After glass-bottom boats, here’s the first (?) glass-bottom bridge: the Grand Canyon Skywalk is scheduled to open later this month. The amazing 1.07 million pound structure extends about 75 feet over the rim and about 4,000 feet over the canyon floor. It’s designed to withstand 100 mph winds and has shock absorbers to keep the walkway from wobbling as people walk through.
Tours will cost $25. Prior to the public opening there will be a “First Walk” event for media and VIPs. The name of the first public figure to step on The Skywalk will be announced closer to the opening. Hm, I think they should invite somebody named … Luke. 
Tags: Grand Canyon
they are charging too much for the admission to the park and skywalk. What a rift off.
So, now there is a viewing platform over the grand canyon, soon, no doubt, to be followed by a MacDonalds and a souvenir shop. Fat, arthritic tourist can take an airconditioned bus to the site and spend five minutes waddling about the platform on their chubby little legs before eating more superfluous food and buying some useless plastic tat so that they can tell their dull friends that they’ve ‘done’ the grand canyon.
What’s the point? If you don’t experience the process of reaching natural beauty, or realise its remoteness, inaccessibility or fragility, how can you truly appreciate it? Riding a mule, backpacking or even bouncing over desert in an open jeep can provide you with a sense of being part of the grandeur of nature. Any effort at all, anything, anything to make you understand that you are ‘not in Kansas anymore’ would do the trick. That is the source of the feeling of beauty and wonder; the realization that your tiny mortal self is part of this majesty and yet that you don’t belong and can’t survive here. Without that feeling, this is just 3-d HDTV.
Surely it would be simpler and less environmentally damaging to just make a styrofoam replica of the Grand Canyon in Disneyland. It could even be made of recycled fast food containers left behind by bloated tourists.
Baloney, I celebrated my 30th birthday with a trip to Las Vegas. The tables had beat me up pretty good, I was relegated to playing nickel slots. I won enough money that taking a $99 bus tour the next day was within the budget I swore I’d stick to my first week gambling.
I did not get much time at the grand canyon, but for 5 minutes I sat off by myself and just got lost in the view. Parents actually hushed their children when walking by so it was pretty obvious I was lost in the moment.
I don’t know what 10 hours on a bus is to some but for me it was not very pleasant. Next time I will rent a car but for those 5 minutes no regrets.
Signed
American Soldier
easy there;, you getting worked up
So what are you saying exactly?
Fat, arthritic people shouldn’t visit the Grand Canyon? You assume that people will make the trek to see the bridge, but not visit other areas of Grand Canyon West that are more “natural” and “remote.” For those who would not otherwise visit the Grand Canyon (due to health or desire), maybe this will be the attraction that finally brings them to this wondrous place.
As for me, I didn’t experience Grand Canyon via any of the methods you endorse (what is so natural about a polluting Jeep anyway?), yet I still felt like I wasn’t ‘in Kansas anymore.’ And I believe that people who visit the Grand Canyon via the Skywalk will still feel that too, because that is what the Grand Canyon does to you, no matter how you see it.
You enjoy your ass ride, and we’ll be gawking at you from the Skywalk. I think we’ll all appreciate the grandeur of the place appropriate for each of our abilities and desires.
My hubby and I are going to LV in May 2007. We cant wait to see the Skywalker! I think it’s a tad scary though. Admission for the Skywalk is only $25. If anyone had done any reading about this, they would know that the $ is to help the people that live in the community. I would gladly pay $50. It is THAT cool.
My hubby and I are going to LV in May 2007. We cant wait to see the Skywalker! I think it’s a tad scary though. Admission for the Skywalk is only $25. If anyone had done any reading about this, they would know that the $ is to help the people that live in the community. I would gladly pay $50. It is THAT cool.
I understand what your saying but you should all know that I live here on the Hualapai Reservation and the Natives don’t receive any monies from the Grand Canyon West, at least not yet.
