Montezuma Well is a separate unit of Montezuma Castle National Monument. It's 20 minutes east of Montezuma Castle and well worth a stop! There's no entrance fee, but there's a small ranger station at the trailhead and a very enthusiastic volunteer who gave as an orientation speech of the human history of the area and the geology of the area. Without him, the visit would have been less impressive. The water in the sinkhole contains high levels of arsenic and carbon dioxide, so no fish are in the water...but don't worry there are plenty of leeches! Don't enter the water because of that, and also because you do not want to disturb the five species endemic to this spot of water. They're found nowhere else. Interestingly enough, there's near-constant volume of spring water even in times of severe drought, which would have seemed miraculous to the people who lived here. If you look from the rim, you can see several prehistoric dwellings right under the rim on the other side. Hiking down gets you close to more dwellings. Well worth a trip, especially as it's less crowded than the Castle. read more

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My friend and I stopped to see the Montezuma Castle first. This Well is only a couple miles up from the Castle. It is another short trail loop to see the Well and it's FREE (no entry fee). It's a amazing site when you reach the top of the well with the view of the well and dwellings. There is a board with some facts. The best part though was there was a wonderful, very friendly Park Ranger stationed at the top to answer any questions and to talk about the Well and surroundings if interested. She also told us of the hidden path to actually go down onto the well. We were there around 3pm, on a Monday and there were no crowds at all. A must see! read more

Its not part of the National monument so you don't need the park pass. Nice hike up some stairs and view of the cistern. Very quick add on read more

Montezuma Well - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rimrock, Arizona

This is the place I wanted to keep to myself...from my last visit years ago(2019)...I'm glad it still hasn't gained much popularity , maybe because it is a little bit of the way compared with the montezuma castle which was pretty crowded when I visited. The trail started from the parking lot where the Ranger station is. It's a loop! You are supposed to do it counterclockwise by passing the ranger station first. it was about 75 feet you will be at the overlook it's a bit steep and def took my breath away. The rest part of the trail was more smooth you will see all interesting desert plants along the way. It was 60 degrees but with the Arizona sun, it still got hot even I only wore a camisole top and I saw someone holding an umbrella:p To go down to the water, I was told it is about 100 steps... please be realistic about your capability. however, I must missed the stairs going down. I think it is a monument however it is free to visit without pass required! read more

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Free parking and no admission fee. A very good explanation of what we were about to see by the park ranger. Many informative signs along the path. Something unique from nature and history. read more

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We stopped at Montezuma Well Archaeological Site right after we saw Montezuma Castle in late February. They are a short distance from each other if driving, and can easily both be seen in the same day. Montezuma Well is considered a sub site of Montezuma Castle National Monument. They were both inhabited by the Sinagua People of the Verde Valley in Central Arizona. You can see cave dwellings built into the side of the cliff of this collapsed limestone sinkhole. A 1/3-mile, paved uphill trail leads you to the rim of this desert naturally occurring spring. This would be a short easy hike, but the elevation made it a little challenging for me, personally, and I stopped twice to catch my breath. Hubs had no problem and continued without stopping. You may continue on and walk around the Well and explore pueblos and other areas if you wish. This will extend the distance of your hike. Water is usually scarce in this desert environment so Montezuma Well has always been seen as a sacred landscape, with water constantly flowing up from underground. The Hopi, Yavapai, and Western Apache all had special names for this hidden spring. 15 million gallons of water spring from underground here. Even during drought, 1.6 million gallons of water flow through the Well's floor vents daily. There are no fish here, but freshwater leeches instead. This place had the opposite vibe for me, than that of Montezuma Castle, which felt nestled and protected in the shadow of the mountain. Here where we were at the top of the mountain withstanding harsh winds that could blow us over into the well if we weren't careful. It made it a little creepier to know that leeches would meet us as we plunged into the water. This was a fascinating trip for us, being biologists. Because of the high levels of carbon dioxide in the water, this Well is home to five organisms that exist only here and nowhere else on earth - a shrimp-like amphipod, a little snail, a leech, a water scorpion, and a diatom. Ducks land and feed on the surface and between these six organisms, a unique ecosystem exists. Dogs are welcome here as long as they are on leashes and stay on the trail. There's a men's and women's restroom near the parking lot. There is no charge to enter Montezuma Well. A large nicely paved parking lot is available at the bottom of the trail near the Ranger station. read more

