Grand Canyon West is located approximately 120 miles east of Las Vegas, NV, and 72 miles northwest of Kingman, AZ.
Are there commercial tours to the Grand Canyon Skywalk from Las Vegas, Phoenix or Sedona?
There are more than 30 tour and transportation companies that service Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas by airplane, helicopter, motorcoach bus, SUV, and Hummer. In addition, Park and Ride services are available from Dolan Springs, Ariz., a one-hour drive from Las Vegas.
Follow these links to find tour companies that'll be happy to help you make your vacation plans:
Currently (2009), there are no one-day commercial driving tours from cities other than Las Vegas because the round-trip length from Phoenix, Sedona or Flagstaff exceeds the drive-time limits set by the Arizona Department of Transportation. However, helicopter tours are very likely to be more and more available. Check thecanyon.com often for updates.
If you drive yourself, be prepared for the 15 miles unpaved and bumpy drive on Diamond Bar Road as you approach the Grand Canyon West airport. You will be directed to park your car at the airport and ride the hop-on-hop-off shuttle, included in the base tour package price of ~$50/per person.
What are the hours of operation for Grand Canyon Skywalk?
Access to The Skywalk runs from dawn to dusk. Winter hours October 15 - April 30 are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Summer hours May 1 - October 15 are 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Grand Canyon West is open year-round.
I've seen a lot of conflicting information on the Web and in the media about ticket prices. What is the real price of the Grand Canyon Skywalk admission?
We've seen conflicting information, too. Here is the real story:
First, be sure to factor in the price of admission to Grand Canyon National Park.
Entrance to the park is $25 per private vehicle. Fees for commercial bus / tour passengers vary. Admission is for seven days and includes all three rims; North, South & West. There are no refunds due to inclement weather. U.S. residents aged 62 or older may obtain a Golden Age Passport for a one-time fee of $10.00. What this means: If you've also been to the South or North Rim within the same 7-day period as your visit to the West Rim, you likely will have already paid this fee, received the Park Pass for your vehicle and you won't need to pay for park entrance again.
Next, if you cannot or choose not to drive the 14 miles of unpaved Diamond Bar Road yourself - especially if you have an RV (cannot drive it) or a low-clearance vehicle (should not drive it) - you may park your car in Dolan Springs, Arizona - where the Grand Canyon West Welcome Center is. You can then use the Park and Ride Coach Service.
Reservations are required. Call or email reservations to reserve your round trip seat on the Park and Ride service. The fee is $10.00
cash per person, and payable to the driver. Reservations: 877-716-WEST (9378) Email: reservations@destinationgrandcanyon.com
Once you arrive at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, you'll have the opportunity to meet with a tour operator and select a tour package.
The packages are priced as follows:
The Spirit Package - $49.95 + 7% tax + $1 fuel surcharge per adult ($54.45): This basic entry package is the minimum required package. Children ages 4 to 11* -$31.22 plus tax and fees ($34.41). This Spirit package DOES NOT include walking on the Skywalk.
*Children must be at least 4 years old to walk on the Skywalk.
The basic package and every other upgraded package includes the park-and-ride hop-on-hop-off shuttle, other attractions like Hualapai Ranch, Eagle Point, Guano Point, Native American performances at the amphitheater and more. Your choice of hot lunch or take-and-go lunch is also included.
The Sky Package - $74.95 per adult ++ ($81.20): This is the least-expensive package that includes the Skywalk. Along with the basic inclusions above, the Sky Package also includes admission to walk out on the Skywalk itself. (same for both adults and children) (Children 4 -11 $56.22++: $61.16)
The Explorer Package - $109.95 per adult ++ ($112.02): Along with the basics plus the Skywalk, this package also offers your choices of either one horseback ride or one Hummer tour. Children's prices are not posted on the Grand Canyon West website.
The Journey Package - $109.95 per adult ++ ($213.93): Along with the basics plus the Skywalk, this package also includes both a helicopter ride that lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and a pontoon boat ride up and down the Colorado River. Children's prices are not posted on the Grand Canyon West website.
How many people are allowed on the Skywalk at one time?
