Montezuma Castle National Monument

Came here during our stay at the Enchantment Resort. Really enjoy our visit to Montezuma and also neighboring Rimrock. Seeing the old architecture where people used to stay and have preserved through the ages was enlightening. Best of it was definitely Rimrock where we could climb all the down to the basin floor on a paved walkway which I think most miss. It’s definitely there if you look and the reflection photos def are hard to beat. Hope you have as good of a time there as we did.

America the Beautiful pass helped tremendously as it's $10 per person, but note the $10 also includes entry to an additional separate site at Tuzigoot. The site itself is beautiful, short path to the actual site. Volunteers on-site provided in depth but fun explanations as to their living and way of life. Very small but informative welcome center.

Visited the National Park Montezuma Castle National Monument In Camp Verde, Arizona. Had to purchase tickets to enter-$10 per adult. You can get stamps if you had a national park passport book! Easy to walk trail and able to see the castle that was built into the mountain.

Very thought provoking and interesting place. This isn’t a castle, it’s just an ancient city carved on the side of a cliff. There’s a small trail here with good views of the city. Theres a small visitor center with an exhibit, restrooms, and water. The employees were good and the trail offers good education about the place. But just seeing the place is astonishing enough. Overall, would definitely recommend stopping by for a short while.

It’s about old civilisation. It has remains of civilisation about 2500 - 3000 years old. One can see the places where people stayed, layout of residing areas. There are caves at height where people stayed but it’s wonder that how they reached up? It is very rear and one should see habitat of our own ancestors.

It's a must see if you are in this area. It's amazing. And mind boggling to think how people lived like this! There's a gift shop and bathrooms. We got the park pass for here and Toozigoot as we went in the same day. Much cheaper. The hike is easy and not that long. The sycamore trees are beautiful to look at and the river is as well. It's limestone and other rocks, and it's just fascinating. I'm so glad we went! Pictures don't do justice.

We had to spend the night in Camp Verde dueto closed mountain passes leading to Grand Canyon. What a pleasant surprise to come across this stunning and interesting monument from the past. The remains of a beautiful village from the past surrounded by trees and a plentiful flowing creek. So worth the visit. The visitors center told the story of these gentle, hard-working, peaceful natives. Along the trail is a diorama showing what life was like then. What a treasure.

The cost was $10 per car to see the ruins. Small but spectacular park. The ruins here will stretch the limits of your imagination. Photo can’t do them justice. No access to the actual ruins. Awesome displays about the history of the ruins at the visitor center

Visited the National Park Montezuma Castle National Monument In Camp Verde, Arizona. Had to purchase tickets to enter- $10 per adult. You can get stamps if you had a national park passport book! Easy to walk trail and able to see the castle that was built into the mountain.

We always pass the exit to Montezuma Castle driving north on the 17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff. The last week in February, we left early enough that we got the chance to stop and enjoy the National Monument as a break to our drive up. This was the absolute perfect day to see the monument. We are having an unseasonably warm winter this year and it worked out well for our trip. This is an incredibly easy hike. I would recommend it for anyone from a toddler to the elderly. Most of the walkway is a smooth paved sidewalk. The walk from the visitor center to Montezuma Castle is like walking down the block of your neighborhood. This is a very manageable hike for beginners. There are no hills or elevation. Patio benches with shade canopies are set throughout this peaceful, gorgeous circular trail that takes you from the visitor center to Montezuma castle, and then back towards the visitor center with a stop at a diorama with audio tour. There are several descriptive signs and plaques along the way, identifying historical sites, anthropology, and botany. There was a Ranger standing in front of Montezuma's Castle when we arrived, giving a short presentation and answering questions. It cost us $10 each to get in through the visitor center. Restrooms are located before the entrance. The visitor center has several stations set up describing life of the natives who lived in Montezuma Castle, and a gift shop. There is a large parking lot for this national monument. A dog cleanup station, trash bin and recycle bin are located between the parking lot and the picnic area. A winding walkway will take you down to the picnic area that has picnic tables and a large open dirt area on the bank of Beaver Creek.