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Monetezuma Well is one of the spots you should visit if you're planning a day trip from Phoenix or Flagstaff, and you're heading through Sedona. Calling it a 'well' is a bit of a misnomer since it's essentially a giant crater that helps churn water through to local towns, and one that you can admire from above. It's free to visit (compared to the castle which is $10 a person) and a relaxing and peaceful site. From the top, you can choose to walk down the steps to visit a cave area that was tagged by folks back in the late 1800s before the well got popular. You do have to hike up a short hill in order to reach the summit of the well. However, it's not too strenuous and no further climbing is needed once you reach the top. If you stay above, spend some time taking photos of the views and the crater. It's well worth a visit. read more

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There are two ways to get here....the long way and the short way. We chose the long (fun) way, which is about 2 miles, I think (?) on a dusty, dirt road. We chose the short road to exit. Technically, this is part of the Montezuma Castle park, and you pay there. We hit this place first, and were not asked to pay, or if we had a parks pass. The ranger's office is right at the beginning of the trail, and they give everyone that visits a quick run down of the trail set up. First, you head up a hill and from up there, you get a great view of the well and the cliff dwellings. As you walk away from them, you will see a small marker pointing down. If you're not steady on your feet, probably don't go on this trail, because it is full of rocks that you need to climb down, and climb up, as there is only one way in and out. Climb down the rocks, and you will eventually be walking parallel to the well, and you will come to some cliff dwellings in the rocks across from it. You can't go in them, but you can shine a light and see how far they go back into the cave. Walk back the way you came and follow the trail to the left, to pass through some remains of ancient housing. The trail will take you to another stone path where you can see the creek that the well empties into and gets filled up from. Again, turning to the left when you're done with the creek, you will walk through a small field and eventually end up back at the parking lot. The whole thing can take you less than an hour, depending on your interest level. I have the National Parks passport book, and asked the ranger if they had a stamp. They do, and it is different than the one for the castle, so if you need your book stamped, don't forget to ask! Definitely worth checking out, and you can make a day/afternoon of it with the Castle and Tuzigoot, like we did! 27/2024 read more

Montezuma Well - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rimrock, Arizona

I came to the well with my sister brother in law and their baby! We enjoyed our time and loved asking all kinds of questions about the park:) my sister was able to bring the baby in a carrier, definitely recommend if they're small enough as there are a decent amount of steps, but there were people with small strollers that did fine as well. we got a little private tour from volunteer ranger Karen and she did great providing us with all kinds of fun facts. volunteer Ranger Joe swore me in as a junior ranger which was so fun and he also gave us some great directions and facts before leaving for the well. Overall so fun! Got to meet Demi and the LEO ranger on scene as well, everyone was so great! also definitely recommend La Casita down the road for lunch or dinner read more

Great for a short visit and a very easy hike. Although there are steps that would limit the experience for the mobility challenged. Paved sidewalk otherwise. Convenient parking. You can be in and out in 30 minutes and still feel like you've seen the sights. Read up on the geology. read more

Really pretty and well maintaned trails! One of my kids favorite places to explore around sedona!

