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Montezuma Castle - 22 members in 63 triplogs have rated this an average 2.8 ( 1 to 5 best )
1, 2, 3, 4  Next
63 triplogs
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Feb 21 2025
avatar

 Guides 41
 Routes 1,626
 Photos 14,983
 Triplogs 2,760

69 male
 Joined Jan 20 2009
 Far NE Phoenix,
A Day in the Verde Valley, AZ 
A Day in the Verde Valley, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Feb 21 2025
The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760
Hiking3.18 Miles 308 AEG
Hiking3.18 Miles
308 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Crane Petroglyph Site / V - Bar - V Trail #94
Montezuma Well
Montezuma Castle
Fort Verde State Historical Park
Partners partners
Ladyeagle
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Deb and I took the day to visit some areas in AZ that we had not been to before.

Crane Petroglyph Site / V - Bar - V Trail #94
1 mile, 68'AEG
This ones only open Friday - Sunday. After checking in at the visitors center, we made three short hike to the panel. reportedly there are 1032 unique glyphs visible, with more buried. The docent at the wall was providing some interesting info and insights into the glyphs. The most interesting part was the calendar that would show the equinox of the four seasons that would determine planting and harvesting schedules.


Montezuma Well
.8 miles, 130' AEG
This was much cooler than I expected. A couple of ruins built into the sides of the well above and one down at water level. Water is from springs and 10% of the water is turned over daily. Water escapes through the travertine to Wet Beaver Creek. It was channeled for irrigating crops.

We hit the Pit House on the way out. Not much to see here if you have seen other pit houses.


Montezuma Castle
.62 miles, 100' AEG
I'd done this one 25 years ago. Worth a stop if you are in the area. This was the busiest of all our stops on the day.


Fort Verde State Park
I'd been here once briefly when Denny and I were hiking the General Crook Trail. Spent some time going through the museum and then the buildings across the street. Had the place to ourselves.

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Montezuma Well 76-100% full 76-100% full

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water less than max Wet Beaver Creek Medium flow Medium flow
_____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry 🦅
 
Jan 30 2025
avatar

 Guides 69
 Routes 37
 Photos 3,010
 Triplogs 2,387

55 male
 Joined Oct 24 2010
 Phoenix,Az
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 30 2025
mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Wife and I have a place about 3 miles (as the crow flies) from the Castle. My wife grew up in the area and so has visited this site numerous times. In fact, when she was in the Girl Scout’s, they would come here to do community service (pick up trash) and were aloud in the lowest sections of the castle. Her parents were one of the fortunate few who were able to tour all the ruins prior to the restrictions.

Not so lucky today. Took in the sites following the paved path. Pretty remarkable. Wife got another stamp in her Parks book. :D Walking the museum afterwards, noticed the have changed the name of the former tenants from Sinagua to Hisat.sinom which comes from the Hopi meaning “ancient people”.

The Native American life in this region was extensive. There are a couple of TH along Middle Verde Rd (just south of Cliff Castle Casino) which I’ve walked on occasion. There is a mishmash of paths with no designated trails, but they are pretty close to Montezuma’s Castle and every once in awhile I’ll come across a pottery shard.
_____________________
  2 archives
Sep 04 2024
avatar

 Routes 85
 Photos 3,718
 Triplogs 486

female
 Joined Oct 15 2002
 Rimrock, Arizona
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 04 2024
cactuscat • Triplogs 486
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Exciting first day back from furlough! 🤣
Visitor reported a rattlesnake near the trail, and when I went out to check, it actually turned out to be two snakes in the process of mating!
Closed down that section of trail and waited for them to finish - it can take hours. When I went back out to check an hour or so later, the male was relaxing under a bench, so I called the snake guy to come process him.
We were surprised that the snake wasn't already microchipped, since he has obviously been around for quite a few years ... he's chipped now. He was over four feet long and over four pounds. And very well-behaved - never rattled or got angry. Successfully released afterwards. All this is part of a 30 year study under Dr. Erika Nowak, from NAU - one of the world's foremost experts on rattlesnakes ... if you google her, you can read about her amazing work.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
_____________________
  1 archive
Sep 27 2023
avatar

 Guides 7
 Routes 79
 Photos 2,440
 Triplogs 652

34 male
 Joined Jan 10 2010
 Pomona, CA
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Walk / Tour avatar Sep 27 2023
PatrickL • Triplogs 652
Walk / Tour0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Walk / Tour0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
IMO still one of the coolest places to visit in AZ
_____________________
 