20 room dwelling nestled into limestone high up on the cliffs. It's a very easy walk and spacious enough for many photos opportunities. Built almost 1000 years ago, it's survived so long partly because it's so inaccessible and luckily it's still being restored, preserved, and studied to this day. After the "castle" there is a little side path that leads to other dwellings in white limestone that are much more visible. These are more primitive in construction but I liked being able to see them closely with black soot still on some of the rocks from ancient fires. After this is a lake you can stop at and on the way out there is a large wood rectangular structure that shows a cool section view of Montezuma's Castle behind a window. The is facing toward the exit so you cant We it if you walk past it without turning around. Worth stopping at to see how it was occupied and to hear a little narrative if you press the button in the middle.

I love this place! The bathrooms are always clean. The process is easy to get in and the walk is gentle on the knees. The dwelling amazes me each time we see it. Beautiful weather.

Beautiful. You have to stop here if you are going between Phoenix and Flagstaff. It breaks up the trip well! This dwelling is like a Petra but in Arizona.

This was a nice stop on the way to Sedona from Phoenix. Not sure I would recommend seeing this on it's own. But it was a pretty cool view point. This would amazing if they could safely find a way to take people up there. The park ranger said he has gone inside a few times.

Really interesting history, easy trail, and gift shop. Definitely recommend this for young and old alike.

Montezuma Castle is a fascinating, albeit small national monument. It's an easy detour if you're driving between Sedona and Phoenix. In fact, I had stopped here after I had to check out of my Sedona hotel and had time to kill before my flight home out of PHX. There is an entry fee, but they do accept the America The Beautiful Pass for national park entries. As of the fall of 2024, they were doing some renovations to parking and the visitor center. That did lead to parking being nearly full and not having the full NPS visitor center experience. Still, they had a modest makeshift gift shop and clean restrooms. Rangers and docents were also readily available to answer questions. The walk to the cliff dwellings is short and ducks in and out of shade. This was my first time seeing such dwellings and its fascinating to see them and then read about their residenr'a way of life. Small park with lots of great information. It's not a hiking or full day destination by any means but a cool, educational pit stop.

Montezuma Castle is worth the time if you are in the area. Your mind starts to wonder how our ancestors lived and were so in touch with nature. The entrance is only $10 per person, clean restrooms, gift shop, homie working the counter was very friendly and the walk is only like 1/4 mile in. Very easy.

Perfect for a day trip from Phoenix. Montezuma Castle National Monument is located in Camp Verde, Arizona. It's a 20-room cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people nearly 1,000 years ago. It's a 1.3 mile loop which is self guided. Cost is $10 per person or free if you have a national park pass. Bathrooms are located prior to entering the visitor center/gift shop and there's plenty of free parking.

Cool cliff dwellings. Montezuma Castle National Monument features a short mostly paved walking trail that takes you to the bottom of several cliff dwellings. There is a fair amount of information about them at the site (both in the visitor's center and along the trail). There are also plenty of benches to rest and take in the cliff dwellings. Overall, I would recommend visiting Montezuma Castle National Monument if you have time in the Sedona area.