Amazingly friendly National Park Service volunteers and employees. And WHAT a hidden gem this place is! We only found out about this place during a visit to the sister site Montezuma Castle. A couple questions and a quick google later showed us it was relatively close by (maybe about a 12 minute drive) so we decided to make the most of our newly acquired parks and monument pass and headed on over! And I am so glad we did! This isn't so much a "well" as it is a natural spring surrounded by some cliff dwellings and gorgeous landscapes. A literal desert oasis. Spectacularly beautiful, and unexpectedly so. Going up the hill and getting to the overlook and first view of the spring was a literal "WOW" moment. There are plenty of informational signs that are a thousand percent worth reading to learn about the history and use of this site. And there are two short off-shoot trails that are so so so cool! One goes down in to the lower area of the well for a better look at the dwellings along the far side, and up close look in to the caves that were made in to dwellings (though, do not enter...give the bats their safe home!), and very very old graffiti and painted advertisements! The other one goes down a side of a bluff towards Beaver Creek and you get to be up close and personal with ancient irrigation trenches! Like holy cow...people created these hundreds and hundreds of years ago and, though minor updates have been done in order to protect and preserve them long term....it baffles the mind that they were made so long ago and still exist so completely! Like....wow. This place is fantastic! So interesting and insanely beautiful! You should seriously find a way to visit here. read more

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Some of my earliest memories I have are me running around the trails around the well. I mentioned in my review of Montezuma Castle that I would beg to come visit as a kid. I loved it here. I was a weird kid though. This visit was able to bring my kids to enjoy the amazing history and views of the Montezuma Well. The scene at the well will just take you back to a time in the southwest that we can only imagine in movies. Standing at the rim of the well you can see the few dwellings that still exist. A little history of the location is that there were a few "permanent" residents but mostly people traveling through would camp all around the top of the well while traveling. Its just so interesting. The ancient residents dug an irrigation canal from the well to Montezuma's Castle to water their crops. Its incredible. When I was young I wanted to jump around the creek and canal but my mother told me there was giant turtle that lived in it and it would bite me. I believed her. Giant turtle aside, there are leaches in the water. So you and your children have been warned. You can walk down to the base of the well from the interior. There is actually graffiti from the 1800's. Its fascinating. So many travelers came through here. There is another little sciency thing I love to think about. If you are standing at the well and look to the West and see the mountain range, the rain and snow that falls there, flows through the ground on the path of least resistance to the well. That's incredible! I don't care what order you visit you must visit both the Well and the Castle if you can when in Arizona. read more

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This s an easy walk on paved surface. Be aware howeverthat there are steps to the creek and uneven terrain near well I would not consider it handicapped accessible. There are restrooms available. Being water and wear a hat as there is little shade. read more

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When you arrive to this location hopefully there is a spot for you car. The parking lot was pretty limited, but we did not have to wait too long for a spot to open up. To get to the Montezuma well, you have to hike up to the top of the hill to see it. It is a fairly short hike up and does not require too much. Once you get to the top, you walk a bit farther and you can see the well. The well was so clear, it was breathtaking. I previously visited the Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monument so we added this to our itinerary as well. This well also had a part of the mountain that looked like what I saw at the Tuzigoot National Monument. Considering it took some time to drive over to this area, I was surprised to see how this was connected to the other places since it was quite some distance. This one was definitely worth a look! read more

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Well, well, well. What to we have here? If ever there was a misleading name, this is it. You hear "well" and you think, at the very least, water. And you'd be right. But this is not a well that's been dug. And certainly Montezuma wasn't doing any digging or discovering. Instead, what we have is a big sinkhole-lookin' hole in the ground, with some ancient ruins, that was once a very important spot for the Sinagua inhabitants. Oh, and it's not potable. Due to the levels of arsenic, drinking from here is a no-no. But what is definitely a yes-yes is the lovely paved walk that leads you to the overlook. It does become rocky at the very end, and if you want to go all the way down to the water, then you leave the pavement to walk the trail down. But we stayed up above with the dog (dogs welcome on leash, btw) to imagine what it would have been like to come across this cliffed-in lake in the desert. Luckily for those ancient folks, it wasn't the only water in the area. The creek runs on the edge of the monument, but on our trip the steep walkway down to the shore was blocked off and closed; I'm not sure if that's a maintenance thing, a COVID thing, neither, or both. But it would be fun to get to the shore. We had a lovely stroll at this surprise stop. There's not much parking, but not much is needed. I get the impression that Montezuma Castle is the real highlight, and the well (a separate stop a few miles away) is much less trafficked. read more

