Camp Verde, AZ Cliff Dwellings

Our campground is one of our favorites. Camp Verde sits on the Verde River. We have been here several times. This time we saw 3 beavers playing in their pond they made by falling trees along the river. We came back with our camera the next day but no luck at finding the beavers again. Here for a couple days then on to Holbrook, AZ.

This stop gave us a return visit to these 3 ancient dwelling sites, 2 of them are cliff dwelling sites. These sites were used by the Southern Sinagua people. All 3 sites are about 30 miles from our campground. As for the pictures, the large cliff dwelling is Montezuma Castle, a 20 room dwelling about 100 ft above the valley, used in the 12^th century.

The picture with the “little” lake is Montezuma Well that was formed by a collapsed underground cavern now fed by springs. A small cliff dwelling can be seen across the lake in the side of the cliff. The area was home to about 150-200 people in the years 1100-1400.

The picture that looks over and down into a bunch of open rooms it Tuzigoot. This overlooks the Verde Valley. 77 rooms some were 2 stories that were home to about 50-200 people 1125 to 1400.