grand canyon skywalk?

Question

I would like to visit the Skywalk soon from Vegas by driving. I went to their official website (www.grandcanyonskywalk.com) trying to know how much that will cost me, and I just found a list of all the package prices. I just want to visit the bridge without all of those horseback riding or lunch. Is that possible? And, how much will it cost for one person?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I was at the SkyWalk about a month ago. Here is how it works fee wise...

It costs $25 per person to walk on the SkyWalk. However, you can't just drive right up to it. You must park at the little Grand Canyon West airport visitor center and then take a shuttle bus out to the SkyWalk as part of a tour package. The cheapest package is $50 per person. So the total minimum fee to walk on the SkyWalk comes out to about $75 per person (with a slight discount for Arizona residents).

The package tour includes the shuttle bus to Eagle Point (where the SkyWalk is) and nearby Guano Point (another overlook) as well as a simple buffet meal. You could just go out to Eagle Point, walk on the SkyWalk and go back without eating lunch or getting off at Guano Point, but you will still have to pay for the full package.

Note that the SkyWalk is NOT the way it appears in the 'artist rendition' on the website and other promotions. The SkyWalk is not located directly over the Colorado River on the main gorge as depicted - it is located on the side of a small dry side-canyon with the river and main gorge visible in the distance. Nor is it a 4000 foot straight drop below the SkyWalk to the bottom of the side canyon - like most parts of the canyon, the walls are broken into slopes and ledges. What you see looking through the floor (much of which is blocked by the support beams) is a pile of rock and rubble about a thousand feet down.

You are not allowed to take cameras (or cell phones with cameras) on the SkyWalk. They say it is for safety reasons, but I believe they don't want photos getting out showing what the view through the floor really looks like (you have to wonder why they still have 'artist renditions' on their website when they could put photos of the actual thing instead).

While walking on any glass platform is a weird experience and the surrounding canyon is scenic, I found the actual SkyWalk itself to be a bit of a let down and way over-hyped and over-priced. The SkyWalk (and larger Grand Canyon West area) is on the Hualapai Indian Reservation near Lake Mead and is not part of the famous Grand Canyon National Park (which is located to far to the east in a very different part of the canyon). While I appreciate the tribe's attempt to improve their situation (they have a lot of poverty), the confusing (even misleading) nature of the prices and attractions at the SkyWalk does not reflect well on the tribe and will leave a bad taste in many visitor's mouths.

*** Clarification ***
In regards to the post below, I don't have any problem with the SkyWalk itself. I did not find it that exciting for the price, but others very well might - to each their own. I honestly hope that anyone who goes there does enjoy themselves.

My complaint (and the complaint of many visitors) is that the official website and promotions are very misleading about where the SkyWalk is located and what you will find when you get there. There is no excuse to continue having the misleading 'artist renditions' and '4000 foot drop' claims on the website. People have a right to know what they will be getting for their money.

Answer 2

My husband and I just visited the Skywalk a couple of weeks ago. We were in Vegas and took the 2 1/2 hour drive there. It was a beautiful drive from Vegas which took us over the Hoover Dam. Expect a lot of traffic at the dam. There are fully security checkpoints and a lot of construction. However, it is a beautiful site nevertheless. You cannot just pay the $25 and walk out on the Skywalk. The cost is actually $75 which includes the $25.00 for the skywalk and a shuttle bus to Guano point which is really beautiful. You also get a hot cooked meal there too where you eat on picnic tables on the edge of the canyon. Then if you want you get on the bus and can go to the "Cowboy Ranch" for wagon rides, another meal. We skipped that. But we did spend the entire afternoon at the Skywalk (Eagle Point) and at Guano Point. We figured we can easily spend $75 a piece at the casinos - so why not spend the afternoon doing something different. We really enjoyed ourselves and it is really beautiful. You can spend as long as you want out on the skywalk. There are no cell phones, purses or cameras allowed on the skywalk. They have had people drop them and they don't want the glass chipped. We asked this question when we were out on the skywalk. They were allowing people to take these items out there and they were being dropped off the side into the canyon and onto the glass and it was chipping. However, there is a photographer taking photos on the skywalk so we had one taken of us. There is 14 miles of rough road leading to the skywalk, but beginning this Wednesday they are going to be fixing it up a bit and then eventually paving it. They don't have any permanent buildings yet at the skywalk site or at the airport where you catch the shuttles, but are eventually building a museum and restaurant, etc. For now it is temporary trailers. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the experience and would definately go there again. Despite what I have read what others said, It is a really neat experience and we wanted to see for ourselves. It was scarey to look down through the glass and it is pretty high up. There is always going to be someone complaining about something. We read all the negative opinions before we went and after having been there, we are really glad we went. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I worry about the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Early on in development I heard a lot of rumors about safety concerns and what-not. Not sure about the validity of them though. It doesn't "look" safe, but I'm no engineer. Also, last I heard (about a week ago), the Contractor and Developer were argueing over who had to pay for Insurance. And I doubt the Indian Reservation will front the money for that... but you never know. On top of that, there is some guy who owns a huge piece of land of the 25ish miles between I-40 and the Indian Reservation. He doesn't like people driving down the road across his property to get to the Skywalk. I've heard he's been putting broken glass and nails on the road to "discourage" people from driving on his property. Some of the Las Vegas Tour buses refuse to drive to the Skywalk because of this. Sometimes the Indians will bring these very old school buses to pickup tour groups going to the Skywalk area. That and $25 per head to step onto the Skywalk as compared to $25 per vehicle to get into the Grand Canyon National Park with 30 miles of the best viewpoints of the Grand Canyon. I personally don't think it's a contest. But then again, the Skywalk is getting a whole lot of advertising and most people don't know any better so who knows.

