The only one of Utah's six corners that's easy to find is the most famous one, the "Four Corners," in the southeastern pocket of the state. Visiting the other five corners requires plenty of directions, and four of those corners require a sturdy vehicle for rugged off-road driving.
Ray Rogers of Draper has visited all six corners and kept some detailed records on his treks.Here's how to reach the six corners of the state, going from the top of the state's northwest corner, clockwise:
1. Northwest corner -- Utah, Idaho and Nevada:
Located 5,233 feet above sea level, this corner is marked by a 2-foot-high concrete monument in a sagebrush area lined by ranching fences.
The area contains some rolling and rugged hills. Goose Creek flows from Nevada diagonally across the northwest, about 2 miles from the monument.
Take I-15 to Tremonton, then I-84 to Snowville and next U-30 to the town of Grouse Creek. Travel north on the graded road to some ranches on Goose Creek.
The land between the graded road and the state's corner is privately owned and access may be seasonal.
Get permission from the local ranch owner to proceed farther. In the spring, Goose Creek floods much of the area.
After securing permission, you must cross a creek bridge and go up a four-wheel-drive road on the edge of a meadow to an old rusting disk plow.
Turn right and go north along an even rougher road, about a mile to a fence line. You must walk almost 1 1/2 miles west from here to the monument.
2. Upper northeast corner -- Utah, Idaho and Wyoming:
This 3-foot high triangle sandstone monument stands at an elevation of 7,100 feet on a steep hillside. Amid sagebrush and grass, this monument rests inside a 10-by-10-foot area, enclosed by a barbed wire fence.
From Salt Lake City, take I-80 to Evanston. Then go north on U.S. 89 to Randolph, Rich County. Drive east of Randolph to Sage Creek Junction on the county road toward Cokeville, Wyo. Look for the power lines and a sign stating "Monument," with an arrow pointing west.
Travel this four-wheel-drive trail about two miles to another arrow pointing up a ravine. From here, you must hike about 600 yards up a steep hillside to the monument.
3. Middle northeast corner -- Utah and Wyoming:
This corner is marked by a 5-foot-high sandstone pillar at 6,800 feet above sea level. The monument is located in a level area full of sagebrush and grass. Aspen and pine trees are to the south in the Uintas.
From Salt Lake City, take I-80 to Coalville. Go east on the Chalk Creek Road past Upton and Pineview. This road is paved and leads right to the corner. This corner is second in accessibility to the "Four Corners."
4. Lower northeast corner -- Utah, Colorado and Wyoming:
This is the loftiest corner at an elevation of 8,402 feet above sea level. The survey medallion is embedded in a concrete block, which is encased in a concrete slab about 5 feet square.
A rock from each of the three states is also embedded in the slab. There are also three tall flagpoles nearby, one for each state's flag. A large wooden information board is also in the area.
The monument is located in a grassy meadow, with aspens and evergreens on the nearby mountains.
From Salt Lake City, travel I-80 to Rock Springs, Wyo. Then go south on U.S. 91 to the Wyoming-Utah border. Then proceed 20 miles east on a dirt road to an oil camp called Clay Basin. A monument sign there points the rest of the way. It's a 10-mile route over rugged mountain country from there to the monument.
5. The "Four Corners," lower southeast corner:
This is the most elaborate monument of all, marking the only spot in the nation where four states meet. The marker is set in the middle of a 20-by-20-foot platform with 3-foot-high steps leading up all sides.
The Navajo Tribe operates the park and charges a fee to enter. There are four flagpoles, one for each state. The seals of all four states are embedded in the concrete platform.
The area is a desert, with the San Juan River and some cottonwood trees in the distance. Also, the Navajos sell food and crafts there.
To reach the monument, travel U-160 from northern Arizona, or take U-262 from Utah's Montezuma Creek and connect with U-160. The road goes right past the Four Corners.
6. Lower southwest corner -- Utah, Arizona and Nevada:
This corner is marked by a 3-foot high red sandstone monument. It is 6 inches by 6 inches and roughly cut. The area's landscape is sandy and rocky with many ravines, hills and plateaus.
The monument -- perhaps the hardest to find -- is located in the broad Beaver Dam Wash area, near Utah's lowest elevation at 2,550 feet above sea level.
Travel I-15 from St. George to Littlefield, Ariz. Take a BLM ranching road (numbered "1160") about 20 miles on an unimproved highway through the Joshua Tree forests.
Be aware that sandy river bottoms make it difficult to distinguish between road and river bottom.
After the 20 miles, a maze of four-wheel-drive roads stretches to the east. Trial and error is the only way to negotiate this area. After about two miles, you reach an east-west fenceline. From here you must walk a mile east to the monument on the left (south).