We appreciate your visiting and glad those of you who do enjoy yourselves. Thanks!
whats this got to do with the skywalk dude?
Gosh Steve, Sounds like you know something about HDTV and driving jeeps through pristine lands. You’re a real Walt Whitman buddy!
Gosh Steve, Sounds like you know something about HDTV and driving jeeps through pristine lands. You’re a real Walt Whitman buddy!
The dollars from the “bloated tourists” , is one of the things that keeps the trails open. One of these days you may be only able to look over the edge due to your own physical limitations. The Grand Canyon is for all to marvel. Its majesty has no boundries. It fills the soul of all who gaze upon it , wether from the rim down or the river up.
WOW, is somebody frisky cuz they are not able to afford a trip like this. get a life!
Thankyou for your service. It is because of people like you that we can sit and have our own thoiughts about the Grand Canyon
What a rip off!!!! $50.00 for the trip to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon then $25 for the skywalk AND THE REAL KICKER IS THAT YOU CANNOT TAKE PICTURES FROM THE SKYWALK. That to me is the main reason to go out on the Skywalk is to take pictures of the memorable experience.
Not only the price being so high you have to travel over 20 miles on an unpaved road.
Don’t waste your time, in my opinion it will take at least another year to get this operation up and running properly. Maybe a paved parking area so you don’t have to walk through so much dirt and dust to get to the double wide trailers that serve as a gift shop/airport/ticket agent for the West Rim tour.
I agree that the price is high but do you know the reason they don’t allow you to take pictures from the Skywalk. It’s because they don’t want tourists leaning over the edges to take their shots and dropping there cameras down into the canyon. Or better yet… dropping their cameras on the glass. That crap ain’t cheap so would you like to chip in if it needs repaired. I was there when one worker repelled down into the canyon to retrieve junk that was dropped down by them, cameras, clothes, stuffed animals..you name it. A garbage can.
So, although yes it sucks that you can’t take pictures there is a very good reason for it. As to the double wide trailers you’ve mentioned. Everyone was aware that this was a work in progress and if the main reason your there is to see the canyon then what the heck does it matter on what the the ticket counter looks like. Your there for the Canyon and the sites…so quit complaining and enjoy the view.
the way these Indians treat tourists i hope they starve
and yes i mean it
biggest rip off ever If you want to go to the sky walk $35.00 you are also forced to buy a $43.00 tour of a pile of Indian trash/teepees and so called relics.
to fly on the helicopter you must by the “Indian Trash”
These Indians hold tourist who only want to see the SKYWALK hostage
the billboards that led us to this tourist trap said nothing about having to purchase an additional ticket on top of the skywalk ticket
” NO CAMERAS ” ARE ALLOWED ON SKYWALK if you wanta picture you must by from these thieves
not to mention 14 miles of washboard dirt / gravel / dusty road that takes more than an hour to drive — and scratch your car
To reply to your comment, there is a very good reason cameras are not allowed not just so you have to pay extra money for a picture. Do you know how much trash, cameras, stuffed animals, clothes fall over the edge of the canyon every day? Would you like to repel down and get because some tourist thought it would be a good idea to lean over and take a picture and then whoops! Lost the camera?
I do agree that the road out to the Skywalk is pretty bad but everyone talks about how they want it to be primitive and they don’t want gift shops or cheesy souvenirs so quit complaining about the fact that you have to drive on a dirt road to go to the edge of the Grand Canyon with no town around it for miles and miles! It’s not going to have a red carpet for you to travel on so you don’t mess up your car and if you want just a comfortable ride go to the South Rim and drive the paved road. THis is work in progress and everything is getting down as fast as the Tribe can afford it and as fast as they can get the construction going. IT will take time so give them a break!
As for the extra ticket you have to purchase to see the Skywalk that is seperate and that should be told to every person buying the tickets to go but don’t disrespect the teepees, hogans, wigwams, etc that were built out there just because you didn’t enjoy your trip. Those things are built by hand the traditional way so that people like you can have a better understanding of how the Native Americans lived. It’s not like they bought the items in a store and just popped it up so show some respect!
