montezuma castle national monument

The scenery was beautiful. The grounds were extremely well kept. There was a 1/3 mile loop to walk with vegetation well marked. There were many places, including shady park benches to sit and rest and enjoy the scenery. There was a feeling of serenity along the entire route.

Never been to a National Park or Monument that wasn't worth the stop and Montezuma Castle was amazing. Read a few reviews that said "ready to go after 5 minutes". We stayed about 2 hours. Yes, you can skip the visitor center, zoom on down to take a quick peek at the ruins, ignore all the historical information, and be on your way - an it would still amaze you that people lived in these cliffs. But, take time to browse the visitor center, talk to the National Park Rangers, and read the historical signage, and you will be truly fascinated with this site.Head to Montezuma Well too.

If you looked it as a donation to preserve a monument it was totally worth the money and will always be worth it. Overall it's exactly like the pictures, some interactive parts but not enough to keep you interested. Worth a stop if you need a break.

Great stopping point going north on Interstate 25. The Castle was great to see even at a distance. The river nearby was very scenic.

Just what was expected. Huge ancient cliff dwellings. Beautiful location along the river. Giant shade trees. Great historical center with artifacts and displays. Paved walking trail, not much more than 1 mile round trip on path, if that. But nice diversion for anyone who's not seen such a thing. We've been many times, take out of town friends.

Montezuma's Castle was my first experience viewing a cliff dwelling of an ancient Southwest culture. It was extremely impressive at the time, and even though I now know that it was extensively reconstructed back in the early 1900s (I believe, I might be wrong about the date), it is still an amazing example of Sinagua habitation. The information provide on the loop trail accompanying the view of the ruin is fascinating.

MONTEZUMA CASTLE AND WELL NATIONAL MONUMENTS-ANICENT NATIVE AMERICANS (ARIZONA’S HIDDEN BYWAYS IV) South of Sedona, Arizona, there is a quite place covered by desert vegetation, as well as Native American pueblo ruins high on a cliff face. It is a place relatively devoid of man, and where the winds and storms swirl and frolic. A place where an ancient society lived in eons past, and traditions were kept, cherished, nurtured, and remembered. This is a place where the land was sacred, and was worked in the old ways and worshiped for its wisdom. MONTEZUMA CASTLE AND WELL NATIONAL MONUMENTS are located in the Central section in the state of Arizona. It should be noted that Montezuma is only the name of the ruins. Neither Montezuma, nor the Aztecs, had anything to do with the construction or administration, of these ruins. The access to these National Monuments is via AZ US179S south of the town of Sedona, AZ. You can come down from Sedona on SR179S to I-17S from the north. You can also access these monuments from the south via I-17N from the Phoenix, AZ area. In either case, your entrance into Montezuma Castle National Monument is at a few miles south of Sedona, AZ on SR179S/I-17S on your left side. The National Monuments have available campground (via reservations-contact the monuments), but you will need to stay elsewhere if you desire a lodge, hotel, or motel. If you seek the aforementioned lodging, check the town of Sedona, or the cities of Flagstaff or Phoenix, for accommodations. You can also link this trip to these monuments with an extended stay at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. In all cases, you will have at least a one to two hour drive to the entrance point of these national monuments. At this point, I should mention that these are not large sites, such as Mesa Verde in Colorado, Hovenweep in Utah, or Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. We spent approximately 30 minutes in each of the Montezuma sites due to the limited access to the main features. The principle ruin in Montezuma Castle National Monument can only be seen on the cliff wall from a distance. The pool of Montezuma Well is a small lake with desert conditions surrounding it. Therefore, I would recommend linking these locations onto others for a true day trip. PERTAINING TO MONTEZMAS WELL NATIONAL MONUMENT; CARE MUST BE TAKEN IF IT HAS RAINED WITHIN THE LAST 12 HOURS. THESE ROADS CAN GET VERY MUDDY AND QUITE SLICK. THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE QUICKLY, BRINGING THUNDERSTORMS AND FLASH FLOODS. IN ADDITION, USING A VEHICLE WITH SOME HIGH CLEARANCE, SUCH AS AN SUV OR FOUR WHEEL DRIVE JEEP TYPE, IS PREFERABLE, BUT NOT MANDETORY. FURTHERMORE, BRING WATER, FOOD, AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND YOUESELF. A GOOD AREA MAP IS ESSENTIAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS MINOR EXPEDITION. If you want to explore Montezuma Castle National Monument, go south of Sedona, AZ on AZ US179S, then south on I-17S. Get off at exit 289 and make a left at the signed entrance to Montezuma Castle National Monument. There are no services on this entrance road besides the Visitors Center, where there are restrooms. A morning visit is recommended due to the fact that the ruin on the cliff face is sun lit, allowing for excellent photography. A WORD ABOUT THESE RUINS; THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. TAKE PLENTY OF PICTURES, WALK WITHIN THE RUINS IF ALLOWED, AND LEAVE FOOTPRINTS! DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE ANY ARTIFACTS. IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL LAW. I would advise to keep an eye on the weather conditions. Thunderstorms do crop up unexpectedly, especially in the summer afternoon, and can be quite powerful. For your own safely, do not get caught out in the open in one of these storms. You first major stop will be the Visitors Center at MONTEZUMA NATIONAL MONUMENT. This is the principle stop in this national monument, containing a major puebloan ruin on a cliff face, so give your self about 30 minutes plus here. The Visitors Center is your source for information, maps, souvenirs, and, most importantly, restrooms. USE THEM! They will be the last restrooms you will encounter until you reach civilization as we know it, unless you like trees and rocks as company. As you walk out the back door of the Visitor’s Center, you will find a path that leads to an upper viewing area of the MONTEZUMA CASTLE RUINS (see images), on your right on the cliff. You will be walking on a path below the ruin, so that you can see it from various angles. From these vantage points, the main communal building, which housed over 100 people, is visible on the cliff face (see images). The main communal building was a massive piece of engineering for its time, since only primitive tools were available to the builders. As you walk down the steps and approach the viewpoints for this structure, marvel at the construction and number of rooms that it encompasses. This was all built by hand out of stone and mud, using ladders and primitive rope. This was a vibrant agrarian community, using the rich soil to grow crops and draw water from area streams and springs. To build an edifice into the cliff alcove, especially one of this size, must have consumed many hundreds of man hours. The safety of the cliff alcove was paramount in the eyes of the ancient leaders and engineers, while any agricultural activity could be performed on the valley floor. There is a secondary ruin at the base of the cliff called Castle A, which you can examine and get close to. This ruin is in shambles and does not have the grandeur of the structure on the cliff. After leaving Montezuma Castle, head north for about 11 miles on I-17N, getting off at exit 293. Continue EAST for about 4 miles on East Beaver Creek Road (i.e. AZ US-77) and take a signed side road on your right to MONTEZUMA WELL NATIONAL MONUMENT (see images). There is a small parking lot there, as well as restrooms. Your tour of Montezuma Well NM involves some light hiking to some great vistas of the limestone sink, fed by streams, that encompasses this small lake in the middle of the desert. The trails circumvent this lake, taking you to additional viewpoints and some old Native American Pueblo ruins (see image). There are also varieties of cactus all over the monument. This area was very important to the early inhabitants of this area, insofar as it provided them with a steady source of water in the middle of this harsh desert environment. It also was the source of water for plant cultivation. At this point, return to the main road AZ US-77 WEST and continue for about 4 miles to the junction of Interstate 17. Upon broaching onto I-17, be aware that it is a split highway. Be sure that you are going in THE CORRECT DIRECTION (NORTH OR SOUTH)! Take plenty of photos on the way out, for one does not know when one will pass this way again. HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY TRIP. ALASKASEEKER = (B.I.N.)