Jul 15 2023
avatar

 Photos 3,883
 Triplogs 169

80 male
 Joined Mar 18 2012
 mesa,az
Sedona Landmarks HikeSedona, AZ
Sedona Landmarks Hike
Sedona, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 15 2023
jameslcox44 • Triplogs 169
Hiking13.90 Miles 2,570 AEG
Hiking13.90 Miles
2,570 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   6 linked trail guides
Devil's Bridge Trail #120
Soldier Pass Trail #66 - Sedona
Long Canyon Trail #122 - Sedona
Mescal Mountain
West Fork Oak Creek Trail #108
Montezuma Castle
Partners none no partners
We wanted to escape the heat in the valley, so my grandsons joined me for a few days of hiking in the Sedona area. We were up by 5 a.m. and reached our trailheads by 6 to begin our hikes except for Soldiers Pass. The parking area there was closed until 8 a.m. That made it extremely hot finishing up. I didn't understand why so late to open the gate (remotely) but managed to survive the 103 degree finish. I recommend this beautiful area to everyone as I met many great people along the way from all over the states and some Europeans as well.
_____________________
 
Sep 13 2022
avatar

 Guides 16
 Routes 81
 Photos 1,269
 Triplogs 1,144

51 male
 Joined Apr 30 2008
 Tucson, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 13 2022
azdesertfather • Triplogs 1,144
Hiking0.60 Miles 50 AEG
Hiking0.60 Miles      25 Mns   2.25 mph
50 ft AEG      9 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hit this on our way home. Arrived in a thunderstorm so trail was closed for over a half hour but we stuck it out. Nice stroll afterward!
_____________________
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." — Henry David Thoreau
  1 archive
Mar 06 2021
avatar

 Guides 2
 Routes 25
 Photos 1,890
 Triplogs 604

41 male
 Joined Sep 13 2009
 Mesa, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 06 2021
jochal • Triplogs 604
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
We were headed back home a little earlier than we had planned, so we stopped off here to see the 'castle' once more. Parking lot was very full.
_____________________
 
Mar 06 2021
avatar

 Routes 1
 Photos 2,276
 Triplogs 173

male
 Joined Apr 18 2020
 Nogales, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 06 2021
HikerWill • Triplogs 173
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles      45 Mns   0.44 mph
20 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Second stop of a weekend trip. Got there late in the day. No fee right now.
We sat and checked out all the books and crannys on the cliffs through binoculars.

Indian Fry Bread from a stand on the outskirts was an interesting and chewy treat.
 
Mar 07 2020
avatar

 Guides 38
 Routes 182
 Photos 1,602
 Triplogs 232

40 male
 Joined Dec 09 2014
 Gilbert, AZ
Montezuma Castle and Well, AZ 
Montezuma Castle and Well, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Mar 07 2020
jacobemerick • Triplogs 232
Hiking1.00 Miles 150 AEG
Hiking1.00 Miles
150 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Montezuma Castle
Montezuma Well
Partners none no partners
Hauled the kiddos up for a weekend adventure on Wet Beaver. Started at Montezuma Castle. It was a headache to get through the VC and paid up with three balls of pent-up energy, and when we broke through the other side I let them loose on the unsuspecting, mostly docile, public. They zipped through the short walk, peppering everyone with rapid-fire bursts of questions and exclamations, and were shocked by how soon it was over. So we headed up to the Well next. Enjoyed this visit more, with the longer and more rugged walk, plus a larger variety of scenery (ruins and water and more ruins and more water, oh my!). Of course, I hovered around the 3yo, suspecting that any step was one stumble away from her going over the edge and a long tumble into the sink. After this was all done we meandered over to FR 618 and found a fantastic campsite for the night.
_____________________
 
Oct 31 2019
avatar

 Guides 177
 Routes 249
 Photos 10,213
 Triplogs 2,215

74 male
 Joined Feb 12 2002
 Gold Canyon, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 31 2019
AZLOT69 • Triplogs 2,215
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Must do for out of town folks.
_____________________
It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain
 
Jun 16 2019
avatar

 Routes 36
 Photos 2,658
 Triplogs 1,347

67 male
 Joined Jul 28 2004
 Scottsdale, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 16 2019
mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347
Hiking2.00 Miles 200 AEG
Hiking2.00 Miles
200 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   linked  
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground
Partners none no partners
Took some out of town visitors. After MC we went to Dead Horse Ranch SP and wandered around then Jerome as well.
_____________________
  5 archives
Nov 16 2018
avatar

 Routes 297
 Photos 6,928
 Triplogs 552

49 male
 Joined Dec 30 2007
 Avondale,Az
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 16 2018
Stoic • Triplogs 552
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Some friends from California spend a few days camping in the Sedona area. I joined them for a day and showed them some sites around the Verde Valley Area. We checked out Montezuma's Well, Montezuma's Castle, Fossil Creak and camped at the Child's Campground.
_____________________
 
