The legendary West Rim of the Grand Canyon is a 2 ½ hour, 125-mile drive from Las Vegas. It’s well worth the trip, whether you do the drive yourself, or go with a local tour bus. You’ll not only get to see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, along the way, but you’ll also view the legendary landscape of the Old West.
Getting There
You’ll want to leave early; there are hours at Grand Canyon West. These are the hours to keep in mind; from April 1 through August 31 Grand Canyon West is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. However, the last ticket sales are at 5:00 pm. From September 1 through March 31 it’s open from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm, and the last tickets are sold by 4:30 pm.
To get there by car, simply take Highway 95 east out of Las Vegas; just before Boulder City, it will become Highway 93. Go through Boulder City and cross over the Colorado River Bridge into Arizona. After driving 73 miles you’ll turn left onto Pearce Ferry Road; look for the big Grand Canyon Skywalk billboard. This will take you east through Dolan Springs. Next, look for the sign for Diamond Bar Road after about 31 miles, where you’ll turn right to the West Rim and the Skywalk.
Stops Along the Way
While the drive is 2 ½ hours, it will probably take you a little longer if you make a few stops along the way. You can’t see Hoover Dam as you drive across the Colorado bridge; however, if you stop before the Colorado Bridge, you can get to a parking lot where you can access the pedestrian walkway across the bridge for a magnificent view of Hoover Dam. By the way, the bridge is also magnificent engineering feat, soaring gracefully 900 feet above the river.
Likewise, Dolan Springs is located within a Joshua tree forest; Joshua trees are a unique and exotic opportunity for lots of Instagram-worthy pictures. To top it off, Dolan Springs is home to the Hemp Healthcare store; they sell high-end CBD oil and other hemp-based health products made from locally grown hemp. It’s a good place to stock up if you can’t get these items back home. The store is located just off Highway 93 on Pierce Ferry Road.
It’s also a good idea to grab a few snacks and gas up your vehicle while you’re in Dolan Springs.
Once You Get There
Parking is free at Grand Canyon West, however, private vehicles are not allowed past the parking lots into the park. Fortunately, there are shuttle buses that stop at the viewing points.
One important thing to note is, Grand Canyon West is owned by the Hualapai Tribe, as is the Skywalk. Any National Park entrance fees or passes don’t apply here, as this is tribal land. The Hualapai sell tour packages to view the Grand Canyon, so be prepared to spend some money, both for the shuttle bus and the Skywalk.
Remember, from April 1 through August 31 the last ticket sales are at 5:00 pm. From September 1 through March 31 the last tickets are sold by 4:30 pm.
The Skywalk
The Skywalk is at Eagle Point; it’s a beautiful, 10-foot wide horseshoe-shaped glass bridge extending 70-feet out over a 4,000-foot drop into the Grand Canyon. The glass is 2 ½ inches thick and is definitely sturdy enough to hold your weight; in fact, it’s said the bridge can hold 70 million pounds! Walking out onto the Skywalk can be a little scary, and it’s definitely exciting. Unfortunately, you can’t take personal items on the Skywalk, including cameras and cellphones. You’ll need to store your stuff in a locker inside the gift shop. The tribe says this is to protect the glass. However, you purchase a professional photograph after your Skywalk. The photos you can purchase are $16 for one printed photo or you can buy a USB drive for $69.90 with all of your souvenir digital photos.
Eagle Point
While the Skywalk is the most famous feature of Eagle Point, there is much more to see here. For one thing, there’s the rock that looks like an eagle. You can also witness the genuine Native American dances of the Hualapai; these are staged throughout the day at the sail-shaped amphitheater.
Likewise, you can explore the authentic Native American village for a glimpse into the traditional Native American lifestyle of this region. The Native American Village is a flashback to a simpler time when the Hualapai and other tribes were the sole inhabitants of this fascinating land. There are traditional houses, sweat lodges, and ovens, all built with native materials. It’s a timeless experience of North America few know of.
Guano Point
Projecting out into the Grand Canyon, this has to be one of the most stunning views; you can walk out onto the point and get an expansive, 360-degree view of the amazing Grand Canyon. Many believe this is absolutely the best place to really experience the grandeur of the canyon, and it certainly is among the best places to get out your camera.
During the 1930s, a guano cave was discovered; guano is bat poop, and it’s a highly prized, nitrogen-rich fertilizer. For the next 20 years, attempts were made, unsuccessfully, to mine the guano. The U.S. Guano Corporation bought the property, believing there were 100,000 tons of valuable guano inside this cave, and they built a $3.5 million aerial tramway to get to it. The tramway crossed 8,500 feet across the Canyon and 2,500 above the Colorado river.
However, by 1959, all of the guano exhausted, and an Air Force fighter jet crashed into the cables of the tramway, permanently disabling it. However, parts of the structure remain, as a sad reminder of the attempt to mine the Grand Canyon.
Guano Point is also the location of the Guano Point Cafe; you can enjoy a good meal here while dining near the dramatic, breathtaking edge of the Grand Canyon. As if the amazing view and a good meal are not enough to please, Guano Point is also the location of the Hualapai Market. This is a one of a kind shopping experience with many local Hualapai artisans offering handcrafted jewelry and other traditional wears. Here, you can also learn more about the Hualapai culture and way of life.
Hualapai Ranch
At the end of the day, there is Hualapai Ranch; this is a recreation of an Old West-style ranch. Here you can enjoy cowboy-style entertainment, including quick draw, roping demonstrations and horseback, and wagon rides. Finally, the Walapai Trading Post at the ranch sells everything from moccasins to cowboy hats and Old West-style toys. The Food Hall offers authentic, Western-style fare as well as bang-up entertainment, and you can stop into the Root Beer Saloon for ice cream and delicious cold beverages. Above all, this is the place to stay overnight at Grand Canyon West; you can rent a rustic log cabin.
The Zip Line
The most exciting entertainment available at the Hualapai Ranch has to be the Zip Line; rush 500 feet above a dramatic side canyon for 3,200 feet of heart-pumping fun. It’s an adrenaline rush! You are free to take your camera to capture your once in a lifetime ride on video. The cost of the Zip Line is $60.
River Tours
The Hualapai also offers river tours of Grand Canyon West; you’ll take a helicopter down to the floor of the canyon, and from there you’ll board a pontoon boat. The tribe offers a variety of river tour packages, some lasting just an hour, and other trips lasting up to 3 hours. River tours range in price from $158 to $251.
The Cost
Be prepared to spend money here; while parking outside is free, touring the West Rim is not. The least expensive pass is the Hualapai Legacy Day Pass for $44. This will give you access to the shuttle buses to Eagle Point, Guano Point, and the Hualapai Ranch. However, it does not give you access to the Skywalk. In order to experience the Skywalk, you’ll need to buy the Hualapai Legacy Skywalk ticket for $69. Unfortunately, you can’t buy a separate ticket just for the Skywalk.
The Hualapai Legacy Gold pass is $99. This entitles you not only to the shuttle buses, but also to the Skywalk and a meal.
The Grand Tour ticket is $251, and not only includes the Skywalk, but also a riverboat tour up to Separation Canyon. That includes the helicopter ride and a 21-mile boat ride to the legendary Separation Canyon where key events of the historic Powell Expedition occurred.
Finally, the Hualapai VIP pass costs $281; this will entitle you not only to the Skywalk, but you’ll also get your own personal Hualapai native guide, as well as a meal. At the end of the day, you’ll be presented with a Native American gift.
A visit to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon is a once in a lifetime experience, and best of all, it’s less than 3 hours away from the bright lights of Las Vegas.
