Due to route changes from Koski's 2021 hike and from Buck-30 and Steady's 2024 hike, many improvements are currently underway.
Buck 30 and Steady found many ways around some of the private land issues that I crossed. They also made some good general improvements. As a bonus, Buck-30 added his data to the map! Thanks, Buck-30!
Please use the "Latest CalTopo Link" button below.
https://sartopo.com/m/2C8B
The link below is the Map the map with many data folders that can be turned on and off. This data will assist you in your planning efforts. The CalTopo file is large and complex and can be somewhat slow to use. Over time, I will improve this file. If anyone hikes the FCL, I would appreciate any input to improve the map. You could find an improved, more scenic route!
Suppose you zoom in and out of a map and see data, such as water supplies (not all of these have water; many are dry), resupply towns, labels I made, or route changes. In that case, if you are familiar with CalTopo, you can change the layers to improve your viewing experience. Click the "Map with data" button below to open a read-only map you can configure for your viewing experience.
CAUTION / WARNING / NOTICE / DISCLAIMER:
This is the map I used, and my route changes are recorded to the best of my knowledge. This map is missing a lot of detailed planning information, which made my trip successful. This is not a modern planning tool that you can follow blindly, as all the various paid apps hikers use on the AT, PCT, and CDT. My map planning is somewhat old-school and requires knowledge of route-finding. This map shows the primary route I used in 2021.
Yes, I have drawn lines and data on this file that are over private land, and I learned a lot about what is out there during my trial hike. I learned about pitfalls along the way; often, when I encountered the back side of a sign and peered over the fence, I realized I was in a place where someone did not want me. Kevin Koski and this website do not authorize you to cross private land. The trail development section of this website may offer ideas for avoiding private property, or it may help local people embrace the trail and create an easement system for their area. In summation, I did run into areas of private land along the way that I was unaware of, and yes, I did find myself on the back side of some property lines that I was unaware of. So technically, at this point, it is impossible to follow 100% of the line on the map provided, a line I dreamed up when we were running into a roadblock.
If you hike the FCL, find road walks around private land as necessary. Nothing on this website permits anyone to follow my route where a line crosses private land. There are many areas, especially in New Mexico and northwestern Colorado, where road walks are needed to get around private land. These maps show the eventual future state of the preferred route I consider.
Suppose you zoom in and out of a map and see data, such as water supplies (not all of these have water; many are dry), resupply towns, labels I made, or route changes. In that case, if you are familiar with CalTopo, you can change the layers to improve your viewing experience. Click the "Map with data" button below to open a read-only map you can configure for your viewing experience.
CAUTION / WARNING / NOTICE / DISCLAIMER:
This is the map I used, and my route changes are recorded to the best of my knowledge. This map is missing a lot of detailed planning information, which made my trip successful. This is not a modern planning tool that you can follow blindly, as all the various paid apps hikers use on the AT, PCT, and CDT. My map planning is somewhat old-school and requires knowledge of route-finding. This map shows the primary route I used in 2021.
Yes, I have drawn lines and data on this file that are over private land, and I learned a lot about what is out there during my trial hike. I learned about pitfalls along the way; often, when I encountered the back side of a sign and peered over the fence, I realized I was in a place where someone did not want me. Kevin Koski and this website do not authorize you to cross private land. The trail development section of this website may offer ideas for avoiding private property, or it may help local people embrace the trail and create an easement system for their area. In summation, I did run into areas of private land along the way that I was unaware of, and yes, I did find myself on the back side of some property lines that I was unaware of. So technically, at this point, it is impossible to follow 100% of the line on the map provided, a line I dreamed up when we were running into a roadblock.
If you hike the FCL, find road walks around private land as necessary. Nothing on this website permits anyone to follow my route where a line crosses private land. There are many areas, especially in New Mexico and northwestern Colorado, where road walks are needed to get around private land. These maps show the eventual future state of the preferred route I consider.
I am currently having issues with the link above. I am working on this as of 1-30-23. It comes up sometimes, and other times, it fails. I have not figured it out. I use this recreational map on my SarTopo/CalTopo account because I also participate in Olympic Mountain Rescue. You might get an error that says "Pro Account Required" or "Trial quota exceeded." There is a ton of data, and I used layers only available to paid accounts. As a fix, the downloadable links might work better on your CalTopo account or another mapping program of choice. Sorry for the glitches, but I am a product of the 1970s, and this is my first website.
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WARNING:
This is an always-in-progress planning tool that shows the FCL route and is not a definitive guide. I have put years of work into these files; they are only for advanced hikers and good route finders. This file may contain inaccuracies, and it often crosses land without actual trails. It may show crossing private land, which the file does not authorize you to cross. The water locations may be inaccurate and dry. The Four Corners Loop is not an easy endeavor, and this should not be someone's first long-distance hike due to many cross-country sections, limited water, few actually built trails, and private land issues. This map could get you lost, injured, or even killed. I am not claiming its accuracy; it is just an electronic line on a map with some embedded data. If you follow this route, you'll need to plan carefully to avoid the private land I ran into. This is not a simple hike, and my map does not make it any simpler. Use at your own risk. This trail is not for people who hate to carry water. I never carried less than 5 liters; at one point, I carried 14.5 liters. I also had a 54-mile dry section, a 47-mile dry section, and many 30-mile dry sections. |
Vertical Divider
Map Folders for CalTopo link:
As of 10/6/24, Koski is organizing data into numerous folders to enable faster loading. This is a work in progress, and I will update this page as I settle on the folder structure. Blue Dots - These are locations I believed to be water based on satellite images. Many of these were dry, and I did not investigate many of them because I carried plenty of water. Paper Maps - I used Caltopo to format this map file into PDF files so I could color laser print the route on 11x17" Write in the Rain water-resistant paper. |
I assume you have read all the warnings on this website. When understood, you can download the full backup ".json," the ".gpx (Routes) or (Tracks), and Google Earth KML" file if you want to use it as a starter for planning your adventure. These files were last updated on 12/17/2023 (Note: I have not uploaded the most recent data as of 10/6/24. I am improving the maps. Go to the CalTopo link for the latest.)
