Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim (Day-trip from Vegas)
Today, we are heading to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon less than two and a half hours out of Las Vegas. We love going to Las Vegas, as there’s always so much to see and do. However, there are also tons of fun and adventurous things to do and see off the Las Vegas Strip. The Hualapai Tribe’s Grand Canyon West is a great day trip out of Las Vegas to explore the awesome views of the canyons and the other attractions.
Table of contents
Eagle Point
Eagle Point is a great place to explore and includes the awesome views of the canyon itself, a glass-paneled skywalk, a “floating glass bridge”, reaching 70 feet out over the rim and 4000 feet distance above the canyon floor, along with other historical exhibits.
Guano Point
Guano Point is also a fascinating spot on the western rim of the grand canyon with a lot of history and some incredible views of the Grand Canyon. Guano Point has the remnants of a historic tram that once transported workers and bat guano from a cave across the Canyon.
Hualapai Point
Finally, Hualapai Point (Ranch) is a set of buildings with a trading post and even has some cabins to stay in. It also has ziplines, hiking and biking trails, and Tribe Ambassadors inside the Trading Post. We made a quick stop and walked around but were running late for our next excursion.
Whitewater rafting and helicopter tours are also options at the Grand Canyon West.
Join us as we explore Grand Canyon West on a day trip from Las Vegas.
What is the Hualapai Tribe’s Grand Canyon West?
An increasingly popular destination outside of Las Vegas is the Hualapai Tribe’s Grand Canyon West attracting over 700,000 visitors annually. The Grand Canyon Skywalk, its most popular attraction, was opened in March 2007. The park is operated by the Hualapai Tribe and is located on Tribal land.
Eagle Point
Eagle Point is a location on the Grand Canyon West Rim that is where you are able to view the Eagle Point rock formation from the canyon rim, the famous glass Skywalk. It is also home to an authentic Native American Village that includes a stage where daily lectures,live singing, and dancing performances are held. This is your first stop on your tour through the West Rim.
Eagle Point Rock Formation
The Eagle Point natural rock formation is a natural wonder and resembles an eagle spreading its wings. According to Hualapai legend, the Hualapai lived at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. An eagle flew to them to warn them of a huge flood. The eagle flew back up but stayed near the top of the Canyon to keep an eye on the Hualapai. It then turned to stone which is how you will find the sacred eagle today.
Skywalk
It is also the location of the famous Skywalk bridge that is basically a see-through horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that goes 70 feet out. You must have purchased a Skywalk Ticket beforehand to enter the Skywalk. You had to get in line and that took over 45 minutes before you were able to go out on the Skywalk. Please note that you are not allowed to bring a camera of any sort out on the Skywalk. Lockers for your possessions are provided.
As you walk out on the Skywalk, professional photographers follow you around and take pictures with their own cameras. You are able to purchase those pictures once you finish the Skywalk. Also, another key item to know is that they do not store the digital images past 30 days. We went and looked at them but never downloaded them so basically we lost the pictures. Don’t make that same mistake!
Native American Village and Stage
Buildings from a traditional Native American Village are available for visitors to explore. The stage was getting set up for some performance but we missed it.
Guano Point
The second stop we had in Grand Canyon West was at Guano Point. This spot provides some incredible scenic viewpoints of the canyon and a truly majestic view of the Colorado River.
The point also contained the remnants of the $3.5 MM aerial tramway system that once spanned across the canyon to a cave filled with nitrogen-rich bat guano. It was built in 1957 and was close to 7,500 feet long.
The operation, for 20 years, brought the bat guano from the cave down below to this point so that it could be sold commercially as a fertilizer. Could you even imagine riding this tramway 2500 feet above the gap of the Grand Canyon?
The north side of Guano Point really provided some of the best views of the canyon. In fact, from this vantage point, you could see the tour helicopters dropping down into the Canyon. That was pretty cool to watch.
Hualapai Point (Ranch)
The Hualapai Point (Ranch) is a set of buildings with a trading post and gift shop, with souvenirs from tribal vendors, a restaurant, and even has some cabins to stay in. It also has ziplines, hiking and biking trails, and Tribe Ambassadors inside the Trading Post. The idea is to offer a glimpse into the lives of the Hualapai through exhibits, food, and more.
There are cabins that can be rented as well. There were pretty good reviews on TripAdvisor on the cabins so this may be an option to consider. Note that it does not get you into the park if staying in the cabins. You will still have to pay the Admission.
We made a quick stop and walked around at the Hualapai Ranch but were running late for our next excursion. Nothing piqued our interest here so left pretty quickly after walking around.
