Grand Canyon Skywalk

The South Rim is the most developed area and where most of the tourists have traditionally gone.  The South Rim is open all year, though some facilities may be closed in winter.

The North Rim is your second choice.  It has fewer visitors and is closed to visitors in the winter.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located at the third point of access to the canyon… Grand Canyon West.  This is quite far from the other entrances.  The land here belongs to the Hualapai Nation Indian Tribe.  When we first saw pictures of the proposed bridge on the internet, we thought it was a hoax, but it is real.  It has been built, and it is operating.

This well publicized glass-bottomed bridge sweeps out 70 feet (20 meters) over the canyon in a horseshoe shape…. It’s suspended about 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) above the Colorado River.  If you think you might want to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk over the edge of the Grand Canyon, you will have to plan for this because it is so far from the South Rim.

Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk are actually closer to Las Vegas than to the South Rim.  It’s 242 miles (390 km) from the South Rim Visitor’s Center, so it’s too far for a quick visit from there.  It’s only 120 (190 km) miles from Las Vegas.  You can get day tours to the Grand Canyon Skywalk from a number of tour operators out of Las Vegas.

If you plan to drive yourself, you will need a high-clearance SUV or a 4-wheel drive vehicle because the last 18 miles (29 km) to the Skywalk are on unpaved and bumpy road.  It takes about 2 1/2 hours to drive there from Las Vegas.

You might be able to make it in a small car, but it is pretty rough.  If you are renting a car, we wouldn’t advise taking that sedan on this road.  It is not suitable for Recreational Vehicles (RVs) either.  If you are driving a small car or an RV, there is a “Park and Ride” shuttle service available at the Welcome Center.  There is about a $10 (7.5 Euros) fee for this shuttle.

To experience the Skywalk, you must purchase a visitation permit and a package of activities from the Hualapai.  The Skywalk fee is in addition to one of the packages, so the minimum cost to visit is about $70 (52 Euros).

They only allow 120 people on the Skywalk at any one time.  Access is first come, first served unless you have a reservation.  You will be provided with shoe covers which keep your shoes from scratching the glass… and also help keep you from slipping.

One thing you should know besides the high price of the tours is that no personal cameras are allowed on the bridge… in case you drop your camera and damage the glass.  Womens purses are also checked into lockers.

So if you want to walk OVER the Grand Canyon… visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk.  Just know what to expect and be prepared.