Montezuma Well Trail,
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Montezuma Well is a limestone sinkhole that has flourished into a desert oasis. The Montezuma Well Trail is a short, paved loop trail that starts at the information booth located near the parking lot. The beginning of the trail has a short but slightly steep hike to the overlook of the well. Hike the trail to the water to see the dwellings in an alcove located below the overlook. The water temperature is at a constant 74 degrees and 1.5 million gallons of water flow into the well each day. Archeologists have discovered through excavation that this area was inhabited by the ancient Sinagua — a pre-Columbian culture that settled in Arizona from 500 AD. Today, the water is still in use by the local people for land irrigation.
Elevation
The Montezuma Well Trail has a maximum elevation of 3,627 ft., a minimum elevation of 3,547 ft. and an elevation range of 80 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.4 mi | 3,547 ft | 3,627 ft | 80 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 11 min | 4.4 | 53 ft | 58 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 11 min | 4.8 | 58 ft | 53 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 Well 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: Page Springs, AZ
- North Topo Map: Sedona, AZ
- Northeast Topo Map: Munds Mountain, AZ
- West Topo Map: Cornville, AZ
- Topo Map: Lake Montezuma, AZ
- East Topo Map: Casner Butte, AZ
- Southwest Topo Map: Middle Verde, AZ
- South Topo Map: Camp Verde, AZ
- Southeast Topo Map: Walker Mountain, AZ
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Montezuma Well 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 Well Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.4 miles (0.7 km) or 918 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Montezuma Well Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 11 minutes in one direction and in 11 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.