Latest files as of December 2023
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The picture below is a general overview of the Four Corners Loop as it existed in 2021. The picture shows lines where I did not walk.
In March 2021, I started my hike of the FCL; below was my projected itinerary with arrival dates, and while hiking, I added my actual arrival dates. As you can see, I was basically on schedule.
SantaFe, NM. 3/26/21 (Started hiking)
Tijeras, NM. 3/31/21 (arrived 4/1)
Socorro, NM. 4/8/21 (arrived 4/7)
Pie Town, NM. 4/15/21 (arrived 4/14)
Alpine, AZ. 4/23/21 (arrived 4/20)
Pinetop, AZ. 4/29/21 (arrived 4/26)
Forest Lake, AZ. 5/4/21 (arrived 5/1)
Flagstaff, AZ. 5/13/21 (arrived 5/10)
Grand Canyon, AZ. 5/19/21 (arrived 5/15)
{13 days off trail to visit my mom as she passed and I skipped 120 miles of trail and restarted hiking at Wire Pass UT.}
Kanab, UT. 5/26/21 (arrived by plane 5/28)
(Kanab was my Jacob Lake location but I need to hitch to Kanab for a resupply)
Henrieville, UT. 6/2/21 (arrived 6/2 Cannonville)
Escalante, UT. 6/4/21 (arrived 6/5)
Bicknell, UT. 6/9/21 (arrived 6/11)
(Bicknell is my Capital Reef NP location but I need to hitch to Bicknell for a resupply)
Ephraim, UT. 6/17/21 (arrived 6/19)
Spanish Fork, UT. 6/22/21 (arrived 6/25)
Kamas, UT. 6/27/21 (arrived 6/29)
Vernal, UT. 7/7/21 (arrived 7/9)
Maybel, CO 7/14/21 (arrived 7/15)
Meeker, CO 7/18/21 (arrived 7/18)
Glenwood Springs, CO 7/24/21 (arrived 7/23)
Meredith, CO 7/29/21 (arrived 7/28)
+ Buena Vista, CO (arrived 8/1)
Salida, CO 8/5/21 (arrived 8/6)
{visited Westminster, CO for 7 days, my mom’s funeral}
+ Salida, CO (arrived 8/14 again)
Westcliffe, CO 8/14/21 (arrived 8/20)
Fort Garland, CO. 8/20/21 (arrived 8/24)
+ San Luis, CO (arrived 8/25)
+ Red River, NM (arrived 8/28)
Angle Fire, NM. 8/29/21 (arrived 8/31)
Santa Fe, NM. 9/8/2021 (arrived 9/8) DONE! Wow, I actually finished on my planned finishing date!
SantaFe, NM. 3/26/21 (Started hiking)
Tijeras, NM. 3/31/21 (arrived 4/1)
Socorro, NM. 4/8/21 (arrived 4/7)
Pie Town, NM. 4/15/21 (arrived 4/14)
Alpine, AZ. 4/23/21 (arrived 4/20)
Pinetop, AZ. 4/29/21 (arrived 4/26)
Forest Lake, AZ. 5/4/21 (arrived 5/1)
Flagstaff, AZ. 5/13/21 (arrived 5/10)
Grand Canyon, AZ. 5/19/21 (arrived 5/15)
{13 days off trail to visit my mom as she passed and I skipped 120 miles of trail and restarted hiking at Wire Pass UT.}
Kanab, UT. 5/26/21 (arrived by plane 5/28)
(Kanab was my Jacob Lake location but I need to hitch to Kanab for a resupply)
Henrieville, UT. 6/2/21 (arrived 6/2 Cannonville)
Escalante, UT. 6/4/21 (arrived 6/5)
Bicknell, UT. 6/9/21 (arrived 6/11)
(Bicknell is my Capital Reef NP location but I need to hitch to Bicknell for a resupply)
Ephraim, UT. 6/17/21 (arrived 6/19)
Spanish Fork, UT. 6/22/21 (arrived 6/25)
Kamas, UT. 6/27/21 (arrived 6/29)
Vernal, UT. 7/7/21 (arrived 7/9)
Maybel, CO 7/14/21 (arrived 7/15)
Meeker, CO 7/18/21 (arrived 7/18)
Glenwood Springs, CO 7/24/21 (arrived 7/23)
Meredith, CO 7/29/21 (arrived 7/28)
+ Buena Vista, CO (arrived 8/1)
Salida, CO 8/5/21 (arrived 8/6)
{visited Westminster, CO for 7 days, my mom’s funeral}
+ Salida, CO (arrived 8/14 again)
Westcliffe, CO 8/14/21 (arrived 8/20)
Fort Garland, CO. 8/20/21 (arrived 8/24)
+ San Luis, CO (arrived 8/25)
+ Red River, NM (arrived 8/28)
Angle Fire, NM. 8/29/21 (arrived 8/31)
Santa Fe, NM. 9/8/2021 (arrived 9/8) DONE! Wow, I actually finished on my planned finishing date!
