The many spectacular destinations in the American Southwest, and particularly in the Four Corners region, draw millions of visitors from around the world. Some of these iconic landscapes attract massive crowds that are on the verge of loving them to death, causing the National Park Service to institute timed entry tickets at places like the extremely popular Arches National Park.
At some destinations, you’ll have to search for a parking space as if it were a shopping center during the busy holiday season!
However, there are exciting, less-crowded state parks, national monuments, and wilderness areas where you can enjoy time in nature and explore history without the crowds. Let’s review nine places where the savvy traveler can escape the hustle and bustle, experience solitude, and connect with the Four Corners’ unique beauty and cultural heritage.
Why You Should Visit
Why visit these hidden natural wonders in the Four Corners rather than head straight to the most famous — and busiest — destinations?
Visiting less crowded tourist destinations offers several advantages. Reduced crowds translate to increased opportunities for solitude and reflection, fostering a deeper connection with the environment and promoting a sense of tranquility.
These destinations often provide more opportunities for authentic cultural interactions and a less commercialized experience. Furthermore, less crowded areas typically experience less environmental impact, contributing to the preservation of natural and cultural resources.
Choosing outstanding yet somewhat underrated Four Corners destinations can lead to a more meaningful and sustainable travel experience.
Top Less-Visited Nature Destinations of the Four Corners
When you visit someplace like Arches National Park, even the visitor center and bookstore can be so crowded you can’t ask a ranger about the best places to visit within the park. But there are plenty of other beautiful places to visit if you’re willing to venture beyond the well-trodden paths.
There are many parks and monuments where you can find a treasure trove of lesser-known natural wonders, offering solitude, unique beauty, and a chance to connect with the land on a deeper level.
These destinations provide a refreshing escape from crowded parks that may feel a bit like waiting in line at an amusement park and instead experience the true essence of the Southwest. Let’s dive in and explore nine exciting, less-crowded places in the Four Corners.
1. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness offers an otherworldly landscape of gravity-defying hoodoos, fascinating badlands, and large pieces of colorful petrified wood. It truly feels like stepping onto another planet.
Here, there are no marked trails, and visitors literally wander through the wilderness to discover hidden canyons and marvel at the unique geological formations. It’s not the easiest place to find, making it a true off-the-beaten-path destination.
Read our Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness article to find out more about how to explore this Four Corners secret spot where you can hike, wilderness camp, enjoy stargazing under dark skies, go horseback riding, and take photos that will make your friends want to visit, too.
2. Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument is home to three magnificent natural bridges: Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo. This national monument in southeastern Utah offers stunning scenery and opportunities for awe-inspiring stargazing at the world’s first accredited Dark Sky Park.
Adventurous visitors can hike to each bridge, stand below it, and witness the power of erosion that carved these natural wonders. Unlike the sandstone formations you’ll find at Arches, these natural bridges were created by rivers.
For those who aren’t up to hiking the trails, there are overlooks for each bridge. Natural Bridges welcomed almost 84,000 visitors in 2023, a fraction of what you’ll find at the nation’s busiest parks. Our complete article has many insider tips for visiting Natural Bridges National Monument.
3. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado
This vast landscape of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument protects the highest known archaeological site density in the United States, with more than 8,300 recorded sites. Explore ancient pueblos, cliff dwellings, and kivas, and imagine the lives of the people who once thrived here.
You’ll start at the visitor center near Dolores, Colorado, and then you can head off to the monument’s many satellite locations to practically have the Ancestral Puebloan sites all to yourself.
Unlike most of the other locations in this article, Canyons of the Ancients is operated by the Bureau of Land Management. Get the details for visiting Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in our article.
4. Navajo National Monument, Arizona
Discover the remarkably preserved cliff dwellings of Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House within the serene canyon setting of Navajo National Monument. Seeing some dwellings requires that you join a ranger-led tour.
You can learn about the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people in the visitor center and take the easy hike to the Betatakin overlook. In 2023, 44,180 visitors came to Navajo National Monument, an average of only 120 people a day.
