Like nearby Tuzigoot, Montezuma Castle is a stunningly well-preserved 1000-year-old Sinagua cliff dwelling. The name refers to the splendid castlelike location high on a cliff; early explorers thought the five-story-high pueblo was Aztec and hence dubbed it Montezuma. A museum interprets the archaeology of the site, which can be spotted from a short self-guiding, wheelchair-accessible trail. Entrance into the ‘castle’ itself is prohibited, but there’s a virtual tour on the website.
Access the monument from I-17 exit 289, drive east for 0.5 miles, then turn left on Montezuma Castle Rd.
