Grand Cayyon Tour From Los Angeles With Take Tour Review

Is the Grand Canyon Skywalk Worth It?

Located on the West Rim of the One thousand Canyon, the Skywalk is an hands accessible viewpoint from Las Vegas. It looks and sounds thrilling…a glass walkway perched high higher up the coulee floor, offering spectacular views of the Grand Canyon. But is the Grand Canyon Skywalk worth it?

What to Expect at Thousand Canyon West and the Skywalk

How Much Does it Cost?

We visited Grand Coulee West and the Skywalk on Sun December 23, 2018. With information technology being a weekend 24-hour interval during a decorated holiday calendar week, we expected larger than normal crowds.

To save time, we purchased our tickets in advance. For our family of four, basic access tickets plus the added fee for the Skywalk (chosen Legacy Skywalk tickets) toll a whopping $286.28!!! That'south $66.90 per person plus $18.68 in taxes.

Recollect that'due south expensive? Prices have increased since our visit. I recommend checking the official website for updated pricing, simply currently these are the prices for visiting Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk (as of February 2022):

Grand Canyon W Entrance Fee: prices start at $49
Actress fee for the Skywalk (optional): prices start at $26
Thousand Total: $75

For a family of four, this adds up to $300, including tax.

This better be an astonishing experience for this price!

How to Go to the Skywalk

Nosotros drove out from Las Vegas, stopping along the way for a quick visit to Hoover Dam.

If yous drive directly from Las Vegas to K Coulee West, it takes two to 2.5 hours (130 miles). Most of the bulldoze is on a highway but the last 45 miles is on a two-lane paved road through small towns.

The Skywalk is non located in M Canyon National Park. It is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation and is endemic and operated by the Hualapai Tribe.

Once at Chiliad Canyon Westward, we parked in an enormous parking lot. The lot was filled and we had to expect in line in order to discover a parking spot.

Next to the parking lot is the Visitor Centre. If you did not buy your tickets in advance, you can buy them hither. The line for tickets was roughly a 30-minute await. Practiced thing nosotros bought ours in advance!

The Visitor Center is located several miles from the coulee and the Skywalk. The only mode to get to the Skywalk is by shuttle bus. You are not permitted to bulldoze to the Skywalk.

The line for the shuttle bus was very long every bit y'all can see from our photograph. Yet, they did accept shuttle buses running frequently and so we only had to wait for xv minutes.

The line for the shuttle bus at the Company Center.

Hawkeye Point

The shuttle bus drops you off at Eagle Point. This is a decent viewpoint over the canyon.

From here, yous can also see the Skywalk jutting out over the canyon.

We took a few photos at Eagle Point and and so headed to the Skywalk.

More Lines, More than "Surprises" at the Skywalk

We were shocked to encounter such a long line to get onto the Skywalk. It was and so long that we considered skipping it birthday. But we had come and then far, and paid so much, that information technology would exist dizzy to skip information technology.

Then, nosotros got in line.

And the line slowly trudged frontward.

While we waited, Native American women put on a show in the small amphitheater. Tim and Tyler took advantage of our waiting fourth dimension to get food at one of the small restaurants. They had to wait in some other long, slow moving line and information technology took them 45 minutes to get served overpriced, mediocre food.

By the way, you are not permitted to bring your ain food into 1000 Coulee West.

Native American show in the ampitheater.

A view of the line to enter the Skywalk.

It took us an 60 minutes and fifteen minutes to enter the Skywalk building.

In one case within, we had to wait in another brusque line. It was here that nosotros learned that no photography is permitted on the Skywalk. No cameras. No cellphones. All of your personal belongings need to exist stored in a free locker before walking onto the Skywalk.

So, we waited almost an 60 minutes and a half and just learned that photography was non allowed. I was extremely frustrated by this point (as were many other people in line).

We did not see whatever signs outside of the Skywalk building letting visitors know that photography is not permitted. Information technology's as well not readily stated on their website. They do mention "no photography" in the FAQ section of their website (that I read after our visit). Their reason for no photography: they state that information technology is for safety reasons and that they practice non want cameras and cell phones falling to the canyon below. But actually, I believe they are only trying to make more money.

How much coin? It costs $17 for a single photo and $69 for the photo package. At that place are photographers who will take your photograph on the Skywalk and y'all tin buy these at the terminate of your visit.

On the Skywalk

Before stepping foot onto the Skywalk, you lot will put shoe covers over your shoes to protect the drinking glass surface.

If you desire one of their photographers to take your photo on the Skywalk, you lot volition take to look in another line. On the 24-hour interval we did this, the await time for photos was 30 minutes.

We skipped the photo line and stepped out onto the Skywalk.

We have done like things in other places effectually the world. I do take to say that the glass floor of the Skywalk is very clear and information technology's actually cool to see the ground way beneath your feet. At other sites nosotros have been to, the glass is and then scratched upward that it'due south hard to see through. Not at the Skywalk. If you lot have a problem with heights, this could be challenging for you.

You lot should also know that the Skywalk does not hover 4,000 feet above the coulee every bit it is advertised on their website. The Skywalk sits higher up a minor plateau and then you are but 700 feet off the ground.