Amazing cliff dwelling. Unbelievable the were once someone's home. Must see if you are going to the area. Will not be disappointed.

I guess I was expecting a larger display. The NP building made it so commercial, the actual ruins were very small. After 5 mins we were ready to move on..; Not much left to view.

Just a short drive off of I-17, the Castle is an interesting preservation of how people lived over 10 centuries ago in the Verde Valley. There is a nominal fee to visit the area, but that entitles you to visit a small but informative museum that provides a good narrative on how the native people lived. I found it interesting learning how creative they were to survive in what appears to be such a harsh environment. You can't enter the buildings (they are over 700 years old and built into a cliff), but the concrete trail provides many great viewing points. Be sure to stop at the kiosk that displays a miniature replica of the castle with cut-a-way walls so that you can see what the interior looks like and what the rooms may have looked like. Be sure to also stop at Montezuma's Well, 11 miles north, to complete an understanding of the history of this valley.

This is a beautiful site where natives lived. Like an oasis with river stream in desert valley with a view home and site. Quite extraordinary and the real deal. You will see why they chose this site on your visit.

This national treasure is well worth the short drive if you're in the Sedona/Cottonwood area. 5 dollar admission ( be careful...the staff member who sold us our tickets told us it was good for both National Historic Sites....nope)Easy walking for all ages and breathtaking. Well worth it

Just 10 minutes off of Interstate 17 in North Central Arizona, is the Montezuma Castle National Monument. Set high on a cliff overlooking a beautiful river valley, rests an amazingly well preserved dwelling dating back to long before American was discovered by Europeans. The visitor center houses a beautifully designed and thoughtful exhibit which explains this site and gives historic perspective. Imagine a "compact Mesa Verde" with much easier access and fewer visitors. Don't miss this jewel in the high desert.

We swung by on a trip and it was wonderful. We only had a few minutes to check everything out, but it was well worth it. This has to be the best preserved pueblo dwelling. It still has the sharp edges of sandstone, not worn down at all. You can't walk up to it, but it's okay. The staff were knowledgable. The bathroom facilities were in great care. I wished we could have tried a little walk around the place! Excellent.

Breathtaking! This National Monument is a Must-See stop on your way to Sedona. WOW! You must see it for yourself!