You will pay $50.00 apiece for the trip plus $25.00 for the Skywalk each, so dig deep.
So you are NOT allowed to take pics from the skywalk? have you been there and on the skywalk? or is this something you heard?
I visited the site yesterday. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ANY LOOSE ARTICLES — this includes cameras, cellphones, waterbottles, … — that might fall, be dropped, or blow off the walkway into the canyon. They are _VERY_ rigidly enforcing this to the extent that I saw people who had hidden cameras in their pockets be ejected from the walkway…
Overall, the attraction is not yet ready for the public. Having 200+ people — many older, some pregnant, most without proper headgear or water — standing in the sun [there is NO SHADE] waiting for the too few and too infrequent busses will get someone dead. Soon, perhaps! It was not that hot yesterday [upper 80’s]. But it was hot enough that I saw 3 people collapse. One — an elderly woman — was taken away by county emergency medical personnel.
The trip to skywalk was amazingly “FUN”:: sarcasm::!! (Please continue reading, you will understand what I mean!! ) Before you arrive to the skywalk, you will HAVE TO go through a 20 miles rocky road (this is the only road to your destination!). The road was so bumpy that you can’t talk in normal tone, and by the time you arrive, your body would probably be half numb like me. After that, you will arrive at the skywalk parking lot. The staff there will tell you nicely that you will park your car there at no fee, and the bus will take you to the skywalk after you purchase the ticket. The ticket cost $50 per person that includes a visit to the natives and a buffet. If you want to walk on the skywalk, you will have to pay additional $25 which is a total of $75. IF you want a helicopter ride, the total price would be $100+, you can totally spend hundreds of dollar here if you want to, totally a ripe off.
The bus ride has 2 stops, first at Eagle Point and second at the buffet place. The bus ride was only 2 minutes, and then you will see the Eagle Point (a mountain with the shape like Eagle) on your right hand ride. And then you will see the skywalk (a total disappoint). The skywalk looks nothing like the picture they designed; it’s basically a SMALL, SHORT “U” shape bridge hanging out the cliff. There was no building that connects to the bridge (the design shows that they were suppose to have a building). Anyways, he bridge looks like a walkway on huge pieces of steel, very crappy. The bridge is made of three layers of glass on top of those steels, but the view from it was not that much of a difference from looking down from the Grand Canyon cliff. (It’s a bit scarier, but definitely not worth $75). There was suppose to be native tribe and dance you can visit, but the tribe was right by the bridge, and it’s basically a few native white tents. The tent has a lot of modern stuff in it, mostly beach chairs. The native dance was basically 2-3 kids (age 5-12) trying to demonstrate their native dance (no one was watching). After they did their “dance”, the mom asks people to give them tips for their effort. By the way, there’s a signing wall, most of the comments on the wall was “THIS PLACE SUCK!!” Anyways, after watching the Indian dance and the skywalk, you get in line to wait for a bus that was suppose to comes every 15 minutes to take you to the next stop, “the buffet”. The bus did not come every 15 minutes as promised, it came every 30 minutes. The line waiting for the bus was super long, but when the bus came, the Chinese tourists that were never in line get to enter first (everyone was complaining at this point!) Most of the people waited average 45 minutes under the hot Arizona sun, others waited longer. Everyone was complaining, here is the conversation of a couple that everyone totally agreed on:
Husband: “Instead of 15 minutes, I could spend the whole day at the Grand Canyon at no cost!”
Wife: “sheesh.. honey, you are way too loud!”
Husband: “Well darling, it’s okey, I am sure everyone is enjoying their trip, I mean Grand Canyon never lies to us, just look at the line waiting for the bus! You know we are never coming back!”
