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My Grand Canyon Skywalk Tour

Day Trips, Guest Columnists, Las Vegas, Outdoors and Other Interests
Posted September 2nd, 2010 by Paige - 4 comments

Grand Canyon SkywalkHow much money do you take with you when you go out to the middle of the desert?  $25?  $50?  If you happen to go out to Grand Canyon West and walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk make sure you’ve saved up.  Because donning little white booties and walking on thick glass with nothing between you and the 800 feet below — it’s going to cost you.

Like most people from Las Vegas would do, we just drove out there, and we were stopped and told there that we had to buy a package.  Before that, we thought we could just drive right out to the Skywalk and pay there and walk, but that wasn’t the case. So after driving for a couple of hours, and then tacking on an extra twenty miles of dirt road, we got stopped and abruptly told to park.  Then, in the middle of nowhere, is where we were informed we were on a Hualapai Indian Reservation.  Because we were on their territory, it suddenly became a whole other game.

We were ushered into a huge tent where we could, of course, buy millions of dollars worth of merchandise.  This was also where we bought our tour packages.  What tour packages?  There was nothing about tours on the Grand Canyon Skywalk website. I knew it wouldn’t be free but I certainly didn’t count on dropping just under $100 a person.  We were out in the middle of nowhere with no recourse.  We could leave and drive another two hours to get to a free area of the Grand Canyon but then we would’ve wasted half the day.

The “Grand” tour consists of three different stops: The Skywalk, Guano Point, and Hualapai Ranch.  The Skywalk, itself, was interesting.  Of course, you go through an airport-style security check, and you can’t take anything on the Skywalk with you.  They allow sunglasses, and that’s it.  Oh, you expected to take that amazing picture from the Skywalk?  Too bad, Sparky.  Oh, well, of course you can get a picture on the Skywalk… from one of their photographers. Prices start at $30.00 for one picture.  So if you want to not only walk on the Skywalk but take home a picture for everyone in your party?  Be prepared to spend more than you would on a day at Disneyland.

Your price includes a prison-style lunch at either the ranch or Guano Point.  We opted for lunch at the Indian Dude Ranch.  It didn’t sit well with me, either, but our bus driver (you have to leave your car and ride their bus) told us the Steer from City Slickers, Norman, was there. He was retired now and basically just sitting around the ranch.

Except for the surreal experience of walking on the Skywalk, everything we walked into was a complete tourist trap.  They were selling bows and arrows, with the arrowheads made of plastic, for $30.00 each.  The whole experience felt like we were being hosed.  Constantly.

[Editors note:  I can't help but wondering if Guano Point is just around the corner from Bat Shit Crazy?]

This article was contributed to While Las Vegas Sleeps… by the lovely Miss Paige Clarno.  It’s amazing what a desperate editor can get someone to do in exchange for a pedicure…

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4 Comments

  1. Randy on September 4, 2010 :

    Yep. We did this same thing this weekend and I was so furious we just turned right back around and left. In the process I broke a wheel bearing on my car driving through the dirt a.k.a large gravel road for 20 miles each way. The least they could have done is have the bus tour start at the dirt road to save your car from being destroyed. We will never again visit there and are telling everybody to do the same.

  2. Nick McClelland on September 7, 2010 :

    Great post guys and one to remember and it’s nice that travellers are being made aware of these things before they take a trip out there. We’ve been to LV three times now and plan to make it four in less than 24 months and the Canyon was on the to do list this time around. Personally I’d also recommend the Red Rock Canyon, only a few dollars to take a tour round there in your vehicle and a lot closer to the strip to boot.

  3. Priscilla Lake on October 20, 2010 :

    OMG, you are so right. I just thought this place was one giant rip off for what they had. I’m ok with spending $75-100 someplace where there are lots of things to do, or even a place that has cold drinks and restrooms, but really!!!! Don’t bother coming out to the Skywalk until they get running water.

  4. Michael on February 25, 2011 :

    Thanks for the head’s-up! I was wondering how I’d missed it when I was at the Canyon two years ago; now I know. I also know I won’t be taking that ‘tour.’ Thanks again.

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