Monument protects a set of well-preserved dwellings built and used by the Sinagua people between approximately 1100 and 1425 AD. The main structure comprises five stories and about 20 rooms
Collapsed limestone sinkhole filled with a spring-fed pool and surrounded by ancient cliff dwellings, vegetation, and desert landscape.
General Information
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Last entry recommended at least 30 minutes before closing
Included with Montezuma Castle National Monument admission or valid park pass
Cottonwood, AZ (20 mi)
How to Get There
From Camp Verde (6 mi): Drive east on AZ-260 E for about 5 miles, turn north onto Montezuma Well Road, and continue for approximately 1 mile to the parking area.
Overview
Montezuma Well, a detached unit of Montezuma Castle National Monument, is a natural limestone sinkhole near Lake Montezuma where about 1.5 million gallons of spring water emerge each day. The pool is 386 feet across and holds a nearly constant volume even in severe drought. Its highly carbonated water contains arsenic yet supports at least five species found nowhere else, the most endemic species of any spring in the southwestern United States.
The well’s steady outflow has been used for irrigation since the 8th century. Part of a prehistoric canal is preserved near the picnic ground, and portions of the original route are still in use.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Montezuma Well", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Montezuma Castle National Monument", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
Lower Ruins at Montezuma's Well
Ruins located along Walls at Montezuma's Well
Ruins located along Walls at Montezuma's Well