The ride to the buffet was also 2 minutes, the buses were so late that people decided to stand and ride the bus to their next destination, the buffet restaurant (instead of restaurant, I would rather call it a shack). The buffet restaurant was horrible. First you wait in line for at least 30 minutes because there was no food, and then you enter to get food. The menu was: peach pie, cold slaw, Mexican red bean (it taste Mexican to me, maybe it’s Indian), chicken thigh, corn bread, and corn (taste like refrigerator). You get a small amount of each on a plastic plate from the server (no self serve so you can’t get more). The table was located outside the restaurant, a few tables were under a tent, but most of them were under the sun. For those of you thinking that buffet isn’t that bad, let me tell you, you definitely won’t go for a second round because there’s a line of starving people that hasn’t got food yet. I am not even sure if you can go for a second round. By the time I finished my food, I was still starving. After that is another long wait for the bus. Everyone looks unhappy, and the bus driver drives recklessly on the road trying to get people back to parking lot. And after a long day trip, what comes later is 20 miles drive on the entertaining bumpy dirt road. What a day!!
I personally would definitely not recommend this place for family because kids won’t remember what they see after you pay for their outrageous ticket. I would definitely not recommend this place for elders as well because the sun would just dehydrate them. I wouldn’t recommend this place for couples as well, because long bus waits under the blazing hot sun would only increase the chance of argument. For those looking for a great trip, Grand Canyon is definitely a great place to visit, but “skywalk” is definitely a NO!
I agree that when you wrote this, things were that bad! However, it’s almost two years later and things have definitely improved.
I think the one thing people need to understand when they go to the Skywalk/West End that this is not like the South Rim, with little cafe’s and a couple little gifts shops, with little cement trails for you follow. This is different. Very remote, very different. This is a work in progress and some of you may like it and some of you may not.
WOAH DUDE! We were actually thinking that we could drive ourselves to the skywalk – is this even possible?
I found your review to be very entertaining and if it sucked as bad as you say, I would say all the same things. Husband really wants to know though: was there anything GOOD about it? You didn’t mention not one good thing. If there was not ONE good thing about it, then I will take your word that it truly sucked, but maybe even if it did truly suck, we may just go to see for ourselves. We like the hot sun, so I don’t know if that would bother us. We will make sure to bring a few gallons of water with us. Haha.
Your review was great though, and I would recommend putting it on tripadvisor.com. I am sure many, many people do not know about Zoli’s blog and it would help many travelers by posting your opinion.
Thank you for taking the time to share this with us!
I’m the ‘anonymous’ from Apr 2 above:
It’s all true! What day did you visit?
There is NO WAY you can drive yourself beyond the airport [Grand Canyon West — FAA 1G4 http://www.airnav.com/airport/1G4
I’m a pilot if it matters!]
Indeed, if your day is anything like ours, parking AT the airport will be difficult. We were in the second OVERFLOW out by the runway. Having people wandering around an active airport runway is possible disaster #1. But in comparison, it was trivial…
As for GOOD: If you go prepared and know what to expect [not much! At least in the way of amenities] the view from the bridge is quite spectacular. But the spectacle itself is not up to the grandeur of the canyon in the Park 50 miles upriver and don’t expect anyone of the staff to be able to explain it to you, to tell you what the rocks are, or describe the geology. Only you can decide if it is worth the $75 per person and the probable ‘abuse/ordeal’ you will be subject to. I wouldn’t go back and I’m suggesting that the ‘experience’ isn’t worth it until the Hualapi get their act together. Finishing the Visitor/Cultural Center would help!
I would point out that the bridge itself is actually over a small side canyon [no one seemed to know it’s name!] not over the main canyon with the Colorado River running below it. You can SEE the river and main canyon, but you’re not over it.
The road is ‘exciting’. Not unlike many others in the US southwest, but unlike the dirt roads you encounter in the east or north. I don’t think it’ll survive a major tourist influx, and I suspect that the rental car companies will very soon be putting an explicit ‘do not take this car to the grand canyon skywalk’ notice on the rental agreements. The biggest problem is the dust! Expect to take an hour each way over the gravel part. Faster and you really will break something — either automotive/mechanical or biological.
I can’t speak for the Hualapai. But I strongly suspect that they will — or certainly should — make arrangements with one [or all] of the commercial tour companies to 1) – run the operation on the reservation for them for a fee or percentage; and 2) – provide transportation from both LV and the ‘roadhead’ in Dolan Springs/Pierce Ferry.. If they did that, it might work…
However, as a Civil Air Patrol Incident Coordinator, I have seen too many witless people involved in too many ‘accidents’. I seriously worry about having tourists running around on the rim of a 3800′ canyon [no railings or other barriers]. Someone is going to fall over. I saw people climbing into the canyon to take the pictures they were denied from the bridge… Most didn’t have a clue about the rocks beneath their feet! And I won’t even think about the young kids running all over the place. One fall won’t exactly endear the public to the place….
Maybe the Hualapi kids grow up knowing not to get too close… But I doubt that the typical Des Moines kid does! [Sorry if I insult the Iowans! But you don’t have a 3800′ deep gully!]
I was at the Skywalk on April 26th, 2007 and was very dissapointed.
1. The trip to the skywalk was much longer and worse than anticipated. It is located almost 40 miles from the main highway, 14 miles of which is unpaved rocky path through the desert. Our rental car agreement specifically stated that driving to the Skywalk was prohibited and would be fined $250 (we did anyway).
2. We were led to believe the cost of entrance fee was $25, but we’re never told until we arrived that you must purchase the mandatory $50 tour to access the skywalk making it a minimum of $75.
3. You cannot bring your personal cameras, but don’t worry, they’ll gladly take your picture for an additional $20.
4. The site itself looks more like a construction site than a tourist attraction, and the management is atrocious. We were told to park in a ditch along side of the road, were yelled at for walking on the wrong side of a construction fence, but no signage anywhere directed you to the right location and the ticket counters are some PC’s set up on some collapsible tables.
5. The Skywalk is not located at the most beautiful part of the Grand Canyon by any means.
I suggest you research this carefully before you commit to going, if I had known this before I would not have wasted my time or money.
After careful consideration due to this site, my husband and I have decided to not attend the skywalk. Thank you to all that replied. I was excited at first, but after so many testimonials as to how terrrible and what a rip off it truly is, we will pass and spend our money on the slot machines. Thank you and sorry for all of you unfulfilled tourists that got PUNKED! 🙁
Steve,
Sounds like someone should throw your (un)happy ass over the canyon.
It sucked…don’t waste yoor hard earned cash.Go to the south rim….better views and cheaper.Say no to skywalk
I went to the skywalk on July 4th. What better way to celebrate America’s Independence.It is a damn shame what happened to America!! People blinded by GREED charging extraordinary amounts of money to walk on a very UGLY glass structue. The temperature was 120 degrees. there were no cold drinks to be found even at the so called buffet and very little shelter from the hot sun. No cameras allowed. Raw sewage being pumped right next to tourists. Horrible road for 14.5 miles to canyon which some car rental places won’t rent you a car if you are planning a drive to the west rim of the canyon. Pleas don’t go. It is a FUBAR operation in need of much fixing and those who have gone before should be given refunds.GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Carol, I can see your point that there were many negatives about the Skywalk but was there one positive thing?
The Hualapai’s are trying to create a business and in the process are working out all the kinks in starting a new business creates. Give them a break man! As far as most of things you’ve described that you didn’t like, such as not enough shelter, hot, no cold drinks, horrible road…most of things have been fixed. When you visited it was still under construction and the Skywalk just opened…what did you expect. It is still under construction to my knowledge and it will be for many years to come.
I think that last comment said it all!
I just got back from the west rim sitting in my motel room in LV recovering from the ass raping the halupai gave me today. I wish I read these articles earlier. I feel so bad that I not only wasted so much money that but disappointed my parents who came to visit me. The southern rim ran by the park services is soooo much better..