Montezuma Well - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rimrock, Arizona

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Favorite space that has sacred history and very informative. There were several paths and trails along the way. Easy walk and paved trail with steps and railways and easy walk for all ages. We chose to not go down to the bottom and enjoyed the view from the sky walk above. read more

This is essentially an extension of Montezuma Castle National Monument. It's a quick stop and I recommend incorporating it into your itinerary. There is a short loop trail that leads to the sinkhole, which local indigenous people used to irrigate their crops. It was more interesting than I thought. This is a natural sinkhole that is fed by water from underground sources. We were told that the water we're seeing is 10,000 years old (it takes a long time to get to its destination, apparently). The water is not potable and not much can live here due to the high levels of carbon dioxide. There are only five species that can survive here (a leech, a snail, a water scorpion, a one-celled plant, and some sort of shrimp). There were a couple rangers by the well that were eager to answer questions. They were friendly and insightful. Easy parking. read more

The history of this spot is fantastic. We made a quick stop here and looked around a bit but didn't have much time because the gates closed at 4:45 and it was already 4:30. After we got back to the hotel I read more about the history and we decided to go back again the next morning. If you are planning to make this a stop definitely read up on its history BEFORE you go. It makes the experience way more interesting. read more

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There is no cost to go see the Montezuma Well. But you do have to walk up 31 steps to get there. It's not a steep climb but there is plenty of room to stop and rest. Or you can take the sidewalk that is 1/3 of a mile. We went up the steps and back on the sidewalk. Once you get to the top watch your step because you are walking on a limestone slabs. Not much shade up there ether. There are some Old juniper trees that are really cool. It a limestone sink that was formed long ago that is still fed by a continuously flowing spring. The well has no fish in it. It has high levels of carbon dioxide 80 times higher then most lakes. The only thing that lives in the well is. Miniature shrimp looking amphipod - tiny snails - water scorpion and lots of leeches. So don't fall in. Along the rim was houses built in the rock that the Indians lived in. It was really cool to learn that people lived like that. And used the water to irrigate their crops. There was paths that you could take and get closer to the water but we just walked to the car very hot. We seen a lot of vegetation and cactus. read more

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I didn't really expect much when we decided to stop by Montezuma Well. We had an hour or two to spare which is plenty for the visit. There is a lot of interesting information and history on the walk that you can read. My favorite part was walking down to the water where you get a completely different view of the place. read more

Montezuma Well - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rimrock, Arizona

We were out riding side by sides and found our way to Montezuma's Well and decided to take the kids out to stretch their legs. I have lived in Arizona for 20yr and never stopped here. Now I'm really questioning why. What an amazing place this was! Ruins, cliff dwellings, an awesome waterfall. Definitely worth stopping by! read more

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So fascinating! The Park Ranger was so friendly, kind, and a wealth of information about the Well and the area. There are some up and down walking on hills, so be aware. All walkways are either flagstone, rock, or concrete. read more

Montezuma Well - The Well - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Rimrock, Arizona

This is a site well worth seeing. The "well" looks like a giant pond down in a crater and is fed from below. The water sort of "bubbles" up from somewhere down below. It's an easy walk "up" from the parking lot to the walkway around the top of the well. You can then take another path down to the "well's outlet". DON"T MISS THE OUTLET. When it's hot up on top, it can be 20 or more degrees cooler down by the outlet. A steady stream of crystal clear, cold water drains from the well and runs parallel to the creek. WARNING - the water looks crystal clear but has high levels of arsenic in it -- not suitable for drinking. I was told that on hot days, people do dip their toosties into the water at the outlet. Allow 45-60 minutes to see both the topside and the well's outlet. read more

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Excellent site for the Well. Water changes 1.5 mil gallons a day. Need to be able to walk up a hill with stairs then to walk around no stairs, unless you branch off. read more

