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An oasis in the middle of the desert that will leave you standing in awe and wonder. Montezuma Well in Arizona, is a site you have to see to believe.
We weren’t sure what to expect heading to Montezuma Well, to say we were blown away when we approached the rim is an understatement. It’s unlike the rest of the desert and red rock landscape in the area and is well worth a visit.
Up until the year 2011, Montezuma Well remained a bit of a mystery to visitors and scientists alike. It wasn’t until people were able to dive into the water and eventually send robots down tubes that the natural phenomenon of Montezuma Well was understood.
Montezuma Well Quick Facts
- Pricing | Free
- Parking | Big parking area for big and small rigs
- Services | Sometimes manned booth, bathrooms, and drinking water
What Is Montezuma Well?
Montezuma Well is a rich part of the Native American history in Northern Arizona. It’s a water source in the middle of the desert that used to provide water to farms miles and miles away from the well.
For centuries, Montezuma Well played a crucial role in life in the area, and today, it’s part of the Montezuma Castle National Monument and is run by the national park service.
But that’s just scratching the surface, leaving you still wondering, what is this well?
Montezuma Well is actually a sinkhole in Arizona created from a water channel underground that is blocked by basalt columns, causing the water to go up instead of continuing to flow beneath the earth’s surface.
The water is constantly changing, in fact, over 1.5 million new gallons of water enter the well each and every day.
Now, you would think that would cause the well to fill up, but there’s a cave in the side of the well, allowing the water to escape.
Escaping Water = Valuable Resource
From the cave the water leaves Montezuma Well through, there’s a channel you can actually still see today. It’s a peek at the ingenuity of the Native Americans who lived here long ago.
Centuries ago, farmers created an irrigation channel to move the water from the well to their farms, offering a way to grow crops and have fresh drinking water. Truly a remarkable thing to see.
The Montezuma Well Trail
- Difficulty | It’s an easy trail. However, there are a lot of stairs, making it a moderate hike.
- Length | 1/2 mile loop with stairs to Swallet Rooms and the water outlet.
- Stairs | 112 stairs to the Swallet Room & 45 stairs to the water outlet
Heading to Montezuma Well, we had no idea what to expect and were certainly glad to see a helpful ranger at the ranger booth!
He gave us a small brochure of Montezuma Well, and told us if we were capable to make sure to take the extra trails via the steps down into the well and to the water outlet.
Leaving the ranger, we were intrigued to find out what we would see.
Topping out at the rim of Montezuma Well, our jaws just dropped. Not necessarily because it’s so beautiful, but instead, because it’s just so abnormal to see an oasis in the middle of the hot desert.
The half-mile loop trail continued past the well, and then back towards the parking lot, but we decided to take the stair detour down into the well.
It’s worth noting, if you can’t do the 112 stairs up and down, the loop trail is super informative and offers great views of the well and cliff dwellings too!
112 Stairs Into Montezuma Well
Dipping down into the well from the main loop trail gives such a different perspective of how big the well actually is. While walking down, I just kept thinking about how this isn’t so much a well, but a sinkhole, and there used to be land all above me!
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the Swallet Rooms await. These are cliff dwelling rooms built right into the rock, next to where the water exits the well. It’s believed these rooms were used as an escape from the Arizona heat, as it’s generally about 20 degrees cooler here.
Looking back up to the upper cliff dwellings from here it’s fun to imagine what life would have been like living in the cliff dwellings in the middle of a desert with a big huge pond out your windows!
Heading back up the stairs, the trail joins back up with the 1/2 mile loop trail before the second side trail veers off to the left.
45 Stairs To The Water Outlet
The second side trail leads visitors down 45 steps, remember there’s 45 steps back up, to the water outlet on the outside of Montezuma Well.
Part of this section was closed due to excess water from heavy rainfall, but the part we did see was really cool. As seen in the image below, there’s a channel funneling water from the outlet down along the side and out into the fields below.
The water is so clear, and it’s remarkable to think how long this channel has been there doing the same thing. It has definitely been fixed throughout the years in some areas, but you can still get the idea of what it used to be.
There are other parts around Montezuma Well where you can see remnants of the channel.
Heading back up the stairs, the trail reconnects with the loop trail, and finishes back at the parking lot with a few informational boards along the way.
Interesting Facts on Montezuma Well
Water For Communities | Montezuma Well provided water for communities down and around Montezuma Castle via the irrigation channels put in place. This water was fresh, potable water and was transported and used for drinking water before 1150 AD!
High Carbon Dioxide Levels | While the water is super fresh, and was used for drinking water in previous centuries, per the national monument’s handout, there are high carbon dioxide levels in the water and even arsenic.
Living A The Well Dates Back To 11,000 CE | There’s evidence of people living at the well from prehistoric times. Over literally thousands and thousands of years, many different people in the Verde Valley have lived and benefited from the well. Some, like the Sinagua people, lived in limestone cliff dwellings inside the walls of the well.
Leech Species Only Found Here | With the chemical make up of the water, there isn’t much life in Montezuma Well. However, there is a leech species that lives in the water and comes out at night to snack on the tiny amphipod that live in the well too. These leaches eat their food instead of sucking on blood like all other leeches do.
More To See Around In The Area
There are a handful of different national monuments and heritage sites to see near Montezuma Well.
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Tuzigoot National Monument
- V Bar V Heritage Site
There’s also the beauty of the red rock canyon of Sedona. An area of incredible views and a lot of ruins, vortex sites, and gorgeous red rock formations.
Sedona Itinerary | One Perfect Day in Sedona
Find More Historical Sites + Ruins | Hiking the Famous Subway Cave to Sinagua Ruins
Catch the Perfect Sunset After Visiting the Well | Dreamy Sunset Spots in Sedona
Visiting The Area, Let Us Know!
Montezuma Well isn’t just for the history buffs or those interested in geology. It’s an interesting site to see and learn about the people that inhabited this land long before us.
And it’s beautiful in a way that’s indescribable. Seeing an oasis that literally provided life for centuries does something to your soul.
If you visit the area, please let us know by tagging @arboursabroad in any photos! We’d love to see where you explore. Our Sedona Travel Guide is full of information on more things to do and see in this area of Arizona!
