montezuma well national monument

We arrived here later in the day. Took the loop hike to the well with all the short offshoot hikes as well. Very interesting National Historic Monument with some cliff dwellings, the natural phenomena of the well, and beautiful views. You can hike down and see where the water flows out if you want - a short off shoot trail. You can also take a very short hike down to see where the water flows to after it leaves the well. The trail is a loop and you can easily make it around in 1 hour and still take in the sights, the history, and the geology. Very nice visit.

I am ashamed to say I had lived here for some years before visiting Montezuma's Well - yes, maybe it was the name - however what I found was a hidden jewel in the Arizona high desert. If you're looking for spectacular cliff dwellings, Montezuma's Castle will sustain you, but if you want a more intimate glimpse into the lives of the prehistoric residents of this glorious state, you need to visit this unassuming place.The 'well' itself is a spring-fed sinkhole that maintains a steady temperature in the 70s (if I remember correctly), making it an attractive place to settle for the people who lived near it, who built and dwelt in small cliff dwellings on the precipices above the well. The walk to the well involves a short loop trail. There is also at least one pit dwelling you might view on the way in to the well proper, maybe more than one - I can't remember, as I was most interested in the cliff dwellings at the time!The important thing to remember is that sites like this - although unassuming - are more the norm than the oft-photographed sites like Chaco Canyon or the Cliff Palaces of Mesa Verde. Montezuma's Well gives you a picture of where 'every man' lived back in prehistoric times - minus the unique spring-fed well. And in my opinion, it's a more intimate experience with the ancient Hohokam and Sinaguan people than the more impressive-seeming Montezuma's Castle. Well worth the visit.

short walk to incredible sight! well worth seeing, hike around the well has nature signs along the way-educational for young ones

While visiting various sites in Northern Arizona, we decided to stop and check out the Montezuma Well National Park. It was interesting to read about the source of the water in the middle of the desert. There are ruins of Cliff dwellers in the well area. Definitely worth the cost of admission (we got in free). A must stop between other sites.

The National Parks service does a nice job in displaying the significance of this natural water source to hundreds of generations of humans who have lived in the Verde Valley. The park is free and the 1/3 mile trail that winds from the parking lot to the crest of the well, to the outlet is lined with information about this natural water source, the native flora and fauna, and how the natives used these plants for food, medicine, clothing, or other necessities of life. The well produces 1.6 million gallons of water per day which bubbles up from underground springs as a result of water collected underground from mountains miles away. Even in drought years, this water source brought life giving water to the inhabitants. Where the water exits this caldera, native Indians built canals to bring the water to their fields which were up to 10 miles away. This fed the corn and cotton fields of Montezuma's Castle for hundreds of years. The park is a testament to the creativity of human beings and is worth the short visit just 11 miles north of Montezuma's Castle.

Take an afternoon away from Sedona and visit: Montezuma's Castle, Montezuma's Castle and Tuzigoot! Great history lesson for the kids! Our kids (ages 9, 13 and 15) enjoyed all 3 monuments!

Awesome hike.be prepared to hike up the side of the well. Once you reach the top you can look down where the water is and can see the caves surrounding it. You can hike in or go around to beaver Creek where the Indians had a irrigation system.

Very interesting monument. Be sure to get the info on the well and how it was formed. We had a volunteer stationed at the well that was very good for explaining.

This was a nice stop on our way to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. History on some of the dwellings from the early residents of the area. An easy trail/walkway with some interesting factoids about the brush and trees in the area.

This site is easy to get to. From the viewing platform at the top of the rim you can easily see the remains of cliff dwellings. A stone stairs and walkway down to the waters edge is worth taking. More cliff dwellings are accessible at the end of the walkway. Very interesting.

This is close to the highway and just a few miles from the castle. There is no fee, and a hike up the hill reveals a nice view. I recommend hiking down into the "well" and catching a few of the rocks and "hideaways" under the rim.

Much cooler temps at the higher elevation. Quiet easy hike around the area. Informative park rangers on site as well. See the well [large sink hole with fresh, moving water] and cliff dwellings plus a native built aqueducts.

A must see when visiting the area. Montezuma Well is FREE! There is the well and several ruins and Cliff dwellings. Lots of stairs if you choose to walk to the bottom. You can just go for the view or also take one or all of several short walks. The trail is marked with names and uses of many of the native plants. Did I mention NO PARK ENTRY FEE? Nature overs and those interested in ancient civilizations will want to see this. And don't miss the giant, ancient sycamore trees down by the well's outlet.

This sacred site to many cultures has a mystical air about it. I found it actually a little unsettling- the fact no fish are able to survive in this pit of water that they haven't actually been able to find the bottom of? There are species here that live nowhere else on the planet.The surrounding grounds are quiet and a great place to reflect- the water slightly eerie.Free for this site and close to Montezuma's Castle well worth a visit

This historical site is indeed worth a visit.It is lake located in an immense open cavern, that is actually fed by a continuously flowing underground spring that provided a water supply for the Sinagua Indians since about 1100.This historical site is well documented in the numerous information tablets surrounding the site, -along the convenient walkway.