Grand Canyon Skywalk: Prices, directions and everything to know before you go
Scott Craven
The cable stretching from one tower to the next seems impossibly long, the ground below impossibly far away.
Yet your mind is too busy taking in the scenery — the rolling, scrubby terrain; the sheer canyon wall rising formidably in the distance — to consider any potential risks posed by racing down a cable while cradled in a lightweight fabric harness.
Suddenly you’re off, picking up speed as the cable hums under spinning wheels. Rushing air steals the silence while the landscape floats by. You've barely time to admire the view when the landing pad races toward you. You throw your legs high and brace for the stop, going from soaring to zero in a matter of seconds.
Grand Canyon Skywalk at a glance: Prices, directions, when to go
This remote zipline is at Grand Canyon West, which also boasts the Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass walkway perched a few thousand feet above the canyon floor.
At Grand Canyon West, travelers also can ride a helicopter that flies below the rim or challenge a mechanical bull in a faux Old West town. The attractions are part of a complex that includes an airport, cabins, rafting and more. In 2017, Grand Canyon West drew more than 1 million visitors. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Grand Canyon West.
Arriving and buying tickets
Security guards usher drivers into the large parking lot in front of the Welcome Center, an inflated white dome that looks as if it's protecting a practice field.
Here you'll buy tickets for activities and attractions, starting with the Legacy pass ($50), a mandatory purchase that admits you to Grand Canyon West, specifically the Eagle Point, Guano Point and Hualapai Ranch areas. The pass also is your ticket to shuttle buses, which arrive every 10-15 minutes at the four stops.
Other activities cost extra, including the Skywalk ($20), the zipline ($40) and helicopter tours ($145-$263). Packages also are available that include meals or specialized tours.
TIP: Save time by purchasing admission online. You’ll still need to visit the Welcome Center, but only to pick up your tickets.
Grand Canyon Skywalk (no cameras allowed!)
This is Grand Canyon West's premier attraction. Get off the shuttle at Eagle Point and head toward the visitor center housing the Skywalk, a restaurant and gift shop.
With ticket in hand, your first stop is a set of lockers where you must stow all belongings, including phones and cameras. The ban on cameras has drawn many complaints on travel review sites from people upset at having to buy photos taken by official Skywalk photographers. Photo packages start at $16.
Once your gear is stowed and you've slipped the free protective booties over your shoes, you're free to stay on the Skywalk for as long as you like. Enjoy the vertigo-inducing view where five layers of glass stand between you and the rock shelf 2,000 feet below.
Mornings are the best time to go, before the tourists from Las Vegas start to arrive at 11 a.m. The low-lying sun lights up the canyon walls, giving you a clear picture of the breathtaking drop.
Afternoon brings shadows to the canyon, the view beneath your feet obscured by reflections in the glass. The lighting, however, is more dramatic along the rest of the canyon, bringing out textures not readily seen in the morning or early afternoon.
Grand Canyon Zipline
Grand Canyon West zipline adventure includes two courses. Riders first glide down a 1,100-foot cable before ascending a second tower for a 2,100-foot ride with a slightly steeper pitch. Each course consists for four cables, so launches typically are in groups of four.
You start at the zipline storefront in Hualapai Ranch, about 4 miles south of the Skywalk. After signing a waiver, you're weighed (riders must weigh between 90 and 275 pounds) and fitted with a harness and helmet. A 5-minute bus ride goes to the first tower, a 40-foot-tall structure overlooking a wide ravine.
The launch crew clips riders onto their lines and sends them on a flight lasting roughly 35 seconds. Workers fetch ladders and lower riders from the zipline as the next group clips on.
The second tower, 10 feet taller than the first, rises adjacent to the landing pad. The launch procedure repeats and soon riders are soaring over a side canyon, a 50-second flight more scenic than the first.
Once everyone has landed, they board an ultra-terrain vehicle back to the bus. If it’s raining and the trail becomes slick, riders will have to hike out. The half-mile trail is steep at first, but evens out after a few hundred feet.
The experience takes about 50 minutes including the bus rides, though officials hope to have that down to 30 minutes by summer as workers become more accomplished at getting riders on and off the ziplines.
Helicopter tours
Helicopters are plentiful at Grand Canyon West, where tourists take advantage of one of the few places in the Grand Canyon where pilots are allowed to fly below the rim. (It's prohibited inside Grand Canyon National Park.)
The whine of engines melds with the thrum of rotors beating against the air as helicopters take off and land every few minutes at the airstrip.
Tours range from 12 minutes to 2½ hours, and some include a landing inside the Grand Canyon. One of the most popular is the Helicopter/Pontoon tour, a 10-minute flight into the canyon, a 15-minute boat ride on the Colorado River and a flight back to the airport.
