About the Route
The Four Corners Loop is a collection of routes / trails, lightly traveled jeep roads that can be connected to from a path in the shape of a very large circle. The center of the trail circle is the "Four Corners" made by the border intersection of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. The circular shaped route / trail is approximately 2,352 miles long.
This trail is the idea of Kevin Koski who is knows as "The Animal". Kevin received this trail name from Garlic Man while hiking the Continental Divide Trail in 2004, because he speeds up on loose rock and steep snow. Kevin continued to use this name during his 2014 Pacific Crest Trail through-hike and will use if while hiking the Four Corners Loop.
The inspiration for this trail came from the United States Geologic Society map titled "Geographic Face of the Nation - Elevation". When looking the elevation map you can see a general circle of mountains ranges and high ridges that forms a large diameter circle around the four corners. After this circle of mountains appeared to me I thought it must be hiked, and this needs to be a new National Scenic Trail.
I am a volunteer with Olympic Mountain Rescue and have access to a mapping program called SarTopo. Since 2018 I have been using SarTopo to virtually explore and create my route. Now the route must be followed with my own two feet and it shall forever be knows as the Four Corners Loop.
Yes 2021 will be the first known hike of this route but not the last. It is my ultimate goal to have this route be hiked by others while allowing it to shift as necessary to make a wonderful hiking experience. New and better paths that others who follow me will allow the FCL to morph into the nations first large diameter hiking circle.
Ultimately I would love for Congress to vote and add the Four Corners Loop as a National Scenic Trail under the National Trails Act of 1968.
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Thank you for taking the time to read about the route of the Four Corners Loop.
Disclaimer: This trail idea has not been hiked in its entirety and is not actually an official trail by any organization, it is my invention. The route was dreamed up and researched for three years. It will be through hiked by Kevin Koski starting March 2021. I do want this to be a new trail others hike, but take no responsibility to the accuracy to the route, the water sources, and my map even has several places where travel is required off trail. I fully expect this route to morph and change as I hike it, discover impasses etc. When finished I will make route modifications from my experience.
