Grand Canyon 123 |
Keith Speaks |
Grand Canyon Skywalk Reality Check!
I'm going to address helicopter tours first. There are two that include the Skywalk. The first goes to the bottom and the top and comes with tickets to the glass bridge. The other lands on top and includes tickets. There are few or no options in the middle.
I'm not a fan of the take-it-or-leave-it approach but these two Skywalk heli flights have been around forever and I don't expect variations in the future. Nor do I expect the bottom/top trip to exclude the boat. I had a reader/client this week ask for such a trip. The best I could do was tell him to opt out of it.
"Airbus"
The same goes for airplane tours out of Las Vegas, which, by the way, are a total value if you don't mind flying at a higher altitude than a helicopter or going the distance with 19 other people (and that's exactly why the helicopter is the more popular - lower altitude and a more personalized flight).
It's when you get on top of Grand Canyon West that the Skywalk decisions begin to mount. The first one is how much time should I spend on it. Well, it's not like going on a day hike, right? I find that up to a ½ hour gets the job done right. Yet I've seen other travelers hang out on the bridge for an hour. It really depends on what floats your boat because there's no time limit.
The most controversial Skywalk caveat is the no-camera policy. I hate it but I understand it, I think. Ever since the Skywalk opened to the public back in 2007, cameras have been banned. The reason given is that dropped cameras chip the glass deck. I'm not buying that because the deck is made out of some kind of super glass manufactured on Mars.
Letting Go
But you have to go with the flow on this one. And don't bother trying to sneak a smart phone or DLSR camera across the line. The Hualapai are very wise to this and have set up metal detectors that are just as powerful as the ones you find being operated by the TSA at your friendly international airport. Further, they have staff that cruise the deck looking for scofflaws.
On the other hand, the photographers that are available on the Bridge are very good. My advice here is to go for the deluxe photo package. I did and I was very pleased to get a ton of poses, a few prints and a souvenir USB drive that contained all the high-resolution images. They have a cheaper package but you cut the "goodies" down to half. Oh, and you also get a good-quality t-shirt. I can't vouch for what exactly you'll walk away with these days but I can't imagine it deviating much from what I scored.
Relatedly, bring cash to the Skywalk. Sometimes (more often than not), the ATM's don't work. If they do, then you have to cope with the fee. And if you self-drive, by all means gas up before you turn of the I-93 and onto Dolan Springs Road. From thereon there are no gas stations and the roundtrip from Dolan to the GCW and back is more than 80 miles. I'm serious about this, especially if you do the drive during the summer (and make sure you bring water!).
Winging It
If you are on a budget, arrived on a bus and can't do the Skywalk, no worries. Head over to Eagle Point. You can't miss it because there are throngs of visitors just like you living literally on the edge of the West Rim, some of them closer than others. At the lookout, you'll have a perfect picture of you "holding" the Skywalk in the palm of your hand. I know, it's cheesy, but it's also Vegas, Baby! So why not go for it.
Skywalk Tours from Las Vegas: Options, Prices and Availability.
Travel on!
