Montezuma Castle National Monument • Arizona

A 5-story masonry dwelling sits in a cliff alcove.

Sun shines on the window sill in a masonry wall; trees in fall color are seen outside the window.

Two masonry walls with a dark doorway in a short cliff ledge.

Two cliff dwellings and a tree with yellow leaves above a pond.

a blue sinkhole surrounded by algae, reeds, and cattails in a 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 was built in an alcove about 90 feet up a cliff. This protects the dwelling from flooding.
NPS Photo/Sharlot Hart

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

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

Montezuma Well provided a stable source of water to the Sinagua.
NPS Photo/Greg Webb

From the overlook, visitors can view some of the dwellings alongside Montezuma Well.
NPS Photo / Lauren Reid

Ancient turquoise jewelry made by the Sinagua

Learn more about the culture of the ancient people who lived at Montezuma Castle

A sunny picture of the Montezuma Well

Explore the geology, plants, and animals.

Gambles Quail

Explore the wildlife and plants of Montezuma Castle.

computer generated interior of a large room with wooden rafters and beams

Take a virtual walk through of Montezuma Castle that allows visitors to see a realistic depiction of the inside of the cliff dwelling.

Junior ranger activity book

Become a Montezuma Castle Junior Ranger!

Kids on field trip doing junior ranger pledge

Click Here for Fee Waiver and Field Trip Information

Permit approval or denied

Find out what what activities require a permit

Montezuma Well under a starry sky

Protecting Our Dark Skies

Tuzigoot Pueblo

Check Out Other Locations In The Verde Valley

Last updated: January 13, 2026

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P. O. Box 219
Camp Verde, AZ 86322

Phone:

928 567-3322

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected

Birds & Birding

Cultural Landscapes