Dec 30 2016
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 632
 Photos 8,235
 Triplogs 604

54 male
 Joined Apr 13 2011
 Gilbert, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 30 2016
ddgrunning • Triplogs 604
Hiking0.80 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.80 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
On our typical trips to Utah, we have such a long drive that we don't consider stopping to explore along the way. This time though, we scheduled a layover in Kanab, so had a little more freedom in our schedule. And, with an America the Beautiful Pass in hand, making some pitstops along the way was in order. First up was Montezuma Castle. It's been close to 20 years since I visited last. Not much has changed. Spent about an hour and did the walking loop. I had forgotten that "Castle A," which is next door to the ruin typically associated with this monument was much larger and would have been very impressive, but since it was not located in the protected alcove, it deteriorated much more quickly, leaving behind only some wall remains. Good times.
_____________________
  2 archives
Aug 27 2016
avatar

 Routes 39
 Photos 353
 Triplogs 128

37 male
 Joined Sep 30 2015
 Carrboro, NC
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 27 2016
afrankie • Triplogs 128
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Honored NPS birthday with a trip here. Enjoyed that there was housing in the cliffs yet also lower units closer to the river. It answers my question 'What happens when Grandma can't climb up into the cliff-dwellings anymore, just throw her in the river?" Nope, she just lives in the floodplain:)
_____________________
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
Evan Hardin

Footloose adventures are documented instagram @afrankie8.
 
May 15 2016
avatar

 Routes 17
 Photos 2,773
 Triplogs 249

53 female
 Joined May 15 2009
 Phoenix and Tucs
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar May 15 2016
cindyl • Triplogs 249
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
southpawaz
there were lots of people here. had to wait in line to show our national parks pass. beautiful day.
_____________________
There are just two switchbacks left. And another half-mile to the destination...
 
Nov 07 2015
avatar

 Guides 4
 Photos 542
 Triplogs 573

46 male
 Joined Oct 19 2010
 Mesa, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Nov 07 2015
Charger55 • Triplogs 573
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles      45 Mns   0.44 mph
20 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
After spending a couple of days in Sedona we stopped at Montezuma Castle on the way back to the Valley. My wife found the castle very fascinating. We spent a considerable amount of time scouring the cavates next to the castle for rock walls and watching an art class paint portraits of the castle. Early on a Saturday morning the place was virtually empty.
_____________________
"I've driven across deserts, driven by the irony, that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
- Frank Turner "The Road"
 
Mar 10 2015
avatar

 Routes 85
 Photos 3,718
 Triplogs 486

female
 Joined Oct 15 2002
 Rimrock, Arizona
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 10 2015
cactuscat • Triplogs 486
Hiking2.00 Miles 200 AEG
Hiking2.00 Miles
200 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Montezuma Well
Partners none no partners
Started off the day at Montezuma Well, then the Castle, then Cliff Castle Casino, then Dead Horse Ranch.
I think I like the Well better than the Castle once you've seen it once.
The Castle was a zoo - had to park along the road. Actually heard a man telling his family that Montezuma lived there - really? c'mon people!
Claimed my ten dollars in free play for signing up at the casino, lost it, then left.
Went to DEHO and took more flood pics - still a lot of water! - and spotted a great horned owl napping in a tree.
The end.
_____________________
  1 archive
Jun 17 2013
avatar

 Guides 4
 Photos 4,732
 Triplogs 2,607

55 male
 Joined Sep 29 2004
 Small Town USA
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Walk / Tour avatar Jun 17 2013
SkyIslander18 • Triplogs 2,607
Walk / Tour0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Walk / Tour0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Impressive dwellings!
Impressive sycamores!
Impressive area!
Just wish there would have been less people!
Oh well, now on to the well!
:)
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Arizona Sycamore
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Montezuma Castle National Monument
_____________________
https://www.instagram.com/skyislander22/
 
Mar 24 2013
avatar

 Guides 177
 Routes 249
 Photos 10,213
 Triplogs 2,215

74 male
 Joined Feb 12 2002
 Gold Canyon, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 24 2013
AZLOT69 • Triplogs 2,215
Hiking0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Hiking0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Nice picnic spot on way to adventures up north.
_____________________
It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain
 
Nov 21 2012
avatar

 Guides 2
 Routes 25
 Photos 1,890
 Triplogs 604

41 male
 Joined Sep 13 2009
 Mesa, AZ
Montezuma CastleCamp Verde, AZ
Montezuma Castle
Camp Verde, AZ
Walk / Tour avatar Nov 21 2012
jochal • Triplogs 604
Walk / Tour0.33 Miles 20 AEG
Walk / Tour0.33 Miles
20 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.25 mph
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