Located close to highway 17 in almost the center of Arizona, Montezuma Castle National Monument is the perfect place to stop and explore on your road trip across the Southwest of the United States.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
After spending 5 days in the Phoenix, Arizona area in July, something I will never do voluntarily again, (Can you say 118 degrees?) we hopped in our car and headed north 100 miles, into the mountainous area where Montezuma Castle National Monument is located. Thankfully it wasn’t 118 degrees when we stopped for our short walk.
The Castle
Montezuma Castle was built about 1000 years ago by the Sinagua people. It is a 5 story tall structure with about 60 rooms. As you can see in the photos, it is built into the side of a mountain, about 90 feet up. Being 1000 years ago, I wonder how they built something so intricate and big.
Archeologists believe the dwelling was built so high up to avoid the floods that happened every year during monsoon season. They also believe that the “castle” was built of limestone blocks that were in the creek bed, 90 feet below, and mud from the creek bed.
The Singua people lived here for approximately 600 years before they, and other people settled in the Southwest, abandoned their sites and moved on. I wrote about our visit to Casa Grande National Monument and the same thing happened there. It is unknown why the areas were abandoned or where the people went.
Additional Information
While visiting the area, you will be able to walk on paths and read about the area and history. I found this beautiful flower growing on it’s own. I don’t know what kind of flower it is, but I was impressed it was able to grow there.
There is also a diorama of what Montezuma Castle is thought to have looked like during its occupancy. Because of it’s location, it was well preserved over time, although it was heavily looted in the late 19th century and early 20th century, until President Theodore Roosevelt declared it a U.S. National Monument in 1906, naming it one of the first four National Monuments.
If you plan to stop, and I highly recommend it, plan on a couple hours to walk around and take it all in. There is also a guided tour by the park rangers you can take. If you have a National Parks Pass, you can us that to gain entry as well. Do you like visiting ruins and learning about past cultures? What have been your favorites?
Wait! There is a castle in the southwest of the USA?? This looks very cool and I love the indigenous history that is attached to it. I can’t imagine being in Arizona in July but I am glad you were able to enjoy a little bit of the outdoors while viewing this castle in the mountains.
Yes, that July visit was a rookie mistake. Montezuma Castle was quite interesting to visit. Castles come in lots of different shapes and sizes I guess.
This looks fantastic Kathleen! I wonder if the mystery of why the Singua people abandoned the castle will ever be solved. Another US National Monument to add to my long list 🙂
I wonder that too. There was another group of people close to Tucson from the Hohokain era that also disappeared with no explanation. They settled a place that is currently called Casa Grande that is quite interesting as well. There is a post on this site about it if you are interested.
I love exploring ruins. And they are my favorite things to do on literally every trip I take. So, you can guess how much the Montezuma Castle intrigues me. It is fascinating how the ancient people built something so complicated and huge without all the powerful tools we have today. I will make sure I will include this on my Arizona itinerary. But not in the summer!
I agree. I’m always amazed by what ancient people were able to accomplish. Of course, those things were built to last.
Wow – this is so interesting. I love learning the history of castles and ruins. The first time I’m reading about this castle and it’s definitely something I’d like to check out one day!
I hope you do. It was very interesting.
118 degrees in Phoenix! Yikes! I got stuck reading there for a minute …Montezuma Castle looks like so much fun to explore. The way it’s built into the rock formation is awesome.
It was a really impressive thing for me to see. That temperature was crazy hot though. Next visit is in the spring.
I’m embarrassed to say I’d never heard of this monument before. I’ve been to Phoenix many times but totally missed this. I can’t believe it has 60 rooms!
The United States has so many parks and monuments that it’s hard to know them all. I hope you will be able to explore the area when you visit Phoenix again.
This Montezuma castle National monument which is located close to highway 17 in almost the center of Arizona looks like the perfect place to stop and explore when going for road trip across the Southwest of the United States. I never this castle monument before reading your post. It has interesting history attached to it. Never knew that the Singua people lived here for approximately 600 years before.
It was an interesting place to visit for certain. I’m so glad I was able to go.
I remember going to Montezuma Castle many times as a kid (growing up in AZ)! I’d love to go back as an adult + bring my own kids someday! But I’m with you, definitely don’t plan an AZ trip for July!!
I love showing things from my pre-kids days to my kids. July was very miserable though.
I love how you explain the history behind this monument. We love to visit national parks and monuments on road trips. We will definitely have to put this on our list when and if we visit Arizona again.
There is a lot to learn from our National Parks and Monuments. I hope you will be able to visit.