horseshoe Bend. There are a few entrances to Horseshoe Bend, and I believe some areas are open to the public — if you want to stop off the highway, you can do so and pay a nominal fee. But, with a guide, you’re able to access the area and get close to the edge of the rim. From the top we were able to see kayakers on a tour going around the bend. There are a few tour companies, including Secret Antelope Slot Canyon Tours that offer rafting tours, and some other companies offer multi-day hiking and rafting tours which is pretty cool!
Moses shot individual cinematic videos of us at Horseshoe Bend and it was a masterpiece, this is why I cannot recommend Secret Antelope Slot Canyon Tours or Moses enough. It was such an educational experience with breathtaking views, and the best crowd.