Parking is limited so arrive early or later in the day. The walk is a nice trail around the top of the well then around to the back side. We were unable to go to the lower spot as it was flooding while we were there. There are some ruins in the well and it is really a cool place to visit. There are a decent amount of steps down and out of the well but worth the trip for the views and the exploring. It is a limited park so no visitor center or anything like that. read more

Near Monetzeuma Castle National Monument is Montezuma Well, which is worth a visit if you are in the area. The well is a natural limestone sinkhole filled with water, fed by an underground spring. It's unique and a sight to behold! There are several things to explore around the well, including cool vegetation, cliffs and rocky trails down to the water, plus desert trails all around Rimrock are at your disposal. And the best part? It's all FREE! There are also a few prehistoric dwellings that you can get MUCH closer to than at the Castle and they're located just around the base, so you will have to take the rocky steps down. It may be spring fed but this is no babbling brook. In fact, it's fairly toxic. It's highly carbonated and contains high levels of arsenic due to the limestone that surrounds it. So don't fill up your canteen here! Also, don't go into the water--it's filled with leeches! The leeches are a variety found nowhere else in the world, which is pretty cool. Along with the leeches, the Well is also home to 4 other species only found in this habitat--a diatom (a type of algae), a springtail (a hexapod), a water scorpion (not really a scorpion, but they kinda look like them, hence the name), and an amphipod (a type of crustacean). You might not exactly easily see these creatures, but they're there! So don't drink the water, and don't go in and hunt for algae but DO plan on hiking, taking lots of pictures, and enjoying the stunning nature and history around you. It's a fantastic spot. read more

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Glinda, a server at Red Chopsticks restaurant told us about this place. She advised that it was a must see on our way out toward Phoenix. Montezuma Well is located in Rimrock, AZ and the Montezuma Castle is about 11 miles away. Montezuma Well is a natural limestone sinkhole, 1,500,000 gallons of fresh water emerge each day from a underground spring-amazing considering it's the desert. Getting there off the SR179S was interesting. The unpaved dusty road, was a bit challenging to drive on-but I was determined to find this place. The road is clearly marked, one way in and out. Plenty of free parking once I arrived. Touched base with 2 Park rangers, who advised me to stay on the defined road. Entrance is free, but donations are always welcomed. Climbed up about 20 steps to see the vast oasis in the midst of desert grassland. There are signs explaining the depth and other information on the well. I was going to turn back at that point, but the sound of water-kept me going further into the trail. If you keep going on the trail, it will lead you to the water. The trail is well defined with steps, and there is a seating area. I decided to sit, and be entertained by the sound of the water-what an awesome feeling! Although I enjoyed seeing the Red Rocks of Sedona, visiting Montezuma Well was a delight-cool refreshing and something almost magical! I highly recommend that you stop here, on your way in or out. read more

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Well maintained trails and bathroom. Great host! Good signage to understand the history. read more

Beautiful Family fun. Outdoors. Great exercise Well maintained great history must visit read more

This stop was better than I expected. It's just a short hike to see the well. Not really a hike, it's paved the whole way including going down to the water. read more

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Basically an extension of the Montezuma Castle, the well is free to visit, and is also dog friendly!! Our pups were even offered biscuits upon entry!! It is about 15 minutes away from the castle. The parking lot small, but there is also dirt parking and it is a very short walk. There is also not "hiking" here, but rather a short walk up the steps to view the well. You can walk to the bottom of the well, and it is quite a bit of steps. We chose to just view it from the top. The path to view the well from up top and back down to the parking lot is roughly 1/3 mile and is all paved. Apparently, at this well, there are some species of animals that can only be found at the well, including special leeches and shrimp. It was an interesting site to see and worth the quick stop. If you visit the castle, you might as well visit the well! There is not much else to see here besides the well, so the visit itself would not really take any longer than 30 minutes. There are also some old dwellings that can be seen here, but like the castle, you cannot enter them. Interesting for a quick thing to see if you have time, but by no means a "must-see". My dog and I are personally on a mission to see as many national park services sites as possible so we see any whenever possible. read more

What a beautiful and majestic hidden gem with a lot of history. My boyfriend and I stopped him on our way back from Flagstaff headed to Phoenix and boy are we glad we did. Admission is free, the trail is pretty easy to hike and the scenery is gorgeous. Place this on your list of places to visit and explore. read more

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It's definitely a quick history stop. Not a everyday thing. But I really enjoy it every time I stop by.