What a shame. I didn’t know such scams of this large scale existed in the u.s.
BG, I’m sure you had a rough day and I will agree that traveling the dirt road is not a fun thing. One thing that you and every other visitor needs to realize is that the West Rim is not the south rim. There are not little cafe’s along the rim, nor are there pine trees, or trails along the side for you to follow. But it is a work in progress. The West End of the Grand Canyon is the last end of the Canyon and it is desert. If you were that disappointed, then you should of done your research before visiting. I went to the Skywalk and although there was a considerable amount of construction going on at the time, I still enjoyed it. Your going to a very remote location, on an Indian Reservation, and some of you expect to have no dust, no dirt roads, restaurants, etc. Give the Hualapai a break! They are like every other business out there trying to improve the situations the best they can and trying to accomodate everyone in the meantime.
I agree that some things were not pleasant…like the food. Not great at all. But that is something they are working on and more than trying to figure out how they are going to get a better menu to offer, I would imagine that construction and updating services are more of a priority right now. Also, like how are they going to provide water to the facilities. These things are more of a priority. Besides for those of you who are that picky….bring a lunch or snacks!
Zoli,You need to update your site. Cost are $20.00 just to park and at least $ 75.00 to get to the walk. Where did you come up with $25.00 fee ???? this place SUCKS.
George,
This is not a site, but a blog, which is made up of posts that may very well have a limited shelf-life, just like newspaper articles. The info was current at the time of writing, which was prior to the Skywalk’s opening.
Thanks for your comment.
What a rip. This place is in a side canyon and is not what I’d consider as the majestic view of the canyon.
Don’t waste your money!!!
biggest rip off ever If you want to go to the sky walk $35.00 you are also forced to buy a $43.00 tour of a pile of Indian trash/teepees and so called relics.
to fly on the helicopter you must by the “Indian Trash”
These Indians hold tourist who only want to see the SKYWALK hostage
the billboards that led us to this tourist trap said nothing about having to purchase an additional ticket on top of the skywalk ticket
” NO CAMERAS ” ARE ALLOWED ON SKYWALK if you wanta picture you must by from these thieves
not to mention 14 miles of washboard dirt / gravel / dusty road that takes more than an hour to drive — and scratch your car
The Sky walk is simply one big rip off. I went there on December 11, 2009. The cost is $43 for a bus trip (about 5 minutes), $32 for the Skywalk ticket and no cameras or personal items allowed. After getting the explanation from the staff that people threw staff down to just watching them falling (I guess that included cameras) the real reason surfaced up. You are escorted by a photographer who is taking a picture of you and for you. I f you want the picture, you need to say goodbye to another $30 (per each photo). They scan everybody through a metal detector to make sure that cameras are not sneaked in. The view of the skywalk is disappointing. The spot is not the best in the Grand Canyon to say the least. The view from the visitor center in the south rim is way more impressive and cost much less. This place is nothing but a TOURIST TRAP. IT is highly recommended TO AVOID THIS PLACE.
I travelled from New Zealand with my family to stay in Las Vegas for 4 days and chose at the last minute to hire a rental car and drive out to the Skywalk without investigating it too much. The gravel road was a surprise and the heat in the middle of summer was quite intense (for us New Zealanders anyway..) we thought that you could drive up to the Canyon without having a bus trip in and having to purchase extra stops which comes at a cost…….it cost us in NZ dollars nearly $400!! All this aside I decided to embrace it for what it was and enjoy my day and it was an experiance that me and my family will not forget for many reasons. The most frustrating thing about the whole day was having to have the rental car washed before we returned it trying to find a car wash in Las Vegas that operates after 5.00pm is a task within itself, heres a tip support the locals and take up the offer of a $10 carwash it could save alot of running around! I think that when you venture out into the wilderness you should expect to see it in its raw beauty and not commercialised which I think waters down the experiance, my only issue really was the price…….more for less always works.