Four Corners in January

April through May and September through October offer the sweet spot for Four Corners travel. Spring brings wildflowers to the desert and comfortable hiking temperatures, though nights can still be chilly at elevation. Fall delivers perfect weather with daytime temperatures in the 70s and clear skies that make the red rocks glow. Summer gets hot and crowded – Monument Valley can hit 100°F in July, and Mesa Verde's cliff dwelling tours become sweltering. But summer also brings thunderstorms that create dramatic skies and temporary waterfalls in the canyons. Winter transforms the region into something entirely different. Snow caps the mesas and creates striking contrasts with red rock, but many backcountry roads become impassable. Mesa Verde reduces its tour schedule, and some trading posts close for the season. The upside? You'll have iconic viewpoints mostly to yourself, and winter light creates some of the best photography conditions of the year.