Its a short hike before you can see the water below, and you continue down a bit further to find the running water below. Once you're there it's so relaxing at the bottom! Because it's in shade and the water is running it's so refreshing from the heat and sun. It's like a surprising, mini-Oasis Tip: Sometimes if you're lucky you can see snakes sunning themselves in the open, sunny areas. Therefore you'll want to stay on the paths. (Snakes don't want anything to do with us either so as long as you don't threaten them/get too close you'll be fine.) I really enjoy coming here to enjoy the running water and calm environment in the shade. Hope you do too! read more

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If you love local history, then Montezuma's Well is a must. It is free and filled with interesting facts about the local Indians and how they lived. read more

A desert oasis On many occasion that I traveled in the area I saw this place on the map, but for some reason never stopped there to check it out! Now I wish I had! Standing on top of the hill where the little lake is, one gets a great view of the desert spread around as far as eye can see and that hits home the importance of this water to the people who occupied the immediate region centuries ago and even now. Do not make my mistake, stop there, take your time, go hike down inside the bowl and check out the little ruin down there, then come up and walk around. It will make you wonder about what the place once was like and what it might be in a couple of centuries from now. read more

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After seeing Montezuma's Castle, I didn't think I wanted to go to the Well just to see a round lake. I'm so glad I did anyway! Geologically, the well is spectacular. Those of us from the southwest where there are no sinkholes seldom see lakes like this. It's perfectly round, recessed into a circular cliff, and bottom-fed making it a stable year-round temperature and feeding the river below. The chemistry and fauna of the well are also interesting. I didn't know there were cliff dwellings at the well until I was looking directly at them. Seeing the dwellings leads to lots of question about architecture, culture, and daily life from the time. Also, the site has pueblo homes showing the variety of dwelling structures in the area and leading to more questions about living conditions over the millenia they were inhabited. I was pleasantly surprised, too, that the monument includes an impeccably-groomed canal from the Native era. The area surrounding the river and canal is beautiful and transports you into what daily life might have been like eons ago. The rangers were incredibly welcoming and eager to answer questions as we entered the monument, but there were none at the well itself. Instead, there was a volunteer at the site who really didn't know anything about the well and responded to questions with obvious, simplistic answers. Fortunately, there are informative placards throughout the monument to help visitor's appreciate the area. I would love to have had a ranger-guided tour of the well and canal. read more

We were traveling south on I-17 and saw the sign for Montezuma's Well - decided to stop and see it. It was quite impressive - large body of water with a natural spring feeding it and an overflow letting the water out into the nearby Verde River. It's a short walk from the parking area to the rim of the "well". There are several "ruins" around the rim and between the rim and water line. You can get a good view of the rim ruins from further down the path. Take the path around the rim - it circles around past some ruins and ends back at the parking area. There are side hikes to the cave down at the water line and to the water overflow down by the Verde River. A good stop to see a unique sight in the Verde valley! read more

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We had planned in going to Montezuma's Castle first but got off the 17 too earlier and ended up here. Sure glad we did! My husband and the kids LOVED this place! The volunteers at the check-in are great and took the time to educate us on why the well is so special. TIPS: take the stairs up to the top. As you start to walk down the sidewalk, there's a stair way that actually takes you down to the bottom of the well off to your left. If you're physically able, do it!! You can get within reaching distance of some of the caves. Once you hike back up to the top, take the sidewalk down to exit instead of the stairs you came up. There is another set of stairs off to your left once your half way back to the parking lot that takes you down to the river. It's beautiful down there! Oh and it's free unlike the castle! read more

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