Grand Canyon Skywalk

[usd2bmd]

We are in the early stages of planning a trip out west. Since we are from the east coast and this may be the only time we get there we want to see as much as possible.
We are interested in the Grand Canyon Skywalk and wonder if others have done it and what you think. What is the cost and in your opinion is it worth it.
We will be stopping at other parts of the Grand Canyon as well.
Thanks

 

[wdwmom2]

I have been to the Grand Canyon, but before the Skywalk was around.

Can I just say that $79pp, and you can not take pictures, I would never do it!!!! I don't doubt that it is amazing, but I can find other amazing places to view the canyon without the monetary rip-off. That is my personal opinion, YMMV

http://www.grandcanyon.net/west-rim This site explains the different packages you can purchase.

 

[mom2rtk]

There are so many free ways to enjoy the Grand Canyon (well, close to free). We have been to both the north rim and the south rim and really enjoyed both visits.

If it's $79 with no pictures allowed, I'd be out. It would drive me nuts to be in such a gorgeous place and not be able to take photos.

Are you also doing other parks in the region? I would buy a pass and visit as many of the them as possible (Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches). It's an amazing area, and the Grand Canyon is just one small (but large ) piece of it.

Have a great trip!

 

[Cruisin]

You can enter the area around the Skywalk for a lesser fee but there is an extra charge if you want to access the Skywalk. I would not pay the extra fee to go on to the Skywalk area. It's crazy that you have to pay that much (I think it was about $30.00 per person extra) and you are not even allowed to bring your cell phone or a camera out there.

That being said, the area around there is very pretty and you can walk right up to the canyon edge without any barriers. We really enjoyed it......... well I did anyway, my husband not so much. He's very afraid of heights and wouldn't go very near to the edge

 

[Danauk]

I have been out on the skywalk. We did it as part of an all day helicopter package from Las Vegas with Sundance. Whilst I enjoyed it, it was not as impressive as I thought it would be as it does not go out as far into the canyon as I thought. There are photographers out there (the cameras are attached to poles) and you are not able to take your own cameras etc with you in case people drop things and scratch the glass floor. I am glad I have had the experience, but would not do it again. It was very comercial in that area and I prefer other areas of the canyon that I thought actually offered better views.

 

[bcla]

It's on the Hualapai Reservation in a section of the Grand Canyon that isn't quite as spectacular as the area around the North/South Rim villages. It's still the Grand Cayon, but we're talking maybe the difference between rapids and calm water on the Colorado River.

I understand that they finally paved the road, when before it was a washboard dirt road.

 

[Mkrop]

Guess I am in the minority but I thought it was super cool, I am glad that we did it. It is a bummer that you cant bring cameras and I wish I had paid the pricey photo package now to have that memory...and trust me I am cheap. I got nervous that there we no guardrails so on the Skywalk I felt that we could see the Canyon, beyond and below and feel safe.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Isn't the SkyWalk located hours away from where most people visit the Grand Canyon.
That would be a factor for me.
I don't think I would travel that far just to go on that thing.
I could never do it anyhow, because I have what is called Central Vertigo.

We visited the Grand Canyon, where Chevy Chase filmed, etc...
We did this from Sedona.
LOVED this vacation!
Very much recommend Sedona and Red Rock Country.

But, I do have to say that I found out just how BAD my central vertigo was when we did the Pink Jeep Tour from Sedona.
OMG!!!! Still glad I did it... There motto is true..... You Gotta Do It!
But, I swear, my vertigo kicked in for two or three weeks when I as much as went up or down a flight of stairs!!!

IMHO, seeing the Grand Canyon, illuminated at sunset, from a good overlook would be far better than this overlook.
THAT is a must.
That is where you really see the magesty and grandeur and scale of this area.
Hanging out over the thing just doesn't have that much of a draw for me.

PS: Those clear Emerald Waterfalls on the American Indian Reservation WOULD be a priority/consideration.
Sorry, I don't remember the name of them at the moment.
But, access is very difficult and limited.
Unless you are the very very hardy adventurer... An expensive helicopter transfer in and out would be a must.

 

[Mkrop]

We did the Pink Jeep Tour from Vegas and it did take several hours to get there.

