On my way to Joshua Tree National Park, I stopped to visit a brother who lives in Phoenix. It just so happened that my son was in Scottsdale for a company Christmas party (2019) and the three of us were able to meet up. We had a good time.

Pics from the visit:

Off to Joshua Tree!

Situated between Flagstaff and Phoenix off of I-17, Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well are two parts of the same National Monument, about 11 miles apart. If your travel time allows, these are well worth a visit.

Montezuma Castle:

Montezuma Castle is an excellent example of a pueblo built into a cliff alcove by the Southern Sinagua farmers. It was built between 1100 to 1300 a.d. The cliff dwelling sits 100 feet above the valley floor and has 5 stories with 45 to 60 rooms.

The Southern Sinagua left the area around 1425 and migrated elsewhere as did many other cultures around this same time period. American settlers assumed (incorrectly) it was Aztec in origin and named it Montezuma Castle. The monument was established in 1906 and tourists were allowed access until 1951. A visitor center and short (1/3 mile) walking trail are available.

Montezuma Well:

One can only imagine the joy of discovering a lake and lush vegetation in the middle of a desert. The lake is fed by springs which continuously supply fresh water. Water from the lake was used by the Southern Sinagua to irrigate crops. One can still see the traces of the irrigation ditches. A 1/2 mile loop trail allows access to the area.

It is believed that 100 to 150 people lived in the surrounding area. In the above picture, you can see a pit house at the back of the lake.

A closer view of the pit house: