Montezuma Castle National Monument
Montezuma Castle
A five-story Sinagua cliff dwelling set into a limestone cliff, among the best-preserved in North America and one of the first national monuments in the United States.
Montezuma Castle lies about 40 km south of Sedona. Built by the Sinagua between roughly 1100 and 1425, it is a five-story dwelling of about 20 rooms, tucked into a limestone alcove about 30 meters above Beaver Creek. Its preservation is excellent. It became one of the first national monuments in the United States in 1906; its name arose from a mistaken belief that it was linked to an Aztec ruler. A roughly 0.5 km flat loop path lets you look up at the dwelling (climbing is prohibited). Admission is about $10 per person, and annual passes are accepted. Allow about 1 hour, and it can be combined with Montezuma Well.
Opening hours
08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Montezuma Well
- V Bar V Heritage Site
- Red Rock State Park
- Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte
- Cathedral Rock
- Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon Picnic Site)
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Tuzigoot National Monument