 

[Capang]

We visited Vegas five years ago and went to the reservation where the skywalk is located. Total rip off. A fee to drive on to the reservation. Another 70-80 bucks a pop for seeing the Grand Canyon. This included a meal that came with only two choices of places to eat and no menu options. Skywalk was an extra $30 and no cameras or phones allowed. Of course they will take your pic for a fee. We skipped the skywalk and still we spent way more than we ever did on any other sightseeing trip. I agree with the others, go north or south rim or if you are in Vegas area (which is where most people that visit the skywalk are staying) take in any of the other more breathtaking sights. Red Rock Canyon is a national park and there is a small entry fee per car/van. Valley of Fire is spectacular. The Lake Mead area is gorgeous and a small fee per car. Just make sure wherever you go that you drink and take plenty of water and are prepared for the heat and terrain.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Isn't the SkyWalk located hours away from where most people visit the Grand Canyon.
That would be a factor for me.
I don't think I would travel that far just to go on that thing.
I could never do it anyhow, because I have what is called Central Vertigo.

We visited the Grand Canyon, where Chevy Chase filmed, etc...
We did this from Sedona.
LOVED this vacation!
Very much recommend Sedona and Red Rock Country.

But, I do have to say that I found out just how BAD my central vertigo was when we did the Pink Jeep Tour from Sedona.
OMG!!!! Still glad I did it... There motto is true..... You Gotta Do It!
But, I swear, my vertigo kicked in for two or three weeks when I as much as went up or down a flight of stairs!!!

IMHO, seeing the Grand Canyon, illuminated at sunset, from a good overlook would be far better than this overlook.
THAT is a must.
That is where you really see the magesty and grandeur and scale of this area.
Hanging out over the thing just doesn't have that much of a draw for me.

PS: Those clear Emerald Waterfalls on the American Indian Reservation WOULD be a priority/consideration.
Sorry, I don't remember the name of them at the moment.
But, access is very difficult and limited.
Unless you are the very very hardy adventurer... An expensive helicopter transfer in and out would be a must.

Having problems with my IPad. Actual response is below.

 

[jdb in AZ]

wishing upon a Star, you're thinking of Havasupai. the turquoise falls amazing. When I was much younger and in much better condition, I hiked all the way to Mooney Falls, which is another 3 miles past the campground. Loved that trip. Just a warning, if you don't have a reservation, the locals at the gate will make you turn around and hike back out, never mind how exhausted you are from hiking 12 miles to get to the campground.

As for the skywalk, no thanks.

 

[bcla]

We visited the Grand Canyon, where Chevy Chase filmed, etc...

You mean National Lampoon's Vacation? I don't think anything from the movie was actually filmed at Grand Canyon NP except for the exterior shots at the El Tovar Hotel (where they take off after taking cash from the register and leaving a check). The crash scene was filmed in Monument Valley Tribal Park on the Navajo Reservation.

Red Rock Canyon is a national park and there is a small entry fee per car/van. Valley of Fire is spectacular. The Lake Mead area is gorgeous and a small fee per car. Just make sure wherever you go that you drink and take plenty of water and are prepared for the heat and terrain.

I'm a stickler, so Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is not technically a national park or under NPS jurisdiction. It's a Bureau of Land Management area. Valley of Fire is Nevada state park. Lake Mead National Recreation area is under NPS jurisdiction. If you have a valid "America the Beautiful" interagency pass, you'll have access to Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mean, as well as other NPS, Forest Service, BLM, and other US government recreation sites. It won't get you in the Valley of Fire. Apparently a lot of state parks deal with people who complain that their passes aren't accepted at state parks.

 

[xlxo]

Hmm...

• yes, the price is very high for something that's over in minutes. They have hired photographers there. Instead of working with just one photographer, I get a photo from each one to get a variety of skills.
• my fav way of experiencing the West Rim is to do it by land, sea, and air from Vegas bus.
  http://www.papillon.com/grand-canyon-west-rim/west-rim-tours/over-the-edge-helicopter-and-boat
• You might also want to check out the South Rim. I forgot which South Rim tour company I went with from Vegas by bus. But the bus was very uncomfortable because the seats were incredibly close together. There was no lap space to put a backpack on your lap.
• I went to Red Rock Canyon. Pink Jeep tours is real cool as I think they can take you deeper into the canyon.

 

[chartle]

It would drive me nuts to be in such a gorgeous place and not be able to take photos.

Seen a few shows on how they built this and never thought it would cost anywhere near that much.

 

[usd2bmd]

Isn't the SkyWalk located hours away from where most people visit the Grand Canyon.
That would be a factor for me.
I don't think I would travel that far just to go on that thing.
I could never do it anyhow, because I have what is called Central Vertigo.

We visited the Grand Canyon, where Chevy Chase filmed, etc...
We did this from Sedona.
LOVED this vacation!
Very much recommend Sedona and Red Rock Country.

But, I do have to say that I found out just how BAD my central vertigo was when we did the Pink Jeep Tour from Sedona.
OMG!!!! Still glad I did it... There motto is true..... You Gotta Do It!
But, I swear, my vertigo kicked in for two or three weeks when I as much as went up or down a flight of stairs!!!