With the exception of the United Club at the Phoenix airport that made an excellent Old Fashioned, this was the very last stop on our adventures before we boarded the plane home. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality had this recommendation in her back pocket the entire trip and finally got to pull it out on the way back from Sedona. I'd weirdly sort of but not really been here last year - also on the return trip from the red rocks, I made a quick stop at Montezuma WELL, which is nearby and basically the same concept but it definitely wasn't as big of a deal as this was. If you're also frowning in confusion at Google Maps not knowing which Montezuma to go to, visit the Castle. As random pitstops go, this one is pretty convenient and easy to locate - it's right off the highway and takes about five minutes to get to, with tons of signage along the way (along with an intriguing casino, but that was clearly means to be an adventure for another time). We had GPS guiding us but in hindsight I don't think it's necessary. We're from the East Coast, so sometimes it's easy to forget that there is some seriously old shizzle located in this country. It's kind of a big deal if you happen to stumble across a house from the 1700s in NJ, but Montezuma can beat that by quite a few centuries - these ruins were built into the cliffs by the indigenous residents around 1050, which is absolutely insane and it's super impressive that it's still intact. You're really just not going to see something like this every day or every year. We'd just spent several days gaping at the gorgeous canyons in Sedona, so what was another 45 minutes of the same activity, more or less? You can definitely tell without assistance that there's something significant in the sides of the cliffs - it's clearly not just random, naturally formed caves or anything. They're actual dwellings, and it's wild to think that a civilization over a millennia ago was capable of building something like this that endured over that period of time. There was a park ranger roaming around by the best vantage points to offer guidance, and they also had little audio tours at the kiosks on the paths nearby. The Well nearby was just one tiny building, I believe, but this felt like almost a civilization in comparison. And with the additional park amenities at this one, the choice is a no-brainer. Since this is a national monument, the National Park Service was in attendance and had several reps roaming about. There was a trailer right off the parking lot where you could pay the entrance fee (about $10 I think), along with a little store with souvenirs, mostly broad National Park-themed since indigenous ruins aren't exactly screaming for a merchandise line. One issue they should immediately fix - have just a nominal little fridge selling water bottles. I made a mistake, admittedly, in not grabbing one for the road at the Airbnb, and by the time we got here in the 100-degree heat, I was regretting it. I had to get a $27 (yes, $27) water bottle to fill; you don't always know the cost of a mistake, but I did here. Even if they'd gauged the water bottles at $5, that's way more palatable. And keep in mind that this is really in the middle of nowhere so I don't see much of a downside to bringing a dose of civilization into the trailer at least. If you have the time (we BARELY did), chisel some out for this.

我們要儘量去相信美好的東西， 相信他人的善意， 相信生活可以很精彩， 相信事情會更好，也相信努力會有意義， 你越相信， 就會越接近這些美好～ 到 Arizona , 要去Sedona 之前， 路過這個 national park, 想說， 來都來了， 選日不如撞日， 還是進來走走吧， 同行的朋友， 有人是 senior , 所以我們一行人進去完全不用錢耶， 話說幾百年前， 印地安人就在這， 搞了五層樓的隱藏式建築， 也很不容易！

Loved this short and informative stop. So fascinating to learn the history of this location and the people who lived and prospered in the area. Make this a stop on your trip through Arizona. Also have the grunted from the man on the corner as you drive to the park.

We came to the Montezuma Castle in mid-set empty when it finally cooled down a bit in Arizona, and it is the best decision that we made during our short trip. The admission covers both the castle and the well (which is about 12 miles away). Don't forget to stop by the well after the castle. The park rangers were amazing! They asked about our travel plans and recommended the best admission to maximize the efficiency. We truly appreciated that! If you plan to visit the Montezuma Castle and only the castle, the daily admission of $10 would be your best bet. If you plan to visit other national parks, so talk to the park rangers and ask about other admission options. The park started with a small exhibition of the history and artifacts. Don't skip it if time allows. It would only take 10-15 minutes to read everything and it is very informative. At least I learned what I would be looking at and the history behind it. The walk (round trip) around the park is about 0.8 miles. The walkway is flat, and one can easily push a wheelchair if needed. We wore tennis shoes but it wouldn't be the biggest issue if one chooses to wear flats or sandals. The castle amazed us; we were impressed by the ancient people's wisdom and dexterity. The trip would be highly educational for children of any age; I would come back with kids again. If you are visiting Sedona, don't miss the Montezuma Castle. It represents one part of the history, and I'm glad I came and learned. The park store is awesome! Reasonably priced and has a ton of small souvenirs. Recommended time to visit: 1.5 hours.

