Montezuma Well
Rimrock, AZ
A limestone sinkhole fed by a constant spring, ringed by small cliff dwellings and a Sinagua irrigation ditch. Free; part of Montezuma Castle National Monument, 17 km away.
Montezuma Well is a natural limestone sinkhole near Rimrock in the Verde Valley, Arizona, and an outlying site of Montezuma Castle National Monument. The sinkhole is about 470 feet (143 meters) across, holds more than 15 million gallons of water and is refilled with roughly 1.5 million gallons a day, even though the area gets only about 13 inches (33 centimeters) of rain a year.
Early inhabitants left their mark around the rim. The Hohokam had a pithouse here around AD 1050 and channeled the outflow into an irrigation canal that can still be seen today. From the 1100s the Sinagua built dwellings in the cliffs and more than 30 rooms along the rim, and moved on by 1425. Because of high carbon dioxide and arsenic levels there are no fish, but five species live here that exist nowhere else.
The main trail forms a loop, with side trails to shaded benches at both ends of the waterway. Getting there: take I-17 to exit 293, then follow the signs for about 4 miles (6 kilometers) through McGuireville and Rimrock. Montezuma Castle is about 11 miles (18 kilometers) away.
- Nearest town
- Rimrock, AZ
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 34.6490, -111.7520
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- FR 120A DispersedCampsite7 mi from Montezuma WellTentsCaravans
- Camp AvalonCampsite12 mi from Montezuma WellTentsShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Angel Valley Dispersed Camping AreaCampsite13 mi from Montezuma WellTentsCaravans
- Javalina Dispersed Camping AreaCampsite14 mi from Montezuma WellTentsCaravans
- Rockview Dispersed Camping AreaCampsite14 mi from Montezuma WellTentsCaravans
- Surprise Dispersed Camping AreaCampsite15 mi from Montezuma WellTentsCaravans
All campsites in Arizona · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Montezuma Well?
Montezuma Well is in Rimrock, AZ, at GPS 34.6490, -111.7520. It is about 5 mi from Montezuma Castle.
Can you camp near Montezuma Well?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Lawrence Crossing Dispersed Camping Area, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 51 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Montezuma Well?
Montezuma Well is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Verde Valley and Oak Creek Canyon: Phoenix to Flagstaff and Red rocks, a copper town and Sinagua ruins: by camper through Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, the Verde Valley and on to Jerome.
What is there to see near Montezuma Well?
Places worth a stop nearby: Montezuma Castle National Monument (5 mi), Chapel of the Holy Cross (13 mi), Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon) (13 mi) and Slide Rock State Park (20 mi).
When is the best time to visit Montezuma Well?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)