Trails in Montezuma Castle National Monument

Do you think your dog has what it takes to become an official Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments BARK Ranger? Stop by the visitor center to get certified. Certification allows you to purchase an exclusive BARK Ranger badge from one of the bookstores managed by the Western National Parks Association .

Pets are welcome on park trails as long as they follow the rules of B.A.R.K:

B ag your poop: Pet owners must clean up after their pets. Trash cans are available at parking lots and outside visitor centers.

A lways wear a leash: Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.

R espect wildlife: Please give all wildlife plenty of space. All wildlife is protected from harm or harassment by law.

K now where you can go: Pets are welcome on trails, in parking lots, and at picnic areas, but not inside visitor centers (except during check-in). Service dogs (those who are individually trained to perform a task for a person with a disability) are permitted to travel wherever people can go.

Safety

Bring water on your walk. Summer high temperatures range from 95 ° to 115 ° F (35 ° to 46 ° C). The parks do not sell bottled water, but water bottles can be purchased from the bookstores and a water bottle refill station is available at the visitor centers and the picnic area at Montezuma Well.

Use the "seven second rule" to check the ground to see if it's too hot for your pet. Place the back of your hand against the pavement for seven seconds. If you can't hold your hand there for a full seven seconds, the ground is too hot for your pet to walk on. Dog boots are highly recommended in the summer.

Never leave your pets in the car. Parking areas are not shaded.

Keep an eye on your pet at all times; the parks are home to an array of wildlife, many of which may bite or sting in self-defense.

From spring through fall, rattlesnakes are often seen in the parks and may be present on the trails. If you encounter a rattlesnake during your visit, please let a staff member know immediately. Park rangers are specially trained to relocate rattlesnakes in a way that is safe for people and the snake. Never attempt to handle or move a snake yourself and give all snakes at least six feet of space. Please remember that we are visitors in their home; rattlesnakes and all other park wildlife are protected from harm or harassment by law.

Regulations

Never climb or sit on the dwellings or structures.

Please stay on the marked trails at all times.

Do not leave your pet unattended.

Drones and other unmanned aircraft are not permitted in any of the parks.

Please leave all plants, animals, rocks, artifacts, bones, and other items where you find them for others to enjoy. If you find something interesting on the trail, take a photo to share with a ranger.

Learn more about visiting national parks with your pets .

At Montezuma Castle National Monument, visitors can view two cliff dwellings built by the Hisatsinom, or Sinagua people, around 1150 CE. These impressive feats of engineering are a testament to the people that lived here and the community they were a part of. Although the dwellings seen here were constructed starting around 1150, people lived in this area long before they were built. These structures were occupied until the Hisatsinom left the area by about the early 1400s. Despite their appearance, the dwellings here are not abandoned and forgotten; they are celebrated and remembered. Many indigenous peoples maintain a strong connection with this land and site today.

A 0.3 mile (0.5 km) paved loop trail around the site and offers numerous views of the dwellings as we see them today. Montezuma Castle is located about 100 yards (91 m) from the visitor center. Castle A is located on the far side of the loop, about 160 yards (146 m) from the visitor center. More than 95% of what we see of the main dwelling, Montezuma Castle, is original with some work performed over the years to stabilize the structure. Its location inside the cliff is largely what is responsible for its preservation, keeping it protected from the elements.

A short spur trail allows visitors a closer look at Castle A, a dwelling that was about twice the size of Montezuma Castle. This structure was burned sometime between 1375 and 1395 during a dispute between the Hisatsinom who lived in this building and the Apache and Yavapai, but some of the stonework and caveate rooms are still visible along the cliff.

Due to the sensitivity of these sites, tours inside Montezuma Castle were discontinued in 1951 and access to Castle A was discontinued in 1978. Please respect the dwellings here by remaining on the trail and not sitting on or climbing them. A five minute video tour of the inside of Montezuma Castle plays on loop in the museum during operating hours. Montezuma Castle is not visible from any roads.

Safety

Bring water on your walk. Although the trail is mostly shaded, summer high temperatures range from 95 ° to 115 ° F (35 ° to 46 ° C). The park does not sell bottled water, but water bottles can be purchased from the bookstore and a water bottle refill station is available at the visitor center.

From spring through fall, rattlesnakes are seen in the park and may be present on the trails. If you encounter a rattlesnake during your visit, please let a staff member know immediately. Park rangers are specially trained to safely relocate rattlesnakes. Never attempt to handle or move a snake yourself and give all snakes at least six feet of space. Please remember that we are visitors in their home; rattlesnakes and all other park wildlife are protected from harm or harassment by law.

Check the forecast ahead of time. From July through mid-September, heavy rainstorms called monsoons are common in the afternoon. The trail is closed for 30 minutes following any lightning strikes five miles or less from the park.

Regulations

The park including the road to the visitor center and loop trail are only open and accessible during operating hours . Entry after hours is prohibited.

Never climb or sit on the dwellings or structures.

Please stay on the paved trail at all times.

Drones and other unmanned aircraft are not permitted in the park.

Please leave all plants, animals, rocks, artifacts, bones, and other items where you find them for others to enjoy. If you find something interesting on the trail, take a photo to share with a ranger.

Pets are welcome on the trails but must be on a leash no more than six feet at all times. Always clean up after your pet. Never leave your pets in the car. Pets are not permitted in the visitor center except during check-in.