Horseback rides
Head into the Trading Post at Hualapai Ranch to sign up for a horseback ride. Times range from 10 minutes (trotting around the arena) to a 90-minute trail ride. Riders head along a wide, level trail to a spot overlooking the West Rim.
Even those who have never been on a horse will feel comfortable thanks to a slow and steady pace. Experienced trail bosses lead the way, ensuring everything goes well.
Riders must be age 7 old or older, and those younger than 18 must wear a helmet and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Riders cannot weigh more than 250 pounds.
Colorado River rafting
Hualapai River Runners offers one- and two-day trips that launch from Peach Springs (91 miles south) and include a helicopter flight out of the canyon.
On the Grand Tour, you’re flown into and out of the canyon, with a 21-mile raft trip down the Colorado River in between. The journey takes just three hours from check-in to return.
Rafting season runs March 15-Oct. 31.
Sightseeing
Eagle Point
This overlook is on the edge of a cliff that plunges thousands of feet into a side canyon. Look toward a jagged ridge opposite the Skywalk to see the formation for which the point is named. An eagle, its wings outstretched as if landing, has been carved into the rock by wind and water over the eons.
Those fearful of heights stay far from the precipice, while braver visitors creep to the border between level terrain and nothingness.
If you approach the edge, be cautious. One misstep can be disastrous. With nothing between you and few-thousand-foot drop, the view is more frightening than that from the Skywalk, with its railings and barriers.
Guano Point
Named for a failed, mid-20th-century attempt to mine bat guano (structures from the effort still remain), Guano Point offers the best view at Grand Canyon West.
Guano Point sits at the tip of a small peninsula jutting into the canyon. A quarter-mile walk over a land bridge takes you to an overlook with an intimate look inside the canyon.
The Colorado River snakes in and out through majestic cliffs, as if in a game of hide and seek. The water is so close, you’ll be able to see rafts floating by.
Layered ridges towering over the canyon floor catch the light in ways that provide the kind of texture and depth not found at the higher South Rim, the Grand Canyon’s most popular destination.
Native American Village
A paved path takes visitors on a tour of traditional Native American structures. Several Southwestern tribes are represented, including Navajo, Hopi and Havasupai. Each structure is open to the public.
A nearby stage hosts groups performing traditional music and dance. Native American people from throughout the Southwest participate. After the performance, linger and ask questions. It's a great opportunity to learn more about the region’s rich cultures.
Hualapai Ranch
Built to resemble a frontier town, Hualapai Ranch includes a restaurant, gift shop and “saloon” that serves ice cream, coffee and smoothies. The ranch also is the launching point for trail rides and the zipline.
In keeping with the Western theme, visitors may ride a mechanical bull, face one another in a quick-draw contest, and rope a (stationary) steer.
The hidden gem is the free magic show, where illusionist Mark Crowe performs close-up tricks for anyone dropping by. His deft moves and sleight of hand with cards and coins are remarkable. Whether the personable Crowe is performing for one person or 20, his enthusiasm shows.
Where to eat
Sa’ Nyu Wa Restaurant
Perched just above the Skywalk, the Sa’ Nyu Wa Restaurant offers a great view in the confines of a solid structure.
The menu covers all the bases with salads, sandwiches, steaks, fish and vegetarian dishes. Appetizers are $8-$14, entrees are $14-$36. Sandwiches and burgers are $10-$18. Beer and wine are available, and customers are limited to two drinks.
The restaurant offers a great vantage point for taking photos of the Skywalk. Just know that only diners are allowed inside, and leaning over customers seated by the windows is frowned upon. Meal tickets are not accepted at Sa' Nyu Wa.
Restaurant at Hualapai Ranch
The dining hall serves the basics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast features pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage, while lunch and dinner offer a barbecue-style meal, often with chicken and a vegetable. Those who bought a package with a meal ticket may redeem it here.
Tables are arranged in the large, rectangular room adorned with Western gear and memorabilia. The dining hall stays open overnight for guests of Hualapai Ranch cabins, providing self-serve soft drinks and coffee.
Snack bars and delis
Enjoy grab-and-go food at the Welcome Center, Eagle Point and Guano Point. Each location accepts meal tickets for those who purchased them.
Lodging
Hualapai Ranch cabins
With the addition of 18 new cabins in November 2018, there now are 31 cabins from which to choose at Hualapai Ranch. All but two of the cabins are designed for two people; the other two can accommodate up to eight people. The new cabins also have microwaves and refrigerators.
There are no TVs, but the Wi-Fi signal is robust enough to stream movies. The Wi-Fi is not secured, however, so use it cautiously.
