Montezuma Castle National Monument

A cairn found in Cohab Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park.

Frank and Anne's Canyon Country Hiking and Camping Notebook.

Campsite

Ancient Ruins and Rock Art

Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona.

Montezuma Castle National Monument
P.O. Box 219
Camp Verde, Arizona 86322
Phone: 928-567-3322

Topics

Overview

The people of the Sinagua culture built the dwellings here in the 12th century. Early settlers marveled at the structures high among the cliffs and at its base and thought them (mistakenly) to be of Aztec origin.
Area:	N/A
Elevation:	3,199 feet
Fees:	$5.00 per adult; not charge for children 15 and younger.
Hours:	Summer: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 7 days per week.
Visitor Center:	Yes.
Facilities:	Visitor Center with exhibits, restrooms, and drinking water.
Directions:	About 50 miles south of Flagstaff, Arizona, about 3 miles off of Interstate 17. Get directions from MapQuest. NPS Directions.
Coordinates:	GPS Coordinates (NAD83): N34 36.687; W111 50.338.
Weather:	Be prepared for temperatures that can exceed 100 degrees in the summer and below freezing in the winter. See area weather chart. See Canyon Country Weather for more information. Sunrise/Sunset

Regulations:	See National Park Service Restrictions and Regulations. See American Antiquities Act of 1906. See Archaeological Site Etiquette. See Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979. Archaeological Resources Protection Act Hotline: 800-227-7286. See Pets in the Parks and Backcountry. See Encountering Wild Animals.
Precautions:	Drink lots of water, use sunscreen, and wear a hat. Stay on the path. Rattlesnakes live in this area, although they are rarely sighted. Lock your vehicle and put valuable out of sight. Do not got past any guardrails. Rock surfaces can be slippery. Stay away from the cliff edges. See Backcountry Considerations. See Backcountry Emergencies. NPS News Updates.

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Camping

Camping is prohibited in all areas of the Monument.

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Hiking

There are no hiking trails within the monument. However, in the Montezuma Castle Unit there is a paved .3 mile loop trail that passes beneath the ruins, and in the Montezuma Well Unit there is a .3 mile paved loop trail that passes near all of the main features. Some climbing is necessary, and there are steps at the beginning of the trail, and at the entrance to each of the two short side trails. The trail is signed and a trail guide is available at the Ranger's station.

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This page was last updated Wednesday, December 10, 2008

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