Such a cool stop on the way from Phoenix to Sedona. It's part of the national parks system and since we were planning to get an annual pass to see the Grand Canyon later in the trip, we went ahead and just bought it here. It's a short walk along a paved trail to see the monument built into the hillside. It's incredible to think about how people used to live in these dwellings and how they have stood the test of time. It doesn't take long to see. I'd set aside maybe 30 minutes, depending on how leisurely you'd like to walk and how closely you like to read all the signs.

This is a very interesting place to check out. You can learn about a piece of history here. The entrance fee is $10 per person and also allows entrance to the Tuzigoot National Monument. The path is paved and well-maintained to see the dwelling.

If you are driving on I-17, this is a fairly convenient stop and is worth checking out. Montezuma Castle is about 3 miles or so off I-17. You have to drive by an Indian Casino to get there. They have a large parking area at the visitors' center. We visited here late in the afternoon after having stopped earlier at Tuzigoot National Monument. The $10 pp entry fee (at either one) gets you entrance to the other as well. They are only about a half hour apart. Once you pass through the VC, there is a paved 1/3 mile trail that takes you to a viewing point below the cliff dwelling. You can also see other smaller dwellings in pockets around the cliff. The trail also lets you walk down to the adjacent river, which was nice. There is also a secondary area where you can more closely approach eh cliff to examine the base up close. We got here just before 4 p.m. and had to get back on the road by 4:30 p.m. to drive back to Phoenix. I didn't feel that rushed, though we didn't spent much time at the VC. I think if you budget an hour here you could do it decent justice.

What a fun place to check out before heading to the Grand Canyon and Sedona! It's amazing on its own tho! It's not that big but amazing to see!!! Will be back!

What a great place! We used our Passport America National Parks pass to get in for free. Very interesting and well worth the visit.

Beautiful! You enter through the gift shop and mini museum, then exit onto a half mile concrete loop. As you walk along, there are informational plaques informing you of the timeline of human occupation of the area, as well as some identifying native plants. Then, boom! There it is. It is both larger and smaller that you think it will be, which, I know, sounds crazy, but it has to do with perspective or something..... The public was allowed to explore the actual ruins until sometime in the 50's, when the National Parks foundation decided that that really wasn't a great idea, if they wanted to keep it around for future generations. I agree with Paul V.; go in the fall. We went the last week of October and the combination of the changing leaves, along with the lower sun reflecting off the cliff wall, really highlights the color and beauty of the ruins. Plus, it's not crazy hot, or littered with tourists! When we first arrived, the ranger checking us in informed us that an employee had captured a baby rattlesnake, if we wanted to check it out. We did! It was a little guy, maybe 1.5 feet long and was found by a visitor near the walking path. The employee took the opportunity to take measurements of the little guy, and held an impromptu Q&A session before releasing it. This is a small venue, and you can easily be in and out in an hour or less, depending on how much time you want to spend here. If you have a National Parks pass, it will get you in here, so that is a little extra bonus. Don't forget to stop at Montezuma's Well, as it is a "part 2" to the Castle, and you DON'T get charged a second admission fee! 61/2023

Beautiful park to walk through. It's a paved loop walk to see the dwellings in the cliff. A range is around to discuss and educate. Signs all over are very educational and fascinating. The trees and water and cliffs are a beautiful backdrop. And as always a National Park gift shop is always fun. The kids and dogs loved earning their junior ranger and bark ranger pins Here was our day trip agenda 1) Montezuma National Monument 2) Montezuma Well 3) Paige Springs Cellars for lunch and wine 4) DA Ranch Vineyards for more wine 5) Drove through Cottonwood 6) Tuzigoot National Monument 7) Jerome: Daisy mine and shops and restaurants It was a beautiful adventurous day!

If you love history, then you must visit Montezuma Castle. It is $10 and that also gains you entrance to Tuzigoot. Aside from being a spectacularly preserved piece of history, this is a beautiful walk. The terrain is mostly flat and what would be considered an easy hike. There is also a picnic area nearby with beautiful shade trees, making for a perfect family picnic or afternoon read. Parking can get a little hairy if the lot is full because it's not very big so I suggest you go early or in the evening before close. If you can't get parking, you will have to park up along the side of the road and if it's hot out, that is a hike alright!