Guests receive a free cooked-to-order breakfast at the Hualapai Ranch restaurant, which remains open overnight for coffee and soft-drink self service.
The next closest accommodations are in Peach Springs to the southeast and Kingman to the southwest. Each is more than an hour away.
Shuttle bus
Air-conditioned buses arrive about every 10 to 15 minutes at four stops: the Welcome Center, Hualapai Ranch (ziplines), Eagle Point (Skywalk) and Guano Point, in that order.
The hop-on, hop-off system is easy and efficient, allowing you to stay as long as you want at each stop. You must have a Legacy Pass to board.
Tips for visitors
Buy tickets online. This can save a lot of time when you check in at the Welcome Center, where lines can be lengthy. Present your credit card and receive your tickets with no need to peruse the menu of activities and prices.
Arrive early. Grand Canyon West is relatively uncrowded until 10 or 11 a.m., when most visitors from Las Vegas arrive.
If you're coming from Las Vegas, as 90 percent of visitors do, plan on a 2½-hour drive from the Strip. Renting a car allows you to set your own schedule, giving you more freedom to explore.
Most companies that offer tours from Las Vegas allow 3-4 hours at Grand Canyon West, resulting in an 11-12-hour day. Prices typically are $200-$400. Make sure you know exactly what admissions, meals and activities are included in your package.
Grand Canyon West is about a five-hour drive from Phoenix, much of it along two-lane roads.
Grand Canyon National Park is a separate entity from Grand Canyon West and the South Rim of the national park is more than four hours away from Grand Canyon West.
You can add a casual meal to your Legacy Pass for about $10, but the view from Sa’ Nyu Wa Restaurant is worth the extra expense. The dining room overlooks the Skywalk and only customers are allowed in.
Have Skywalk photographers take photos of you and your family. There's no obligation to purchase, but you may see one worth taking home. Photo packages start at $16.
If you’re considering a splurge, take a below-the-rim helicopter flight. Such flights are prohibited in Grand Canyon National Park.
Getting to Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas
Grand Canyon West is about 170 miles from Las Vegas.
From the Strip, head south on Interstate 15 to I-215, which transitions to U.S. 93 as you approach Boulder City. Continue on U.S. 93 as it crosses the Colorado River. (Many tour buses stop at Hoover Dam as part of daylong trips to Grand Canyon West.)
Once in Mohave County, Ariz., turn left (east) on Pierce Ferry Road. Follow that for 30 miles to Diamond Bar Road, turn right and in less than 20 miles you'll see the white dome of the Grand Canyon West Welcome Center.
Mind your speed, especially when you reach the Hualapai Reservation. Tribal officers often are parked in unmarked pickup trucks. As you approach the Welcome Center, the speed limit is 35 mph. A radar-enabled sign outside Hualapai police helps you keep to that.
Getting to Grand Canyon West from Phoenix
Grand Canyon West is about 270 miles from central Phoenix.
Take Interstate 17 north to State Route 74 (Lake Pleasant Road), then U.S. 60 west to Wickenburg, where you go north on U.S. 93. When you reach Interstate 40, go west to Kingman. Get off at Stockton Hill Road (Exit 51) and head north for 41 miles to Pierce Ferry Road. Turn right and go 7 miles to Diamond Bar Road. In less than 20 miles you’ll see the white dome of the Grand Canyon West Welcome Center.
Once you’re on Stockton Hill Road, drive carefully. It’s a two-lane country road from Kingman to Grand Canyon West and the signs warning of cows on the road aren’t lying. You may well pass a carcass or two.
Cell service
Verizon subscribers should find a steady signal. Those with other providers may experience dead zones.
How much it costs
Admission to Grand Canyon West can be expensive and confusing. These prices include tax and are rounded to the nearest dollar. Purchasing your admission online in advance will save you time at the Welcome Center.
Everyone must purchase a $50 Legacy Pass. The ticket is good for admission to the grounds and shuttle buses. It does not include admission to the Skywalk.
The cheapest Skywalk ticket is $72 and includes the Legacy pass.
An $82 Legacy Gold pass includes admission, the Skywalk and a meal.
The best bang-for-your-buck purchase is a Legacy Pass plus admission to the Skywalk ($22) and the zipline ($43) for a total of $115.
For a splurge, the Hualapai VIP tour for $333 includes a tour guide and private transportation, the Skywalk, a meal and a Native American gift.
Helicopter tours range from $145 (a 15-minute flight above the rim) to $263 (flights to and from the Colorado River with a 90-minute boat ride in between).
The popular Helicopter/Pontoon tour costs $202. Take a 10-minute flight into the canyon, board a pontoon boat for a 15-minute ride on the river, then a 10-minute flight back to the airstrip.
