Four Corners Adventure News

Monument Valley warns visitors, rough loop drive needs right vehicle

Monument Valley’s loop is not a casual scenic drive. Expect rough sand, strict vehicle rules, and Navajo Nation authority from the moment you enter.

Nina Kowalski•5 min read•07:33 PM

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Moab Faces Big Decision For Former Atlas Mill Land Use

The tailings are gone, but Moab now faces a harder question: what should happen to 480 acres of riverfront land beside Arches and the Colorado River?

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Updates

Telluride Ski Resort reports no open terrain as winter season ends

Telluride’s April 18 mountain update showed 0 of 149 trails open and no new snow, confirming the ski season had already slipped into spring shutdown.

Jamie Taylor2m read

News

Moab Water Crisis Looms as Dry Year Threatens Summer Season

Moab’s water year is already shaping summer plans: leaders said 60% of residential water goes outdoors, and dry conditions could hit showers, campgrounds, and river trips.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Warm, Dry Winter Reshapes Wildlife Movement and Spring Recreation in Southwest Colorado

A winter that barely arrived pushed bears, deer and elk into spring mode early across Southwest Colorado. The warm, dry pattern also left record-low snowpack and a rougher outlook for trailheads, campgrounds and river country.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Seven-Day Four Corners Road Trip: Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest

A practical seven-day Four Corners road trip links Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Petrified Forest and more, with driving times, routes, packing tips, and cultural stops for a weeklong itinerary.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

Telluride bike park closes for summer 2026 during Lift 4 upgrades

Telluride’s lift-served bike park will sit out summer 2026, and riders who bank on Prospect Basin laps need a different plan before booking.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Grand Canyon eases water restrictions as Transcanyon Waterline repairs advance

Water is returning to the South Rim in stages, but Mather Campground, Desert View spigots and outdoor wood and charcoal fires stayed off as repairs advanced.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Boggy Draw prescribed burn to close roads, send smoke over Four Corners communities

A 1,200-acre Boggy Draw burn closed part of the trail system through May 2 and may send smoke across Dolores, Cortez and Highway 491.

Jamie Taylor2m read

News

Late-season storm blankets Durango high country in spring snow

Several inches of April snow dusted Purgatory while rain fell in Durango, briefly splitting the high country back into winter above and spring below.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

First-Time Visitors' Tips for Monument Valley's 17-Mile Scenic Loop

Plan to slow down: Monument Valley’s 17-mile scenic loop is Navajo Nation–managed and best enjoyed with respect, water, and the option of a guided tour.

Sam Ortega5m read

Analysis

Navigate Four Corners Route Maps: Stay Legal, Protect Sensitive Lands

BLM, USFS and tribal maps use different route labels across the Four Corners; learn to read route classes and permit rules to stay legal and protect sensitive soils and cultural sites.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Essential Four Corners Overlanding Checklist: Vehicle Prep, Gear, Permits, Safety

Prepare your vehicle, kit, permits and safety plan before driving into Four Corners country to avoid remote breakdowns and protect tribal and public lands.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Prepare for Rapid Weather: Four Corners Winter Safety Checklist

Rapid weather swings in the Four Corners create winter hazards for desert roads, slot canyons and high-elevation trails; practical prep reduces risk and rescue delays.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Four Corners Monument Checklist: Fees, Timing, Respect, Nearby Stops

Quick checklist for visiting Four Corners Monument, with fees, timing, respectful rules, and nearby stops to plan your Southwest route.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Essential Four Corners Desert Safety and Leave-No-Trace Tips for Adventurers

Practical desert safety and leave-no-trace tips for Four Corners adventurers to reduce rescues and protect fragile landscapes.

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Analysis

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Guide: Fees, Rules, Self-Drive versus Guided Access

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park requires an entry fee and enforces rules for self-drive access on the 17-mile loop versus guided backcountry visits, making planning and permits essential.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Community

Moab Spring Spruce Up Mobilizes Volunteers for Trails, Parks, Cleanups

Volunteers spent April 11 on Moab trails and parks, tackling erosion, weeds and trailheads before summer traffic peaks.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

Grand Canyon Reopens North Kaibab Trail Access to Ribbon Falls

Nine months after Dragon Bravo Fire shut it down, the North Kaibab Trail reopened March 4 from Phantom Ranch to Ribbon Falls — but the Rim-to-Rim remains out of reach.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

BLM Opens Nearly 200 Miles of Moab Singletrack to Class 1 E-Bikes

Moab Field Office opened roughly 200 miles of singletrack to Class 1 e-bikes, effective March 1, 2026, with an official trail-by-trail authorization and interactive map on the BLM NEPA register.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Updates

Updated 2026 Four Corners Reservation Hub: Timed-Entry, Vehicle Permit Tracker

A consolidated reservation hub tracks timed-entry and vehicle permits across Western parks so Four Corners trip planners can avoid last-minute access problems.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

Grand County moves to rewrite land-use code shaping recreation growth

A 5-0 vote put Grand County on track to rewrite the code that can decide where campgrounds, hotels, gear shops, and workforce housing fit around Moab.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

Spring trails open in Telluride, crews clear key routes and snow lingers

Telluride’s lower trails are turning usable fast, but snow still breaks up mid-country routes and higher terrain. Jud Wiebe, Eider Creek, and the cleared connectors are the best bets now.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Updates

NPS Warns Glen Canyon Visitors of Quicksand Danger Ahead of Spring Break

The NPS posted a quicksand alert for Glen Canyon NRA on March 3, warning spring breakers that the hazard "can appear dry and firm on the surface but may suddenly give way."

Jamie Taylor3m read

Community

Utah bear den check brings researchers, volunteers into Book Cliffs snow

Nearly 50 people followed Clint Sampson into the Book Cliffs snow for a rare bear-den check, where science, history and backcountry access met in one unforgettable day.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Analysis

San Juan volunteers turn trail users into land stewards

San Juan volunteers are turning busy hikes into stewardship jobs, with options for every kind of trail user. After floods and heavy pressure, a few hours can help keep access open and trails in shape.

Nina Kowalski4m read

News

Cam Jones Sets White Rim FKT, Besting Swenson by Five Minutes

Cam Jones completed the 100-mile White Rim in 5 hours and 23 minutes on April 3, a route most riders take three to four days to finish.

Jamie Taylor3m read

News

Durango riders headline 2026 Life Time Grand Prix as Sea Otter starts

Sofia Gomez Villafañe grabbed the first women’s lead at Sea Otter, while Durango’s Payson McElveen helped put the town back in the center of gravel racing.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

BLM names 12 Indian Creek crags as raptor avoidance zones through summer

BLM’s Monticello/Moab Field Office has closed 12 named Indian Creek crags to climbers effective immediately, asking avoidance of the cliffs through late summer to protect nesting raptors.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Updates

Lake Nighthorse opens with limited spring access, daily hours coming soon

Lake Nighthorse is open, but only for weekends, nonmotorized boats and swimmers until May 3. Roadwork and tight parking make this a plan-ahead trip.

Nina Kowalski2m read