4 stars I was looking forward to taking my dog here the most because if the promise of a 2-mile loop plus views of the castle. Unfortunately, the trails are closed which bummed me out... But, I will say, this area is so worth the visit because of it's uniqueness. The Sinagua carved their homes out of stone, which is an amazing feat. Also amazing is its mark on American history. It looks and feels amazing to behold. I highly recommend paying this place a visit. The only downside is the fact that I can't carry my dog into the visitor's center to look at the museum, but otherwise, it wasn't a huge issue since my mom could watch my dog while I looked. However, this could be an issue for solo travelers traveling with dogs.

Love this place! We've came every year we've been in the area and love it every time. The history is spectacular and the staff is super polite. I love that you can walk the loop and that there's plenty of areas to sit and enjoy or take pictures. Would highly recommend coming here and going to the other portion (Tuzigoot) as your receipt from here gets you in there for free. I believe it works the opposite way too.

Wonderful piece of history. Well run and quite nice to visit. You can see "caves" in the rocks and hills. It's wonderful to just try and imagine life in those days. Wow! Cute gift shop.

What an incredible experience. Very nice leisurely walk in, about 5 minutes. The history of this monument is worth reading/learning about and getting to know. Incredible that something like this could be built into a stone wall and so many years ago! Impressive! It is still pretty much intact after all these years which is amazing. Weather was hot but shaded areas along the way. Nice gift shop. You can get the pass to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot for $10 a person.

As we were making our way out of Sedona, we decided to go and visit the Montezuma Castle... a very unique structure that was created by the locals. At that time this particular castle was built for roughly 52 people... the ladders, have since been removed that would get them from each level... they're not sure why the locals abandon the structure.. It could've been that they were forced out . Or possibly a drought. I wish we could've gotten a closer view. We actually wanted to stay a while and enjoy our lunch but they had closed the picnic area and most of the trails. I'm not sure if it was because they didn't have enough staff or that they just didn't want people on the property. We couldn't get a good sense of what was going on , it is a paid entrance fee which is very low but it's some thing you need to see in the Sedona area. We highly recommend that you go and support the museum.

My first National Monument visit. This place is beautiful. And I am amazed how they have created such beautiful dwellings on the side of the mountain. I highly recommend this for everyone to see. The place has so much history and beauty in it.

The amount of time you spend here will be based on how you enjoy this site. If you take time and read the signage on the history of Montezuma Castle and really try to take it all in, you will have a deeper appreciation. It's so cool to read about the history and witness this preservation. They even have a diorama with audio to to help you envision how people lived during this time. I totally feel this place is worth it and am glad I got to witness it.

I had been to Arizona 30 years ago, and had traveled from Phoenix to Sedona, but never even came close to stopping by and visiting the Montezuma Castle Monument, but I am glad that I did this time. It isn't very far from Sedona, but a 30 minute drive? It's a small hike, so it's suitable for any small families or people who have a hard time getting around. We came by here on Mother's Day, and I will say that it was a blast since the weather was perfect and not too hot. The only down side was there was a part of the park, some walkway or bridge area to a nearby pond that was close temporarily, and we still pay full price. No big deal, still enjoyed it.

I've been to this smallish National monument twice and it's cute and relaxing place to spend some of your time. It has some interesting history and around the time I went felt a little bit cooler which was in October. I'd recommend it as a short cute day trip or as a stop off.

Cool experience! It was a little out of the way but worth the trip. A ton of history to review. My 13 year old thought it was boring.. Not much the kiddos are interested in, but as n adult I thought it was a good use of time.

One of America's hidden treasures. Very easy access. Clean restrooms. Short walk to see the castle. At max an hour visit and that's including the visitors center. Close yo Sadona, Cottenwood and Jerome. Must be on your bucket list!

