Montezuma Castle National Monument

One of the most legendary ancient cliff dwellings in America, Montezuma's Castle is a must see destination for tourists interested in Arizona and Native American history alike. The dwelling is a still standing remnant of the Sinagua people, and gives visitors a look into what Arizona's cultural landscape looked like over 500 years ago. This popular destination now hosts hundreds of thousands of guests each year.

Must see and must do at Montezuma's Castle
Visitors to Montezuma's Castle will want to make sure and visit the ruin known as "Castle A." One of the first structures discovered on site, "Castle A" houses between 40 and 50 rooms and gave archaeologists their first real look at what life along Beaver Creek was like hundreds of years ago.

Best and worst time to go to Montezuma's Castle
Montezuma's Castle is open 7 days a week and closed on Christmas. It's very busy during the summer months and there's very little parking available. Travelers that want to avoid running into a crowd should visit during the fall or winter.

Admission to Montezuma's Castle
Admission for adults ages 16 and over, is around $5.00. Kids are free. Annual passes are also available and cost around $100.

Wildlife at Montezuma's Castle
A variety of birds, mammals and reptiles live in and around Montezuma's Castle. Keep an eye out for bobcats, coyotes, mule deer and elk as well as chipmunks, hawks, eagles and snakes. The landscape around Montezuma's Castle is also home to over 300 different species of desert plants including cardinal flowers and Christmas cholla.

Insider tip for Montezuma's Castle
Have kids? Ask about the Junior Ranger workbooks at the Visitor Center. If they complete the activities in the book and say the Junior Ranger Pledge, they'll get a special badge awarding them the status of Official Junior Ranger. Not bad for one day of work.

Author's bio: Chad Birt has lived in Phoenix for 9 years. He's a bike rider, bookworm and freelance writer.