- Hours: Open every day
- Reservations: Not required
- Cost: National Park entry fee
- Location: Between Phoenix and Sedona, directions below
- How Long: Allow 30 to 45 minutes, including the drive from the freeway
- Best Time to Visit: Any time
Montezuma Castle Review
It's not a castle and Montezuma was never here. Early settlers got their history wrong, but no matter what it's called, Montezuma Castle is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. It's a five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling that served as a "high-rise apartment building" for Sinagua Indians in the 12th century, built in a limestone recess above the Beaver Creek flood plain in the Verde Valley.Nearby is another, ruined dwelling which was likely larger than Montezuma Castle, six stories tall with 45 rooms.
Unlike many of the West's other cliff dwellings, Montezuma Castle is very accessible, by a mostly-flat, paved trail that's only a third of a mile round trip. The trail doubles back along the creek. Take this path and stop at the diorama to see what Montezuma Castle looked like when it was occupied.
Getting to Montezuma Castle
Montezuma CastleMontezuma Castle is 3 miles east of Interstate 17 near Camp Verde. Take Exit 289 and go straight through the two traffic circles on Middle Verde Road, then turn left of Montezuma Castle Road.
Camp Verde, AZ
(928) 567-3322
Montezuma Castle Website
If You Liked Montezuma Castle, You May Also Like:
- Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
- Wupatki National Monument, Arizona
- Mesa Verde, Colorado
- Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
