Grand Canyon West
County Road 7
Kingman, AZ 86401
(877) 716-9378
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
3 reviews for Grand Canyon West
It was during a nice evening beer break in Barcelona, that my brother decided to come with me to California after my vacation. He was curious about the parks around the Colorado plateau and I hadn't been there either, except for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
The fabulous Skywalk and its panoramic view of Grand Canyon West sounded really appealing, so there we went.
The drive through the dirt road, surrounded by Joshua trees, ended up being the best.
Not only we had to pay a couple of times for different services, as other reviewers said, but the magnificent glass platform that we saw in the website is actually not much bigger than a balcony... Besides they don't let you take pictures (you must be kidding! I came all the way here for the view :-/).
They have you leave your backpack in a locker. After your visit you get it back though a very convenient window in the gift shop (hmm! you give me my bag back so I can buy a silly "I did it!" magnet? No, thank you)
Do I recommend it? Absolutely no.
If you want to take a look of Grand Canyon West fly over it from Las Vegas. If you want to see and admire the Grand Canyon go to the South Rim, drive from the visitor area to Cameron along AZ-64 and stop at every view point you find on the way.
*On the sad note, my beloved Prius is still in Kingman AZ receiving CPR after being hit in the face by a shuttle bus while waiting to make a turn into the dirt road that leads to this place :-( Fortunately nobody was hurt .
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Let's be very clear, this is part of the Grand Canyon, but it is NOT the Grand Canyon National Park. We were driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon NP and figured we'd stop off half-way to see the Skywalk -- mainly because it seemed like a neat gimmick to see below while walking on glass. The website said it was $29.95, however we found out at the ticket counter that there was an additional $45.00 charge making the total per person price equal to $75.00!!! I still haven't seen anything about that additional $45 charge on their website. After driving an hour out our way -- 14 miles on an unpaved road -- we were outraged and let them know what a bunch of thieves they were and turned around by not paying. Trust me, avoid this place like the plague! It is a waste of time and you get far better views at the Grand Canyon National Park which is only $25 per car! Please don't contribute to these folks operating the Skywalk. And the "no camera" policy is there for one reason only -- to force you to purchase a photo that they take of you for $30! These people are ripping you off in so many ways. Screw 'em! Just go to the Grand Canyon Nat'l Park which charges far less and you can take all the pictures you want with your camera. Anyone on here that says the Skywalk was worth it either never gets out or works for the Skywalk. With about 99% of the comments on here being negative, it's safe to say that this place IS a rip-off!
Deciding on HOW to see the Grand Canyon can be very confusing with an array of options. The most obvious way is to drive to the Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim. However, you can also fly over it in an airplane, helicopter or hot air balloon, or go river rafting through the canyons. I was in Las Vegas and didn't want to spend the money on a flyover ($300-$500 per person) or drive the 800 mile roundtrip to the National Park. entrance. Then I discovered WHERE to see it differed as well. Grand Canyon West is within a 993,000 acre reservation parcel owned by the Hualapai Tribe and was only about 120 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. I was IN.
Differences between Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon West
1. Scenery. The GCNnational Park is HUGELY expansive where the scenery can be seen for a hundred miles. It is the widest part of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon West is at the narrower part of the Grand Canyon. It is still huge and awe inspiring if you havent seen it before but it is smaller than GCNP.
2. Fees: GCNP costs $25 per car no matter how many are in it. Grand Canyon West lowest entry fee is $50 which includes lunch. It's an additional $25 to walk the Skywalk Glass Bridge. With tax, it's $81 per person. OUCH
Grand Canyon West:
There are 3 basic areas to see:
1. Eagle Point: This is where the Skywalk Glass Bridge is as well as huts and teepees of the different tribes. The Glass bridge is covered in a separate review entry. Overall it's very interesting to view over the edge but it's a steep price (no pun intended) to peer over the edge for a few minutes.
2. Guano Point: They farmed guano here until the 1950's until it ran out. This is also where you also eat lunch..... Lunch is a one or two star event. The pulled pork is ok, and the chicken breast is of the quality of an elementary school cafeteria.... steamed. You also get corn on the cob (way overcooked) and cole slaw. This food was designed so they can be in warmers for hours. AWFUL food.
3. Hualapai Ranch: This is the scaled down version of the really old Knotts Berry Farm and simulates the old west with activities and food here if you dont want to eat at Guano Point. I did not enough time to check this part out.
WARNINGS:
1. During the 120 mile drive from Las Vegas, there is a 14 mile unpaved gravel and dirt road. Your car and engine will be filled with fine dust. The road is rough and if your car has questionable suspension or worn ball joints, this road could break you down.
2. There are no railings. Everywhere you can go right to the edge of the Grand Canyon with nothing between it and you except air. If your kids are uncontrollable, I would recommend GCNP where they have railings. However, it is an unbelievable experience leaning over the edge and looking down with no safety net.
Recommendations:
I like the National Park better than Grand Canyon West to see the Grand Canyon. GCNP is just plain huge. GCW is also inspiring but just smaller in scale...but still huge. If you are visiting Vegas and can't afford the time to go to the National Park, Grand Canyon West is a great alternative. Literally sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon with your legs hanging over the edge is just unbelieveable. Oh, and bring your own food if you want something decent to eat.
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