Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument
dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise
apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of
ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert
landscape.

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.

Montezuma Castle

Montezuma Castle was built in an alcove about 90 feet up a cliff. This protects the dwelling from flooding.

Montezuma Castle in the Cliff

Visitors to Montezuma Castle usually only get to see the dwelling from the outside.  This view shows what the Sinagua might have seen.

Window in Montezuma Castle

The Sinagua used space efficiently - here a storage room sits in a short cliff space below the main Castle.

Storage Room at Montezuma Castle

Montezuma Well provided a stable source of water to the Sinagua.

Montezuma Well

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Bird's eye view of the park

Fort Verde

Rockin' River Ranch

Red Rock

Bird's eye view of the campground

Blackhawk Loop Campground

Cabins

Cooper's Hawk Loop Campground

Quail Loop Campground

Red-Tailed Hawk Loop Campground

Dead Horse Ranch

Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and
towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs
that well up from the ancient sedimentary rocks. In the heart of the valley, a
thousand years ago, people began to build a little hilltop pueblo that would
grow into one of the largest villages in the area.

Water flows under and through this landscape, feeding the growth of people and towns. The Verde Valley is watered by snowmelt, summer monsoons, and springs that well up from the ancient sedimentary rocks. In the heart of the valley, a thousand years ago, people began to build a little hilltop pueblo that would grow into one of the largest villages in the area.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

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Nearby Parks

Fort Verde

Rockin' River Ranch

Red Rock

Dead Horse Ranch

Tuzigoot National Monument

Jerome