One hundred and twenty people will be allowed on the glass bridge at a time. Admittance is first come, first serve for walk up visitors; however, reservations can be made to help shorten wait times.
Do I need advance reservations?
Reservations are not required for the day package itself. However, reservations can reduce waiting time and tickets are available at Will Call. Reservations are needed for an overnight package at the Hualapai Lodge or the Hualapai Ranch.
Are there long lines?
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is the newest attraction at the Grand Canyon and is very popular. You may find significant lines for the shuttle busses as well as for the wait to walk on the Skywalk. You'll be most comfortable and happiest if you have accurate expectations and are prepared to wait in lines. See next question for suggestions on how to maximize your comfort at the Grand Canyon West Rim.
What should I wear and what should I bring?
Bring a water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, and wear appropriate clothing (wind-resistant, cool in the summer and warm layers in the winter.)
Grand Canyon West issues numbered shoe covers -- in order to avoid scratches and slipping - to each visitor that enters the open-air walkway.
Do bring a camera to capture your experiences on top of the rim, though
you will not be able to take a camera out on the Grand Canyon Skywalk itself.
Here are a few tips from real travelers and our friends at
Viator for getting the most enjoyment out of the Grand Canyon Skywalk experience:
"Bigger than expected crowds are making their way to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim each day, and they’re finding they need to be well prepared in order to enjoy this amazing new attraction. In that spirit, here are Viator’s suggestions on what to take along to make your Skywalk experience truly memorable:
- A little patience! And maybe your iPod… waits in line of over an hour are common.
- Bottled water [and snacks]. You can’t buy [water] on site yet, and you will get thirsty. [Visitors report long lines for the meal included in the ticket price. Again, be patient and pack a snack for this day-trip.]
- Sunscreen and a hat. There’s very little shade in the desert, and the sun can really burn out here.
- Comfortable shoes and light clothing. Spring and summer are hot in the desert. How hot? HOT!
Skywalk is a unique and wonderful attraction, but to make sure you remember it for all the right reasons, be sure to follow our advice." -- From the Viator Travel Blog
Read more about the Grand Canyon Skywalk at our Arizona Travel blog search "Skywalk."
Are cameras allowed on the Grand Canyon Skywalk? How can I get a good picture?
Cameras are NOT allowed on the glass bridge of the Grand Canyon Skywalk as to avoid accidental fumbling and risking damage to the glass or your camera in any way. Lockers are available.
Two ways to get a good picture: 1) You can have someone on the rim take your photo on the glass walkway. 2) A photo opportunity with authentic Hualapai Tribe members is also included in every tour package; photos can be purchased afterward.
Is the Grand Canyon Skywalk wheelchair accessible?
Currently, the glass bridge of the Skywalk is not wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair ramp will be completed by the end of 2007
(update: February 2008 - No update to ADA accessiblity has been made available on the Grand Canyon Skywalk's official website nor the Destination Grand Canyon website.) Currently, visitors capable of walking may make special advance arrangements to be escorted on the Skywalk.
Is there a time-limit once you're out on the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
Currently, you can spend as much time as you want on the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon. Guests enter and exit the walkway via temporary buildings while the adjacent visitors center is being completed.
Is lodging available on the West Rim?
Overnight
Grand Canyon West Rim lodging can be reserved at the Hualapai Lodge or Hualapai Ranch. Like most visitors, we recommend you stay in nearby areas like the following:
Las Vegas hotels and lodging
Grand Canyon Lodges at the South Rim
Hotels, motels or bed & breakfasts in Tusayan or Williams near the South Rim
Hotels and bed & breakfasts in Sedona or
Flagstaff
What else is there to do at the Grand Canyon West Rim besides the Skywalk?
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is the centerpiece of the West Rim. Additional attractions available at Grand Canyon West include The Indian Village with authentic dwellings, Guano Point, The Hualapai Market, a western town replica called The Hualapai Ranch, and a 250-seat amphitheater. While a basic "Spirit" package (priced at $49.95 per adult) that provides entrance to the West Rim and admission to all of the above attractions
excluding the Grand Canyon Skywalk
is available, most West Rim visitors come to walk on the Skywalk. Therefore these extra attractions serve as a good bonus to round out your full-day tour to the West Rim. Again,
more pricing information is above.
