Yavapai – Cliff Dwelling, Pueblo and Desert Landscape

Montezuma Castle National Monument is located in Yavapai County, Arizona: a 20-room, multi-story dwelling built into a towering limestone cliff. From here, the travel story extends to a pueblo, spring-fed waters, desert landscapes and experiences by rail or on trails.

Cliff Dwelling, Pueblo and Spring Water

A self-guided, 1/3-mile loop at Montezuma Castle passes the cliff dwelling, through a sycamore grove and along spring-fed Beaver Creek. A visit therefore includes not only the striking dwelling and its cliff, but also a trail through the grove and along the water.

Tuzigoot National Monument is also in Yavapai County, on the Verde River. Its pueblo is the remains of a large, multi-story village dating from 1100 to 1450 A.D. Comparing the two archaeological sites reveals different architectural forms: a dwelling built into a cliff and the remains of a village with a clearly defined historical period.

Montezuma Well offers a different landscape: a large, spring-fed pond lies at the bottom of a limestone sinkhole. About 1.5 million gallons of water flow through Montezuma Well each day. While a loop trail at the Castle runs along a creek, here the focus is the pool itself.

A Railroad Excursion and a Long Trail

The Verde Canyon Railroad travels from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back through scenic Verde Canyon. The round trip is 40 miles long. Its route runs through a protected riverside corridor lined with red rock pinnacles and passes through a 734-foot-long man-made tunnel. The depot is in Clarkdale, 25 minutes southwest of Sedona and two hours north of Phoenix.

The 80-mile Black Canyon Trail offers a different way to experience the landscape. It provides opportunities for horseback riding on remote trails, mountain biking and hiking. The trail passes through Sonoran Desert landscapes with saguaro forests and rugged canyons. The railroad’s 40 miles are a round trip, while 80 miles is the length of the trail—the numbers therefore refer to different kinds of outings. The trailhead in Black Canyon City is managed by Yavapai County.

Chaparral, River Landscapes and Jerome

Yavapai County’s natural areas also vary considerably. The Bradshaw Mountains have extensive stands of chaparral. Nine miles of Burro Creek lie within the Upper Burro Creek Wilderness in the county. The Hassayampa River Canyon Wilderness encompasses several miles of the free-flowing Hassayampa River and its riparian habitat. Chaparral, a stretch of river within a wilderness area, and a free-flowing river with riparian habitat thus offer contrasting landscape themes.

Jerome is a former copper-mining town in the Black Hills of Yavapai County. Galleries and tasting rooms serving locally made wine are among the experiences there; individual businesses and offerings may change. The county also has 13 parks in various communities, including Prescott, Prescott Valley, Black Canyon City, Chino Valley, Cornville and Yarnell. Individual park facilities may change.

Choose a Hotel That Fits Your Plans

First, consider which experiences will shape your stay: archaeological sites, a railroad excursion, trail activities or the region’s varied landscapes. If you plan several outings, it’s also worth looking at the routes involved; check the Verde Canyon Railroad schedule in advance.

Discover more destinations: Prescott, Seligman, Prescott Valley, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Jerome, Ash Fork, Clarkdale, Lake Montezuma.

Go to the main travel overview: Arizona.