Montezuma Castle National Monument Custom Search It's not a castle and Montezuma was never here. Nestled into a limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley stands one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. The five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling served as a 'high-rise apartment building' for prehistoric Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago. Early settlers to the area assumed that the imposing structure was associated with the Aztec emperor Montezuma, but the castle was abandoned almost a century before Montezuma was born. With heightened concern over vandalism of fragile southwestern prehistoric sites, Montezuma Castle became a major factor in the nation's historic preservation movement with its proclamation as a national monument. The Castle was described in the December 1906 establishment proclamation as 'of the greatest ethnological and scientific interest.' Acreage: 840.86, federal: 16.83, non-federal.    CONTACTS Email - MOCA_Administration@nps.gov Fax- 928-567-3597 Write to 2800 Montezuma Castle Road Camp Verde, AZ 86322 - or - P.O. Box 219 Camp Verde, AZ 86322 Phone Visitor Information - 928-567-3322 Headquarters - 928-567-5276 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Open every day of the year, including Christmas day. Winter hours: 8 AM to 5 PM; Summer hours: 8 AM to 7 PM. Getting There PLANE - Nearest commercial airports are locted in Flagstaff (50 miles), Prescott (55 miles), and Phoenix (100 miles) CAR - Montezuma Castle is located 3 miles off Interstate 17. Use Exit Number 289 and follow signs. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Tours are available from Flagstaff and some surrounding communities. Weather & Climate Summers generally hot and dry, with mild winters. Accessibility The visitor center and most of the paved trail are accessible to wheelchairs. A portion of the Castle trail is too steep for wheelchairs and is marked with a sign. The picnic area is not accessible to wheelchairs. Please contact a ranger for more information. Audio cassettes and braille text are avaialble for the visually impaired. Getting Around The monument visitor center contains exhibits and information regarding your visit. The 1/3 mile Castle trail will take the visitor on a leisurely walk to view Montezuma Castle and other prehistoric dwellings.   FACILITIES Visitor Centers MONTEZUMA CASTLE VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Phone - 928-567-3322 Location - Visitor Center located 1 mile from entrance gate. Exhibits - Exhibits depicting the life style of the Sinaguan Indians Available Facilities - Southwest Parks and Monuments Association Book Store, restrooms, and picnic area   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Montezuma Castle National Monument.   Campgrounds Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Yavapai-apache RV Park, Camp Verde, 3 miles away Distant Drums Recreational Vehicle Resort, Camp Verde, 3 miles away Verde River RV Resort, Camp Verde, 4 miles away Rancho Verde Recreational Vehicle Park, Camp Verde, 4 miles away Zane Grey Recreational Vehicle Park, Camp Verde, 5 miles away Clear Creek Campground, Yavapai County, 6 miles away Thousand Trails, Camp Verde, 6 miles away   Hotels Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast, Camp Verde , 1 miles away Super 8 Camp Verde AZ, Camp Verde , 3 miles away Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, Camp Verde , 3 miles away Hilton Sedona Resort Spa, Sedona , 13 miles away Ridge On Sedona Golf Resort, Sedona , 13 miles away Las Posadas of Sedona, Sedona , 13 miles away Desert Quail Inn, Sedona , 14 miles away   Trails Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Ox Bow Trail Number One Hundred Sixty Three, Yavapai County , 9 miles away, 7.2 hiking miles, 3097 feet elevation difference Cold Water Trail, Yavapai County , 10 miles away,  13 hiking miles, 3883 feet elevation difference Buckhorn Trail, Yavapai County , 12 miles away, 3.7 hiking miles, 1912 feet elevation difference Walker Basin Trail, Yavapai County , 12 miles away, 7.9 hiking miles, 2662 feet elevation difference Deadwood Trail, Yavapai County , 13 miles away, 7.9 hiking miles, 2150 feet elevation difference Towel Creek Trail, Yavapai County , 13 miles away, 8.4 hiking miles, 1807 feet elevation difference Towel Creek Trail Sixty Six - Sixty Seven Loop, Yavapai County , 13 miles away,  5.8 hiking miles, 2408 feet elevation difference   Ski Areas Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Williams, Arizona , 45 miles away, 600 foot drop, 2 lifts, 7 runs Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona , 45 miles away, 2300 foot drop, 4 lifts, 32 runs   Whitewater Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Verde River, Yavapai County , 1 miles away, Class -blank- - 8 miles long (Camp Verde to Beasley Flat) Beaver Creek, Yavapai County , 4 miles away, Class -blank- - 9 miles long (Wet Beaver Creek to Verde River) Verde River, Yavapai County , 5 miles away, Class II-IV - 7 miles long (Beasley Flat to Gap Creek) Wet Beaver Creek, Yavapai County , 11 miles away, Class -blank- - 9 miles long (Beaver Ranger Station to Beaver Creek) Verde River, Yavapai County , 15 miles away, Class I-III - 25 miles long (Childs to Horseshoe Reservoir)   Public Lands Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Tuzigoot National Monument, Clarkdale - AZ , 0 miles away Walnut Canyon National Monument, Flagstaff - AZ , 42 miles away Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff - AZ , 42 miles away Fort Verde State Historic Park, Arizona , 1 miles away Red Rock State Park, Arizona , 15 miles away Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Arizona , 16 miles away Slide Rock State Park, Arizona , 23 miles away   Golf Courses Near Montezuma Castle National Monument: Beaver Creek Golf Club, Rimrock , 6 miles away B C Ranch Golf Club, Rimrock , 6 miles away Verde Santa Fe Golf Club, Cornville , 13 miles away Sedona Golf Resort, Sedona , 13 miles away Oak Creek Country Club, Sedona , 13 miles away