We spent about 10 minutes on the Skywalk. The view is nothing special. The reason to exercise this is for the experience of walking out on a platform suspended high off of the ground.

Guano Betoken

Once finished at the Skywalk, the shuttle takes yous to another viewpoint called Guano Point. Here, you tin enjoy more views of the coulee and hike on the rocks.

View from Guano Point

From Guano Point, the shuttle takes you to the Hualapai Ranch and so back to the Visitor Center.

Note: At that place are no direct shuttles from the Skywalk dorsum to the Visitor Center. Y'all must ride the shuttle to Guano Signal and Hualapai Ranch even if you exercise not plan to visit them.

Is the Skywalk Worth Information technology?

No. This unabridged experience was ane frustration after another. And to think that nosotros spent nearly $300 makes it fifty-fifty more than irritating.

I know that we visited during a holiday weekend when crowds are larger. But even without the lines, this experience does not deserve its huge price tag.

$300 is a lot of coin to spend for a family of iv, and that does not include meals or the photo package. Compare this cost tag with the $35 park entrance fee if y'all went to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon instead of the Skywalk.

I empathise that the Skywalk is not on national park land and then prices volition exist college for this attraction. I don't have a trouble with that. We are all for spending some coin, supporting the Hualapai Tribe, and visiting an extraordinary place in the process. The Skywalk is a neat way to concenter visitors to the Yard Canyon and it is a absurd experience, but it is overpriced for what you go.

West Rim View of the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Skywalk is advertised as a quick and easy day trip for visitors in Las Vegas to see the Chiliad Coulee. And it's a great idea, which is exactly why nosotros did it.

If you are in Las Vegas and accept never seen the Grand Canyon, this may be a solar day trip that you are considering.

Nevertheless, K Canyon Due west lacks the grandeur and awe-inspiring vistas that you run into in photographs. To go these views, yous need to head farther e.

If your simply view of the Grand Canyon was from the Skywalk and Grand Canyon West, you would be leaving with the incorrect impression of the Grand Canyon. Thou Coulee West simply does not have the same "wow" cistron you get on the South Rim.

An Alternative to the Skywalk

If you consider that information technology is a 2.5-hour drive to the Skywalk, with just two more hours of driving, you can exist standing on the South Rim with more spectacular views.

Pay your park entrance fee, walk to Mather Point from the Company Center, and savour this view.

The view from Mather Point, just a short walk from the K Canyon Company Center

Or check out these views from the South Rim.

The view from Powell Indicate

Mohave Point at sunrise

Another view of Mohave Signal

There is no comparison between the Due west Rim and the South Rim, in our opinion. And yous only demand to pay the $35 park entrance for your unabridged family (and information technology's good for seven days!). Worth it? Absolutely.

However, to brand a visit to the South Rim worthwhile, you need to programme to spend at least a few hours here. It tin be done as a mean solar day trip from Las Vegas, but yous volition spend most of the twenty-four hours in your motorcar (it takes iv.5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon). That is nine hours of driving in i mean solar day…doable but definitely a long day.

A better option is to spend the night at the Grand Canyon Village or in Tusayan and head back to Las Vegas (or continue your road trip) the next twenty-four hours. Of course, more fourth dimension is always better.

How to Make the Skywalk Worth It

If driving out the South Rim is not an option for you, I do believe that there are ways to make the West Rim and the Skywalk a worthwhile experience.

First of all, you take to know what to expect. Programme to wait in line and to know that you will non exist able to have your own photos on the Skywalk.

If you can, go hither early on in the day to avert the crowds.

Eat a big breakfast in Las Vegas earlier your drive out and have snacks in the auto for your drive back. Avoid eating at the slow, mediocre restaurants at Thou Canyon West.

Buy your tickets in advance. You will get to skip at to the lowest degree one line if yous do this.

Consider skipping the Skywalk. You will save $26 per person. And you tin can notwithstanding enjoy the view from Eagle Signal and Guano Betoken. Once on site, y'all tin purchase your Skywalk tickets within the Skywalk building if you modify your listen.

If you want to see photos taken from the Skywalk, click here.

Before you go, accept a look at the Oft Asked Questions section of the official website and then you don't have whatsoever surprises.

In Determination

If yous want jaw-dropping views of the Chiliad Canyon, skip the Skywalk and drive the actress ii hours to the South Rim. You lot'll have loads of amazing photos and a lot more than money in your wallet.

Grand Coulee West and the Skywalk would be worth it if they reduced the entrance fees and allowed photography on the Skywalk. Until then, the S Rim is the most accessible (and much more than spectacular) portion of the G Canyon to visit.

Merely if y'all are still interested in visiting Grand Canyon West and/or the Skywalk, hither are several highly rated tours from Las Vegas.

If y'all are in Las Vegas and looking for mean solar day trip ideas, take a look at these:

Exploring the Valley of Fire most Las Vegas

Two Fun, Short Hikes to practice in Red Stone Canyon

And if you are traveling equally a family unit, here are some ideas for things to do in Las Vegas:

15 Things to practice in Las Vegas with Teenagers

If y'all accept whatever questions near visiting the Grand Coulee Skywalk, or if you lot want to share your feel, let united states know in the comment section below.

If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, you can read all of our articles nearly the U.s. in our United States Travel Guide.

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