Montezuma Castle National Monument
This is the crown jewel of Arizona’s ruin national monuments, of which there are many. Although not actually a castle, the ancestral multi level housing complex perched high on a cliff side is formidable, overlooking the Wet Beaver Creek and the valley in the distance. This must have been a paradise in its heyday.
Central Arizona is spectacular. However you decide to get to Montezuma Castle you will not be disappointed. Wether you take I-17 from either north or south, AZ-89A, or AZ-260, each one of these roads are considered scenic drives, so bring your gawking glasses. Limit your expectations of the castle though (It’s more of an apartment complex than a castle). While it is definitely remarkable, pictures lead you to believe the structure is much larger than it actually is. Montezuma Castle was the third U.S. National Monument, dedicated by Theordore Roosevelt. The monument was mistakenly named after the Aztec emperor Montezuma, but the structure was home to Sinagua Native Americans between ~1100-1425 C.E., not Aztecs.
This is one of the easiest National Monuments to experience. The trail that takes you to the ruins is paved and flat. It is roughly one half mile to take the loop through the canyon full of Arizona Sycamores (which provide much needed shade), past the ruins, and down to Beaver Creek. Montezuma Castle NM has two separate sections. One portion is dedicated to Montezuma Well, a natural limestone sinkhole fed by a 74deg spring. This is truly a desert Oasis and it’s huge. If you have some extra time, this second half to the ruins is worth the eleven-mile drive. A short ascending paved path takes you over the rim looking down on the pool. You can take a stony path down to the water’s edge if you’d like, but the view from the rim is enough.
I wouldn’t say this monument is worth it’s own trip, but that’s not at all necessary considering the abundance of attractions near Montezuma Castle NM. The monument is very close to I-17 and not far from the Mogollon Rim as well as the numerous attractions in and around Sedona, AZ. If you’re in a big hurry, the ruins can be done in 15 minutes and you can skip the well.