I love parks and monuments and this one is where I buy my yearly pass. America the beautiful pass is the way to go if you're a park geek too. The trees were so pretty and the castle is amazing as always. Visit. It's worth it.

Montezuma Castle is a cool stop and amazing to see, especially if you have a National parks pass. Definitely worth the detour off the 17 to check it out. That said, it is a National Monument and not a park, so it's a small area that you can walk around and view the castle from. You can be in and out of here in 20 minutes easily. If you don't have a National Parks pass, adult admission is $10 per person. If you have a large group or kids, keep that in mind. Some may find it boring or not worth it, but I still thought it was cool seeing. There is a small gift shop and the staff we encountered were friendly!

Now although this may seem simple it is a historic monument you don't want to miss. Saw it while passing into the area and finally gave it a stop and look in day 3 of my stay. Just a smooth quick drive outside of Sedona nestled along a mountainside. Stopped to eat some fresh local homemade Native Bread on the spot for lunch before heading inside. Make sure you bring cash and every bite will never let you forget how yummy it is! If you have a National park card it's Free if not entrance is $10 but they do offer other several discounts such as senior, military, kids, etc. What a beautiful site and it brings into prospective on how the Natives lived and thrived in this particular area. Read all the plaques and sit down to enjoy the atmosphere. Fantastic for all ages and you can take as many photos as you want without a super busy crowd.

Worth stopping by only if you're near the area. It should take about 15 minutes to complete. America The Beautiful annual pass covers the cost of entry here.

I've been by here a couple times while driving north to Flagstaff on the 17. Montezuma Castle is a U.S. Monument that protects some well-preserved dwellings that sit 90 feet up on a limestone cliff. The Sinagua people (related to the Hohokam) built these dwelling between AD 1100 and 1425. It's a great place to learn about the early settlers of the Verde Valley. On site is a small visitor center and a gift shop. I enjoyed looking at a model of what these dwellings used to look like back in the day. Montezuma Castle really isn't a castle and was more like a prehistoric high rise apartment complex. It faces Beaver Creek and has some cool sycamore trees and cacti around it. There is a fee to enter or you can use a national parks pass to get in. There is no access to go inside the dwellings.

Just off the highway is the most spectacular historic landmark that is Montezuma castle!! A short walk through the visitor center and out the doors is this beautiful view with helpful placards everywhere! A must stop on your way around Phoenix!

This is a really nice stop if you're driving between Phoenix and Flagstaff, AZ on the I-17 and looking for a break. Our family stopped by here in early April 2023 during a family vacation trip (long drive from Page, AZ to Phoenix). First, the national monument does have an admission fee, but if you have a federal park pass, it is accepted here. Second, the monument trail is relatively flat and takes only 20-30 minutes to walk around, see the dwellings up on the hill, and stretch your legs. Third, the indoor museum is superb in explaining the historical background of the Singhua people who lived here and the strategic importance of this location at the crossroads of the Verde Valley. You can easily picture many people living close to the creek and enjoying nature's bounty by farming and fishing. Although the national monument does not allow a close-up view of the dwellings (to protect them), I think the detailed explanations in the museum and convenient location (right off the I-17 near Sedona) are major pluses. Finally, the outdoor walk was pleasant and a nice way to stretch your legs and take a break from driving the car.

I have driven by the exit several times. This time I stopped. It is not as spectacular to see as Mesa Verde National Park's Native American Cliff Dwellings in Colorado and some of the other more remotely located cliff dwellings. However, if you are on vacation in the Phoenix area and driving up to Sedona or the Grand Canyon, it is an interesting place to stop and see these unusual dwellings built 600 years ago and the spot of one of the first US National Monuments.

Neat place. Pretty incredible. Parking was easy. Nice gift shop. Paved grounds. Flat and shaded. The castle was awesome. Note: you cannot hike to the castle. You cannot go inside the castle.