IMHO, seeing the Grand Canyon, illuminated at sunset, from a good overlook would be far better than this overlook.
THAT is a must.
That is where you really see the magesty and grandeur and scale of this area.
Hanging out over the thing just doesn't have that much of a draw for me.

PS: Those clear Emerald Waterfalls on the American Indian Reservation WOULD be a priority/consideration.
Sorry, I don't remember the name of them at the moment.
But, access is very difficult and limited.
Unless you are the very very hardy adventurer... An expensive helicopter transfer in and out would be a must.

Thanks for mentioning the vertigo. I suffer from it as well and will have to keep that in mind.

We would be coming up from Sedona as well and our first stop would be the South Rim and we would be going from there to Hoover Dam and Vegas.

 

[DeaverTex]

Mrs. Tex and I have talked about the skywalk. Neither of us would be willing to pay that much money to crawl on hands and knees -- which is the only way either of us would ever get onto the thing -- a little way over the canyon. No pictures wouldn't be an issue, since we wouldn't want anything to remind us of the experience.

 

[xlxo]

Isn't the SkyWalk located hours away from where most people visit the Grand Canyon.
That would be a factor for me.
I don't think I would travel that far just to go on that thing.

The Sky Walk is located by the Grand Canyon West Rim. Very easy access from Las Vegas 2.5 hours.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...qRPMgDHkqdkyXpPnAA&oq=skywalk&mra=ls&t=m&z=10

"Most people"? The South Rim is over 4 hours one way. I think I see more people visiting the West Rim than the South Rim.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...T9OA&oq=grand+canyon+south+rim&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

According to wikipedia... you are only 70 feet from the edge.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...qRPMgDHkqdkyXpPnAA&oq=skywalk&mra=ls&t=h&z=19

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_Skywalk

 

[bcla]

The Sky Walk is located by the Grand Canyon West Rim. Very easy access from Las Vegas 2.5 hours.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Grand+Canyon+Skywalk,+Peach+Springs,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&sll=35.665812,-113.630163&sspn=1.910034,3.081665&geocode=FdXoJwIdChsj-SnRffWkgre-gDGjebPV5tXMOg;FdB_JQIdImE3-SHkqdkyXpPnACkrQ3c1qRPMgDHkqdkyXpPnAA&oq=skywalk&mra=ls&t=m&z=10

"Most people"? The South Rim is over 4 hours one way. I think I see more people visiting the West Rim than the South Rim.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Grand+Canyon+South+Rim,+Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&sll=35.853576,-114.47604&sspn=0.952789,1.540833&geocode=FdXoJwIdChsj-SnRffWkgre-gDGjebPV5tXMOg;FYYsJgId7hpR-SGym24_bPT9OCmrv_2uehAzhzGym24_bPT9OA&oq=grand+canyon+south+rim&mra=ls&t=m&z=9

According to wikipedia... you are only 70 feet from the edge.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV,+United+States&daddr=Grand+Canyon+Skywalk,+Peach+Springs,+AZ,+United+States&hl=en&ll=36.012109,-113.811421&spn=0.001857,0.003009&sll=35.665812,-113.630163&sspn=1.910034,3.081665&geocode=FdXoJwIdChsj-SnRffWkgre-gDGjebPV5tXMOg;FdB_JQIdImE3-SHkqdkyXpPnACkrQ3c1qRPMgDHkqdkyXpPnAA&oq=skywalk&mra=ls&t=h&z=19

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_Skywalk

Grand Canyon National Park attracts 4.5 million visitors a year., with the large majority visiting the South Rim. The Huluapai claim the skywalk area gets Less than 0.4 million a year, which may be overstated.

The South Rim is famous for more than just views and trails. It has historic structures like Hopi House, Desert Watchtower, Hermits' Rest, the El Tovar Hotel, etc. it has lots of infrastructure. People who visit there often stay overnight or perhaps in Tusayan or Flagstaff. Once you're at the skywalk what else is there to do?

The South a Rim is also in a national park, while the skywalk is not. It's got viewpoints where anyone who can fit in a private car can visit with a $25 admission or a valid federal recreation pass. My parents are seniors and can visit for free now after getting a $10 lifetime pass.

Perhaps it's not an either/or, but the skywalk is sort of a side trip, while the national park is a destination.

 

[ckay87]

If you're an active person, think about hiking down, at least halfway. I think I'm too "hands on," if that's the word for it. I was bored just looking, I preferred getting down in there! We went halfway down and back on Bright Angel Trail and enjoyed it so much