A short 11 mile hop from Montezuma Castle is Montezuma Well, a 55ft deep, 368ft wide limestone sinkhole formed by the collapse of a large underground cavern that still pumps through 1.5 million gallons of warm water a day.

The Sinagua people were known to have practiced a rudimentary style of irrigation to keep farm plots watered and at the backside of the well, you can explore a 1,000 year old irrigation channel that is still utilized by locals today.

There is no visitor centre at the well but a ranger’s hut at the start of the trail provides leaflets and information. Entrance to the well is free and unlike the trail at Montezuma Castle, the path to the well is fully exposed to the heat of the sun so a hat and sunscreen are probably a good idea for the half-mile loop. The path takes you around and down to the edge of the well. Cliff dwellings are visible at the top of the well and graffiti from 18th century visitors can be seen lower down on rock overhangs. There are additional cave dwellings at the base and indications of Sinagua life, such as fire-blackened roofs that are still visible.

As we ascended back up and around the well, we followed a path that splits off from the main loop and follows the irrigation channel, which is dug into the tranquil, shady cliff side. I wished that the trail followed the water channel further as it really is quite a picturesque scene.

The warm water flowing into the well exits through a cave that empties into the irrigation ditch. The water has a large carbon dioxide content, meaning that while no fish can survive in the well, unique species of leeches are able to live there.

There were far fewer visitors to Montezuma Well than at the Castle, which made for a really relaxing stroll around. It’s not a very hard or long hike down to the well and as long as you have comfortable walking shoes or even sandals, it’s pretty manageable in spite of the steep drop. The steps down are very sturdy and it’s well worth the short hike to see the cave dwellings and different perspective.

After visiting the irrigation channel it’s a short walk through the cacti back to the car park.

Tel: 928.567.3322

www.nps.gov/moca

In an attempt to immerse ourselves in some local culture, we ventured out to Montezuma Castle and the nearby Well. The Southern Sinagua people lived in this part of Arizona from around the 6th century and at some time during the 1400s, they abandoned their villages here and at Tuzigoot for reasons that still remain a mystery. Speculations include disease, conflicts or a change in weather patterns, but after their disappearance, the desert ensured that their homes and history were well preserved.

The word Sinagua comes from the Spanish words, which mean "without water". In the 1100s, the Southern Sinagua farmers began building a five-storey, 20-room cliff dwelling, which explorers later assumed was Aztec, hence the inaccurate naming of Montezuma Castle.

We visited on a mild, sunny November day and I was immediately impressed by the modesty of the visitor’s centre. There are no gaudy signs or high tech audiovisual guides, just a simple historical exhibition and some well placed information plaques as you walk around the grounds.

My in-laws purchased a Golden Passport, which gave my husband and myself free entry to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot. Even without this luxury, the entrance fee is a very reasonable $5 and the website advises that a discounted rate of $8 is offered for entrance to both the Castle and to Tuzigoot.

We picked up a leaflet, which gives a brief history of the monuments. The short path winds through a leafy garden of sycamore, walnut and mesquite trees on one side, and the burbling Beaver Creek on the other. Within seconds, we were looking up at the Castle (which isn’t technically a castle either), which stands 100 feet above the valley floor. Sadly it isn’t possible to actually enter the monument. It was open to the public up until 1951 but closed due to safety and preservation concerns. On the nps.gov website, there’s a pretty good virtual tour where you can see photos of the interior of the Castle, but standing in its shadow you still get a good idea of the impressive construction feat that it is.

The path follows a loop, where we enjoyed many different vantage points for taking photographs. There are also rangers who occasionally patrol the path and were more than happy to stop and answer questions from inquisitive visitors.

The small but comprehensive visitor centre included an exhibition on the Sinagua people at Montezuma and included beautiful artifacts such as weavings, clothing and jewelry. There’s also a useful diorama along the trail outside that shows a cutaway of the Castle and what life may have been like there during the time it was occupied by the Sinaguan people.

To the left of the main construction are ruins from another pueblo, a smaller 6-storey, 45-room dwelling, which was mostly destroyed by a fire in the late 1400s. The path actually cuts closer to this remain and you get a good look at the foundations of the lower level rooms.

Tel: 928.567.3322

www.nps.gov/moca

Open 8am-5pm/6pm

Montezuma Castle has a bizarre name because earlier explorers thought that the Aztec Indians built this cliff dwelling was built for their Mexican Emperor Montezuma. It is now known that he never lived this far north and that the cliff dwelling was built by and for the Sinagua Indians who lived throughout Central Arizona. The name, however, has since remained.

Montezuma Castle is a spectacular example of the Native Indians’ ability to adapt to their surroundings. This "castle" is actually a five story housing structure, with over 20 rooms. The US National Park Services tout this as "one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America". The ruins are in rather remarkable condition and can be viewed from the walking pathway below. Back as recently as the 1950s, visitors were permitted to climb up to the ruins to explore up close. I’m sure there was a lot of damage done, not to mention the risk to park guests so that is no longer permitted.

In the park, there is also a replica of the limestone dwelling that was built into the limestone wall overlooking Beaver Creek. Along with the model is explanation of how much of the building was used over 600 years ago by its 50+ inhabitants. The Sinagua who lived here started to migrate away around 1400 and within 50 years, are believed to have completed abandoned this area. Archaeologists and historians are unsure why, and have speculated that it may have been due to disease, drought or even invasion. Truth is, nobody really knows although Hopi legend tells of a time when the Sinagua joined them at their mesas to the north as their cultures evolved into one.

During our visit in March of 2005, there was still evidence of flooding from the Beaver Creek in 2004. Clearly, this is low laying land and building housing up off the ground was necessary to protect the people. When you arrive, you will enter a very nice visitor center. Here you can learn more about the Sinagua people who lived throughout Arizona centuries ago. There are also very nice restrooms and water fountains. The grounds include picnic facilities if you are so inclined to pack a lunch. Located in Camp Verde, Arizona... Montezuma Castle is approximately 45 minutes from Flagstaff and 90 minutes from Phoenix.

There is a $5 per person fee to enter this US National Park Service site.

The park is easily accessible for everyone, with concrete walkways. There is usually a good crowd there. The ruins are high up in the cliff walls. The area is lush and near a creek.

One tip: If you visit Montezuma before going to Sedona, make sure you get books and maps of Sedona at the Montezuma visitors center, where they had the best selection!

This national monument is in a lovely parklike setting with lots of trees and a stream. The cliff dwellings are not accessible, but can be readily viewed from the trail, and are unusual in their preservation and beauty. Inside the ranger office is a museum, and informative talking dioramas are located along the trail.