Montezuma's Castle

Heading south out of Flagstaff for Montezuma's Castle (Learn more here) the sign beside the road said, 6% grade for 18 miles!!!  Rte 17 was the least drastic of the routes because 89A zigzagged down the canyon wall into Oak Creek Canyon dropping 2500 feet in the matter of a couple of miles!

Rt 17 South from Flagstaff

Going south on 89A was a wild ride in the car,
so we headed south on a the more sedate (ha) route . Photos of downhill grades cannot give you the actual affect of the ride, but I try.

And a lot of gawking to the west at Red Rock Area

Rt 17 Heading down for 18 Miles

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Looking West to the walls of Oak Creek Canyon

West to the Red Rock region around Sedona.

So, we did it, we made it down the 18 mile downhill run and turned onto Camp Verde Road that was labeled Montezuma's Castle Road on my Iphone Maps.  It was okay, regardless of the road name, the blue dot was still on the green line.  Ha! Such is life.

Two left turns takes you to the entry road for Montezuma's Castle National Monument.  By the way, it's good to call ahead, they only have parking for three large rigs or buses defined by red pavement. 

Cresting the hill before the Monument ridges of cliffs rise on the horizon, I immediately assumed that they were part of the Monument, but staff advised us that these were not part of the Monument area and that people did not live in the visible holes in those cliffs.  Oh well, I had the same problem looking at cliffs near the Gila Cliff Dwellings north of Silver City, NM.  

One fourth of the way in from the left you see a couple of dark spots on the cliff, these turn our to be part of the community.

It's only a third mile hike into the Monument, with views of it immediate as soon as you step out of the Visitor Center: The Visitor Center had an excellent interpretative displays inside and out.

Montezuma's Castle

I've been looking for cottonwood trees everywhere since my western reading always referred to the cottonwoods by the creek.  Well, I was excited thinking I finally was seeing Cottonwoods, Aha!  Sycamore, and the Naturalist said that she did not believe that they could cohabitate.

It was lovely in this serene creekside area, sitting allowed for the stillness to grow within.

Sedona and Cottonwood AZ = Getting to know you.

Todays destination was Sedona and Cottonwood, AZ via  Route 89A out of Flagstaff that takes you through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona, or rather through a journey of amazement from 7000 feet elevation to 3000 feet in a matter of minutes through a zig and zag down the canyon walls.
Click here to learn more about Oak Creek Canyon.

A few views of the canyons walls from the bottom of Oak Creek Canyon.

Oak Creek Canyon delivers you to Sedona, long known as the home of very early people that dwelled in the cliffs nearby,  Red Rocks Area, Red Rocks Climbing Area, and as a Healing Vortex  This mix of culture, history, healing, adventure and beauty bring millions of visitors a year to a town with a population of 10,000 year round residents.  In this small town, big tourist area the area explodes with activity as people come seeking the wide variety of options the area offers.  Today, as spring exploded in the natural landscape and in the cultivated.  Early leaves sprung from the trees and shared a bit of love while poppies and other flowers graced the walkways.

 Every direction in Sedona provides breathtaking views.  From one of the several Free Public Parking areas, I captured the surrounding landscape.  Throughout the area, the homes and businesses are either of the red rock or constructed of materials that blend with the red rock.

 This is just the beginning of saying "hello" to Sedona.  Click here for more on Sedona

Ah, I almost forgot.  Food!  It's everywhere.  While chatting with the folks at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Palace brochure jumped off the rack.  Since Ted would prefer not eating another taco or enchilada right now, he agreed.  Great spring rolls with shrimp and chicken and a plum dipping sauce, followed with salad with ginger dressing, Coconut Soup with ginger, mushrooms, lime, chicken and other unknown spices and brown rice (mine with peanut sauce, Ted with a bit of soy sauce.)  The taste and the lingering after taste were delicious.  We ate in the covered outdoor patio because of heavy winds, the open outdoor patio offered a delightful fountain area.