Montezuma Well

About

Montezuma Well is a large natural sinkhole in the Verde Valley and a separate unit of Montezuma Castle National Monument. Around it you'll find cliff dwellings, pueblo remains and an irrigation canal that is centuries old. The Castle charges $10 per adult, but the Well has no entrance fee at all. A short trail runs along the rim, and steps lead down to the old canal and Beaver Creek. It's roughly a 90-minute drive north of Phoenix and about 20 minutes from the Castle, so the two pair well. Take I-17 exit 293 and follow the signs on paved roads, because GPS sometimes sends drivers onto rough backroads.