Montezuma Castle Trail,
Montezuma Castle National Monument
The Montezuma Castle Trail is a short, level and paved trail that begins at the visitor center and passes the castle ruins. There are several information boards along the trail, each providing educational literature about the monument and the ancient Sinagua Indians who settled here and built the dwelling. Montezuma Castle is located 90 ft up a limestone cliff in an alcove that shields the dwelling from the elements.
Elevation
The Montezuma Castle Trail has a maximum elevation of 3,189 ft., a minimum elevation of 3,158 ft. and an elevation range of 31 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.3 mi | 3,158 ft | 3,189 ft | 31 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 7 min | 3.5 | 42 ft | 61 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 7 min | 5.1 | 61 ft | 42 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Montezuma Castle Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Cornville, AZ
- North Topo Map: Lake Montezuma, AZ
- Northeast Topo Map: Casner Butte, AZ
- West Topo Map: Middle Verde, AZ
- Topo Map: Camp Verde, AZ
- East Topo Map: Walker Mountain, AZ
- Southwest Topo Map: Arnold Mesa, AZ
- South Topo Map: Horner Mountain, AZ
- Southeast Topo Map: Hackberry Mountain, AZ
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Montezuma Castle Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Montezuma Castle Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.3 miles (0.4 km) or 607 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Montezuma Castle Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 7 minutes in one direction and in 7 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.