Answer 4

I checked myself just now on the website you provided ... I'm shocked they changed everything ... It used to be $$ (perhaps 15 - 25 bucks) for parking and $$ (15-25 bucks) for entrance into the museum and 25 dollars per person to walk on the skywalk ... I think it was gonna cost me between 55 to 75 bucks per person ... I thought I'd hold off to it til the price drops ... I guess it won't drop at all ...

I'd take the cheapest tour ... but it mentioned that you have to pay additional 25 bucks to go on the skywalk ...

Pretty much the tour should HAVE include a skywalk fee!

Have fun in Vegas and Grand Canyon!

Answer 5

Do a bit more research -- I've read several reports of folks being extremely let down with their skywalk experiences. It's apparently not located in a very appealing portion of the Canyon, and isn't as high or as long as they promote it to be.

In fact, the residents of the closest town have been complaining to the organization that operates the skywalk, as visitors have been lodging numerous complaints.

Have fun, and maybe try and find a local tour of the Canyon instead.

Answer 6

I believe I have read that the cost for just walking out on the Skywalk is $54. A little steep for my stand point but its probably an amazing experience.

Answer 7

It is about 25$

Answer 8

yes mam' but unfortunatly the cheapest way
including walking the SkyWalk is $75 per person.

so you might as well do the whole shebang... for the same money.

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The Sky Package is $74.95 per person
Includes:
Hualapai Visitation Permit and Certificate
Rim top narrated transfers
Photo Opportunities with Hualapai Members
Lunch

Tour Points of Interest
Eagle Point
Explore the Indian Village
Walk on the Skywalk
Native American cultural performance
Guano Point
Panoramic Colorado River viewpoint
Site of the Historical Guano Mine & Tram remnants
High point Hike
Hualapai Market
Hualapai Ranch
Cowboy games and demonstrations
Horse drawn wagon ride
Petting zoo
Meal at destination of choice:
- All-you-can-eat Hualapai Buffet at Guano Point
-- OR --
- All-you-can-eat Western Town Cowboy cookin'
The Skywalk -
Walk on the skywalk

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with any of their packages you can pick and chose what you wish to do or dont do... you can go at your own pace, and see what you want for how long you want.

check their website:
http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/tours.html


-M

Answer 9

A total rip off went to it right after it opened the price was way to high for what you get and the meal that came with it I could have gotten better from 7-11 store. Don't waste your time or money.

Answer 10

WENT TO LAS VEGAS 3-12-15 DROVE 2 1/2 HRS TO THE SKY WALK TO FIND OUT THEY CHARGE YOU 45.00 PER PERSON TO TAKE A 5 MIN BUS RIDE TO THE SKY WALK AND A ADDITIONAL 25.00 IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT ON THE SKYWALK!! TOTAL RIPOFF VERY OVER PRICED 5 MIN BUS RIDE! DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON THIS ONE UNLESS YOU LIKE A VERY LONG CAR RIDE FOR NOTHING!!!!!