Grand Canyon Skywalk - A Grand Adventure
Grand Canyon West is not part of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation at the western Grand Canyon corridor about 120 miles east of Las Vegas and about 72 miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona. It is a tourist attraction along the Colorado River on the edge of the Grand Canyon in the U.S. state of Arizona.
Grand Canyon West is owned by the Hualapai Tribe. Consisting of approximately 2,000 Hualapai members, the tribe owns nearly one million acres of land throughout the Grand Canyon’s western rim. The capitol of the Hualapai Reservation is Peach Springs; Ariz. Peach Springs is not far from Kingman, Arizona and is on Route 66.
Located at Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, the new Grand Canyon Skywalk opened to the public on March 28th, 2007. The structure, consisting of a U-shaped cantilevered glass bridge jutting 70 feet past the rim of the Grand Canyon, was dreamt up by Las Vegas businessman David Jin while taking part in a Grand Canyon tour in 1996.
The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway, at 1,219 meters height above the floor of the canyon exceeds those of the world’s largest skyscrapers. The Skywalk is not directly above the main canyon, Granite Gorge, which contains the Colorado River. Instead it extends over a side canyon and affords a view into the main canyon.
Grand Canyon West is a travel destination that promotes the cultural experience of visiting the Hualapai Reservation and the striking views at the western rim of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon West is the place within the Grand Canyon where visitors can access the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon on a helicopter.
Grand Canyon West is accessible from Peach Springs via freeway and the infamous Diamond Bar Road. 14 miles of Diamond Bar Road are graded and maintained but not paved. RV’s will not be able to use that road. It is recommended to use the Park and Ride Coach Service for visitors driving RV’s and other low lying vehicles. Tours that include group transportation are usually most convenient since the area is in a remote wilderness region. There are no gas stations, convenience markets or fast food services at Grand Canyon West.
The basic tour at Grand Canyon West is the “Hualapai Legacy Tour” - this is the basic per person admittance to Grand Canyon West and costs $29.95 per person. With this ticket you will have access to all Points of interest. To go out on the Skywalk, it will cost an additional $29.95. Winter hours of operation at the Grand Canyon are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. As daylight extends, you will find the closing time extended. The summer hours from May 1st are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Visiting the Grand Canyon Skywalk is an amazing sensation which would be remembered by you through out your life.