In addition to walking out on the glass Grand Canyon Skywalk, other Grand Canyon activity packages are available. You can create your own package and add-on a pontoon boat ride on the Colorado River, a helicopter rides from Grand Canyon West Airport to the bottom of the Grand Canyon or horseback riding along the rim. Hummer tours are also available along the rim of the canyon and through private areas that are otherwise inaccessible to the public. All these add-on activities are operated by and can be booked through the Hualapai Tribe onsite at Grand Canyon West or online at destinationgrandcanyon.com.
What are the future development plans for the Grand Canyon West Rim?
Located at Grand Canyon West's Eagle Point, The Skywalk facility will also include a 6,000 square-foot visitor's center on three levels -- underground, first story and second story -- which will contain a museum, movie theater, VIP lounge, gift shop, and several restaurants and bars, including a high-end restaurant called The Skywalk Cafe that will offer outdoor patio and rooftop seating on the edge of the canyon. The second story will be where visitors can access The Skywalk glass walkway. The visitor's center will also offer private indoor and outdoor facilities for meetings, special events and weddings.
Construction has begun for the Skywalk lookout building. Once completed, the lookout will house several restaurants and shops for visitors. The building is expected to be completed by early 2008.
Information about the Hualapai Tribe, owners & operators of Grand Canyon West:
The Hualapai Tribe, consisting of approximately 2,000 Hualapai members, owns nearly one million acres of land throughout the Grand Canyon's western rim. The capitol of the Hualapai Reservation is Peach Springs, Arizona. The Hualapai are a native people of the Southwest. Traditionally they inhabited an area of more than five million acres. Their homeland stretched from the Grand Canyon Southward to the Bill Williams and Santa Maria rivers, and from the Black Mountains eastward to the pine forests of the San Francisco Peaks. Primarily nomadic hunter-gatherers, the Hualapai were organized in bands. Each band occupied a defined territory in pursuit of seasonally-available wild plants and animals. Farming was also practiced in locations where adequate water was available.
Grand Canyon Skywalk Project - Construction of this unprecedented overlook:
Grand Canyon Skywalk began construction in early 2006. At 10 feet wide and jutting out 70 feet beyond its Grand Canyon cliff-side anchor, the glass walkway hovers 4,000 feet above the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is the brain-child of Las Vegas entrepreneur, David Jin.
The dream of the Skywalk was made reality thanks to a team of engineers, architects, designers, glass & steel manufacturers from all over the country and the globe. It was designed in cooperation by Las Vegas-based MRJ Architects, Lochsa Engineering, LLC and APCO Construction. The glass was manufactured in Germany and Austria by Saint Gobain, a European company that specializes in designing architectural structural glass for unique building projects worldwide. The steel was manufactured by Mark Steel in Utah.
The steel for the Grand Canyon Skywalk was fitted and welded together at the edge of the canyon. Then, a process called "Jack-and-Roll" was used to extend the bridge's cantilevered horseshoe-shaped steel piece over the edge of the Grand Canyon, jutting out half the length of a football field and hovering 4,000 feet over the Colorado River below.
The initial part of the rollout process involved jacking the structure up off of the supports and then subjecting the structure to several days of thorough tests that replicate the conditions of final placement. After the final testing was complete, the multi-million pound steel enforced structure was rolled out across the canyon's edge, taking multiple days. Immediately after the structure was in position, it was seated and attached to the foundation.
The official public opening of the Grand Canyon Skywalk was March 28, 2007. Prior to the public opening in March, Grand Canyon West hosted a "First Walk" event for media and VIPs. Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin was the first public figure to walk on the Skywalk in the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon Skywalk construction quick facts:
- Opened to the public on March 28, 2007
- Offers an unprecedented perspective of the Grand Canyon
- The floor of the walkway is made of thick, high-strength glass
- Could hold the weight of seventy-one 747 aircraft
- Can withstand 100+ mph winds
- One million pounds of steel in the frame
- Construction price tag: $30 million