Grand Canyon West Airport
The Grand Canyon West Airport is both owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. It is located adjacent to the parking lot for the entry building for Grand Canyon West. The airport is primarily used for a plane ride or helicopter flight from Las Vegas. Plane tours, along with helicopter tours, also utilize the airport.
Helicopter Tours
Although we did not partake in a helicopter tour, it sure looked like a helicopter ride would have been a lot of fun. You could see them flying around inside the Grand Canyon which must have been a great sight.
If you look online, there are options with the helicopter tours including a closer look at the Eagle Point rock formation and landing down within the Canyon. There’s even views of Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, flights to and from Las Vegas, plus a special flight over the Las Vegas Strip. You can set up various options for a tour package.
What to Expect at Grand Canyon West?
We thoroughly enjoyed Grand Canyon West, especially Eagle and Guano Points, and the Skywalk bridge. The view was quite nice but there really aren’t any rails in some places along the edge of the canyon so caution should be exercised and keep a close eye on kids.
This is a pretty popular attraction and there were people everywhere trying to get that perfect picture. This also means you will have to stand in line while waiting for the next transport bus to arrive. This may be anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes (or more) depending on the crowd. Note that the park’s busiest time is typically between 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Most visitors’ exploration time is about 3 to 4 hours with the last ticket being sold 1.5 hours prior to closing time.
You will also see some groups of people that are being escorted by a tour guide from motorcoach tours providing narration.
Hours
The park is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from October through March, and from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM from April through September. Expect closure on holidays. Check www.GrandCanyonWest.com for up-to-date info.
Transportation on Site
Note that there are three separate locations: Eagle Point, Guano Point, and Hualapai Point. From the parking lot to enter, you will walk a short distance to Eagle Point. However, to access the other locations including a return trip, there are buses that will transport everyone from one location to another.
Admission Tickets/Cost
Please note a General Admission ticket is required for entrance into the park. Those fees start at $51. Add-ons are required for attractions such as getting Skywalk tickets (starting from $28), a meal ticket (starting at$25), and other attractions such as the zipline, helicopter tours or whitewater rafting. Each option selected would be an additional charge.
Check the Grand Canyon West website to get up-to-date fee costs and other information on Grand Canyon West.
Seasons
The best time to visit Grand Canyon West is late fall through spring. Daytime temperatures in the summer months can get well above 100 º F so the seasons with more moderate temperatures would be more comfortable.
Where is Grand Canyon West located?
The Grand Canyon West is located 125 miles east-southeast from downtown Las Vegas, NV. Directions to Grand Canyon West include:
- The first step is to get on to US-93 S from wherever you are in Las Vegas. Once on US-93 S, you will drive 76.6 miles, passing by Hoover Dam and heading into Arizona.
- Continue on US-93 S until you get to Pierce Ferry Road and go left or East on Pierce Ferry Road.
- Stay on Pierce Ferry Road, through Dolan Springs, for 28.8 miles and turn right onto Diamond Bar Road. On the corner is Arizona’s Joshua Tree Forest park. Continue on Diamond Bar Road for 16.7 miles.
- At the traffic circle, continue straight onto E Diamond Bar Road for 2.9 miles. You will see a sign for Grand Canyon West.
- Park in the parking lot and proceed indoors to purchase your tickets and to enter Grand Canyon West.
Attractions Along the Way
There are a few attractions en route that you may want to consider as part of your day trip. This includes:
- Hoover Dam
- Lake Mead
Key Takeaways
- The article highlights a day trip from Vegas to Grand Canyon West, exploring attractions like Eagle Point and Guano Point.
- Eagle Point features the iconic Skywalk and a Native American village, while Guano Point showcases a historic tram and stunning canyon views.
- Hualapai Point offers amenities like cabins, ziplines, and various trails, making it a unique stop on the tour.
- Visitors to Grand Canyon West can enjoy activities like helicopter tours and whitewater rafting, enhancing their experience.
- The best visiting time is late fall through spring, as summer temperatures can exceed 100 ºF.
Conclusion
Las Vegas offers a great variety of fun that’s not just on the Strip. We explored the Grand Canyon West and had a great overall experience with the trip. We have not been to the Grand Canyon National Park so have no comparison between those two attractions. Nevertheless, although somewhat pricey, we greatly enjoyed the Hualapai Tribe’s Grand Canyon West experience with the minor exception of Hualapai Point which was not the Grand Canyon.
The Red Rock National Conservation Area, such as the Calico Tanks Trail, and Valley of Fire State Park are two attractions that offer tons of fun and adventure just right outside Las Vegas. And look, if you like this content, you’ll want to check out all our other posts and videos covering attractions near Las Vegas off the Strip such as the Ferguson Motel downtown.
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