Want to stay the night? A room in a cabin at Hualapai Ranch is $141.90. Be sure you reserve a cabin and not a room at Hualapai Lodge, two hours away in Peach Springs.
These can be added to your Legacy Pass purchase:
Skywalk: $22.
Zipline: $43.
Horseback rides: $10.85 for 10 minutes (arena ride); trail rides cost $37.98 for 30 minutes, $59.68 for 60 minutes, $81.38 for 90 minutes.
Stagecoach ride: $16.28.
Mechanical bull: $5.50.
Best time to visit
Summer days are busiest and hottest (typically over 100 degrees from June through August). Any time of year, arrive as early as you can. The Skywalk and the overlooks at Eagle and Guano points are uncrowded until the Las Vegas crowd starts arriving by 10 or 11 a.m.
Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on summer days, it’s not unusual to wait more than an hour in the ticket line. If you’re at the Skywalk shortly after it opens at 7 a.m., you’ll find peace and solitude that will be long gone in a couple of hours.
Noise
It’s impossible to escape the drone of helicopters at the Welcome Center. With tours constantly departing from the Grand Canyon West airstrip next door, engines supply background noise most of the day.
Once you get to Guano Point or Eagle Point (home of the Skywalk), helicopters buzz by every five minutes or so, sometimes two or three at a time. Still, they are thousands of feet below and not loud enough to interrupt conversations. After a while they’re easy to ignore.
Alcohol
Alcohol is prohibited, save for the beer and wine you may order at Sa’ Nyu Wa Restaurant. Customers are limited to two drinks.
Security
Members of the security staff usher you into the Welcome Center parking lot, look after everyone's safety and make sure guests stick to approved areas. A security gate blocks access to roads leading to Eagle and Guano points. Only shuttle and tour buses are allowed on those roads.
Restrooms
Bathrooms are clean and well-maintained, including the facilities in trailers parked at Guano Point and Hualapai Ranch. The men’s stalls in those trailers are uncomfortably small, with about the same legroom as airline seats in coach.
No pets
Pets are prohibited on the grounds and may not be left in cars. Service animals with proper documentation are allowed.
The perfect day at Grand Canyon Skywalk
Do these things in the order listed to make the best use of your time.
Skywalk at Eagle Point. The glass walkway earned international attention when opened 10 years ago. If you visit Grand Canyon West and leave without stepping onto the Skywalk, it’s like going to the Louvre and ignoring the Mona Lisa. Estimated time: 20 minutes.
The cliffs of Eagle Point. The earth vanishes over the edge and plummets straight down thousands of feet. No guard rails, no one telling you to back up. Peer over the edge at your own risk for a view far more thrilling (and scarier) than looking down from the secure confines of the Skywalk. 20 minutes.
Native American Village at Eagle Point. Follow the path to see examples of Native American structures, including homes and sweat lodges. 10 minutes.
Guano Point. As the shuttle approaches, you’ll see the hulking ruins of an ill-fated guano mine. Past the metal tower and assembly of girders that resemble an AT-AT from Star Wars is the best view at Grand Canyon West. 30 minutes.
Zipline at Hualapai Ranch. Glide over a ravine and canyon on two ziplines, then hop a bus back to the starting point. 50 minutes.
Magic show at Hualapai Ranch. Magician Mark Crowe performs close-up illusions in an intimate setting. The free show will amuse and confound. 15 minutes.
Grand Canyon Discovery tour. Board a helicopter that dips 3,500 feet below the rim. You’ll land 300 feet above the Colorado River for a unique view before returning to the airstrip. 40 minutes.
Total time and cost: 3 hours, 30 minutes; $230 per person.
Activities kids will like
Zipline: You're clipped to a cable and sent soaring over a canyon. What's not to love?
Helicopter flights: How many chances will your kid have to fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter? It's pricey, but will be a lifelong memory.
Quick-draw contest: Opponents stand on either side of a transparent protective shield in the middle of Main Street at Hualapai Ranch. After a quick tutorial from the professional gunslinger, competitors draw and fire blanks. The loser may choose to grimace and fall to the ground, muttering, "You got me." This activity is free.
Skywalk: Yes, it's perfectly safe for your children to jump up and down on the glass. Just remember that freaking out will only encourage them.
Riding a mechanical bull: Older children may want to take a spin on the tilting, whirling bull at Hualapai Ranch. Just don't taunt the bull-master at the controls.
Root Beer Saloon: The shop at Hualapai Ranch specializes in ice-cream concoctions.
Guano Point: Breathtaking scenery awaits, as do cliffs that drop thousands of feet straight down. So keep your eyes on your kids and position your selfies safely.