Montezuma Castle National Monument was a cool stop while on the way to Sedona from Scottsdale. This national monument is one to check out if you like history, as you will learn about the earliest people who settled in the Verde Valley. Montezuma Castle National Monument is located off the highway, so was easy to find and access. We visited on a Monday morning and the place wasn't too busy, yet there were a few parties inside the visitor's center/store and along the trail. Unlike other national monuments we've visited, it was a short visit. We learned from the ranger that there was one short, loop trail to take around the area where you could see the dwelling. The trail loop is flat and paved, so is easy to walk along. We were glad to see the dwelling; but unfortunately, there's no access to actually go inside the dwelling. There weren't other trails here other than the main loop. Still cool to see and visit. I would suggest visiting if you have the time and like history.

What a cool stop for a quick site seeing detour on the way to Sedona! We had multiple cars driving to Sedona and we wanted to stretch our legs. Plus.. there was a tasty fry bread stand near the entrance to the park. Check it out! If someone in your group has a State parks pass, you all get in for free! We had that and got to skip the price per person. It was spendy! I encourage you to purchase one prior or when you visit. We visited during the early spring season (April 2022) and missed the pretty flowering and green leaves. But we did see a lot of little lizards! Also I had never seen a white sycamore tree! So beautiful!!! The castle was really neat and tucked into the rock. I didn't even know this existed. They also had a nice A/C'ed gift shop. Stop in and check it out!

Such a beautiful, fun and educational place to visit. Its a well taken care of 20 room cliff dwelling built over 1000 years ago! The guides paint a picture for you of their daily living and what different places were used for. Its nice to be able to capture a glance into the past like this. If looking for a piece of history--I encourage you to visit here.

We bought the National Parks Annual Pass for this vacation and this was our first stop where we used it! We waited in line to gain access to show our pass and then off we went on the short walk on the paved sidewalk to view the cliff dwelling and Montezuma Castle from below. As you stand, looking skyward, you have to wonder how they managed to build and live on the cliff, It did seem much further up than it actually was (or so they say) but I was thinking no one must get old in that tribe, because how would they manage getting in and out of their house! Ladders and rock climbing seems to be the obvious ways in and out and if I was old and decrepit (like I already am now), I wouldn't be able to manage such feats. Seriously though- they get lots of foot traffic through the park, there were lines to check in, to get in the store and plenty of people on the loop to see the ruins. You'll need your mask for inside the park store and also one point on the path where you can get a little closer to the cliff dwellings- it's a bottleneck spot for people going up and coming down, I guess that's the reason. It doesn't take long to walk about and see everything.

Love, love, love. This is one of my favorite places to go in the world. Arizona in general is one of my favorite places in the world but we don't have enough space on yelp for that. Just a short drive from Phoenix is one of the coolest ancient sites to exist. I wont bore you with all the historical details that I learned. I am writing this review to you, personally, so that you will actually put the effort into coming and visiting. Its enchanting and mesmerizing. I could stand and just look at the building on the cliff and imagine what life was like. Its incredible to imagine. I guess there really is no way to describe what its like to come here. Its magical. When I was 6 years old I would beg to come visit. It really made a lifelong impression on me. The gift shop is great too. I bought way to much stuff for myself and kids. The staff is incredible as well. Come visit. Its worth taking a day to really take in the wonder that is Montezuma Castle. If you've read this far go visit Montezuma's Well too.

We found out about this place when we stopped at Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff and it happened to be on our way, so, we figured we would check it out. Another opportunity to take advantage of my Military National Parks Pass which we are really enjoying! We stopped about 3pm on a Wednesday in January. The Visitors Center is just a few miles off I-17 and the walk to Montezuma Castle is about 5 minutes. It is amazing to see something still intact from so many years ago. We were especially amazed how the people of the times could build something like this not to mention so long ago! They have a small museum at the Visitors Center which helps explain some of the details of the Monument. There is also a small gift shop where you can purchase swag. This particular stop does not require a large time commitment - a good 30 minutes or so is enough time since there is no hike involved. Great find!