Montezuma Well

An ancient desert oasis

Montezuma Well is also part of the Montezuma National Monument and is located several miles upstream from Montezuma Castle. It is a huge limestone sinkhole formed by the collapse of a large underground cavern. The well is 55 feet deep and 368 feet wide. Underground natural springs consistently pump over 1.5 million gallons of warm, 74 degree water into the well each day. Without a wide angle lens, you can't get the entire expanse of the lake into one picture. The path from the parking lot leads to a 1/2 mile loop trail that will lead you to the water's edge, where you can see the Sonoran mud turtle. These turtles are thought to be native to the well. The path continues past ancient dwellings built by the Sinagua, across a plateau and down to a (20 degree) cooler forest of sycamore and willow trees where the water joins Beaver Creek. Some parts of the irrigation ditch has been in use for over 1000 years. You can also see the remains of a Hohokam pit house near the picnic area. Don't miss this ancient desert oasis.