Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle near the town of Camp Verde, Arizona, is situated about 90 feet (27 m) up a sheer limestone cliff, facing the adjacent Beaver Creek. The main structure comprises five stories and twenty rooms, and was built over the course of three centuries.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Hard to believe that this five-story building, 100 feet above the valley, is a 20-room dwelling. It was inhabited by Sinagua farmers between 1000 and 1300

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Ancient cliff dwellings of Montezuma Castle National Monument near Camp Verde, Arizona, USA

Montezuma Castle National Monument

The base of a second cliff dwelling at Montezuma Castle National Monument. This building rose six stories high and contained an estimated fourtyfive rooms

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Next to the well preserved ruins of Montezuma Castle are the barely recognizable remnants of another dwelling that rose 6 stories high and contained an estimated 45 rooms

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Small patch of a grain or grass a the base of the sandstone cliffs of the Montezuma Castle, Camp Verde, Arizona

Arizona Sycamore (Platanus wrightii)

Trunk of an Arizona Sycamore on the grounds of the Montezuma Castle Natiopnal Monument. The constantly shedding bark creates an ever-changing mosaic of color.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

A peek at the sandstone cliffs at Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA

Montezuma Castle National Monument

The cliff dwellings of Montezuma Castle, built into the sandstone cliffs high above Beaver Creek, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA

Montezuma Castle National Monument

This cliff dwelling remains, 600 years after the Sinagua people left

Turkey Vultures at Montezuma Castle

Turkey Vultures gather high above the cliffs at Montezuma Castle for an easy glide in the thermal wind stream