Compare that to Arches National Park’s 1,482,045 visitors in 2023, or more than 4,000 on average per day, and you’ll see why an off-the-beaten-path place like this is not to be missed. Navajo National Monument allows you to spend time visiting with the rangers on duty, hiking quiet trails, hearing the birds, and camping. Learn more about it in our Navajo National Monument article.
5. Bluewater Lake State Park, New Mexico
Escape the desert heat and enjoy the tranquility of the high-altitude Bluewater Lake State Park. Go fishing, kayaking, camping, birding, or simply relax on the shore and soak in the stunning views of the surrounding mesas and mountains.
Camping at state parks in New Mexico is a bargain, and this park offers both campsites with water and electricity hook-ups for RVers and sites with beautiful sunset views over the lake.
The hiking trails will give you a good workout as you head down the canyon to the river and watch for birds and wild animals. Bluewater Lake State Park is reached off I-40 on the way to exciting locations like the three national monuments near Flagstaff, Arizona, to the west and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the east. Read our article to find out more about adding Bluewater Lake State Park to your travel plans.
6. Moki Dugway, Utah
This isn’t really a destination as much as a heart-pounding way to travel between places like Natural Bridges and Valley of the Gods, another less-visited yet fascinating place to add to your itinerary.
The Moki Dugway is a thrilling, unpaved road that descends 1,200 feet through a series of hairpin turns, offering breathtaking views of Valley of the Gods and Cedar Mesa.
Drive cautiously and savor the panoramic vistas. If you’re up for a road that could get your heart pounding (and you’re not towing an RV), check out our story about the infamous Moki Dugway.
7. Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, Utah
Tucked into beautiful Blanding, Utah, is a location that is both a state park and an outstanding museum. Delve into Ancestral Puebloan history at the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, which houses a remarkable collection of well-preserved artifacts and a reconstructed pueblo.
You can even climb down into the kiva. Learn about the culture, traditions, and artistry of the Ancestral Puebloans and other Indigenous tribes from throughout the Cedar Mesa area. Read our full article about Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum to discover why a stop in Blanding should be on your list.
8. Bears Ears National Monument, Utah
The vast and rugged Bears Ears National Monument landscape is sacred to many Native American tribes who participated in the development of the monument. It encompasses a wealth of important archaeological and cultural sites.
Explore canyons, mesas, and rock art panels, and connect with the deep history of this land. There isn’t a visitor center (yet) for Bears Ears National Monument, but there are plenty of off-the-beaten-path places to visit.
For example, if you’re on your way to the Needles District of Canyonland National Park, you won’t want to miss a stop at Newspaper Rock, a large panel covered with petroglyphs, which is part of Bears Ears National Monument. By reading our story, you’ll discover what other hidden treasures can be found in Bears Ears National Monument.
9. Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico
Step back in time at Aztec Ruins National Monument with its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan great house, featuring more than 400 rooms and a beautifully reconstructed great kiva you can enter. Learn about the architectural achievements and cultural practices of this ancient civilization.
Speaking of less-visited and less-crowded destinations that are absolutely worth a visit, Aztec Ruins near Farmington, New Mexico, had fewer than 50,000 guests in 2023, allowing them to explore the West Ruin and the surrounding 318 acres of the monument in relative solitude.
When to Visit
Because these are some of the more quiet places in the Four Corners, you won’t be fighting the crowds to see spectacular formations and ancient structures. Even so, summer is often the busiest season as people take holiday vacations while the kids are out of school.
However, in the Four Corners, summer can be quite hot and be punctuated with monsoon thunderstorms. Winter is cold and even snowy. Spring, while there are lovely days, can be cold, rainy, and windy. The loveliest season to explore the Four Corners has to be fall, when temperatures are more moderate and the spring winds are a distant memory.
Conclusion
Four Corners destinations without crowds offer a chance to experience the Four Corners region in a more intimate and authentic way. By venturing off the beaten path, you’ll discover the true essence of this captivating land.
