skywalk - ticket,entrance fees..etc..etc ?

Question

What would be a better option?

Taking a bus tour to west rim who claim to provide skywalk included in 150/head package?

or to rent a car to the west rim and buy skywalk tickets for 3?whats the skywalk fees?

What all and how much entrance fees and tickets/charges i will have to bear once i reach the west rim?

Answer 1

i just asked this question- here is the answer some nice guy gave me.
When everything is said and done, it costs a minimum of $75 per person to go on the SkyWalk. I was actually there about a month ago and here is the whole scoop...

The SkyWalk is NOT in the famous Grand Canyon National Park. The SkyWalk is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation just before the canyon empties into Lake Mead while Grand Canyon National Park is located a hundred miles upstream (it is about 4-5 hour drive from one to the other). This area is referred to as 'Grand Canyon West' and has been developed by the tribe as a way to generate money. While the Grand Canyon West area is still technically part of the Grand Canyon, it is not as big or deep as the famous section in the park to the east.

As for the SkyWalk itself... you are not allowed to just drive or walk up to it on your own. All visitors to Grand Canyon West must stop and park at the little airport where you can buy packages that allow you to visit different areas. The SkyWalk is at Eagle Point and so you must buy a package that includes the shuttle bus from the airport visitor center to Eagle Point (minimum of $50 per person). Even once you take the shuttle to Eagle Point, you do not automatically get to go on the SkyWalk - that is another ticket ($25 per person) that you can either buy at the SkyWalk or at the visitor's center. There is a slight discount for Arizona residents. The rest of the minimum package includes visiting Guano Point (another nearby overlook) and a buffet-style meal.

As for the experience of being on the SkyWalk - I should warn visitors that it is NOT what is portrayed on the artist renditions on the website and promotions. First off, the SkyWalk is NOT over the Colorado River in the main gorge of the canyon - it is located on the rim of a small side canyon with the main gorge and river about a half mile away. Also, it is NOT a 4000 foot straight drop to the bottom of even the side canyon. Like most places in the canyon, the walls have slopes and ridges - it is probably less than a 1000 feet below the SkyWalk to a series of ledges and rubble.

Also the bottom of the SkyWalk is not completely see-through. There are two big U-shaped metal supports that hold it up and block about a third of the view through the floor. You are basically looking through the gap between the 2 support beams, which makes it feel more like looking through a trap door rather than flying or walking on air. When you look down, you basically just see a pile of unmoving rocks and rubble at the base of the cliff. While it is a bit unnerving just to be walking on a glass platform, I found the view through the floor (and the overall experience) to be a bit anti-climatic.

The view looking out over the edge at the wider canyon is very pretty and scenic, but not really any different than just standing on the rim of the canyon itself 50 feet away. You are not allowed to take cameras (or cell phones) onto the SkyWalk. Some people may find it worth the money, but the day that I visited many people were very upset (largely because of the misleading information).

Unlike at the National Park, you can't just go walk and hike around anywhere you please at Grand Canyon West. You have to stay in the two little areas on the package (Eagle and Guano Points) and must travel between them on the shuttle. There is really not much else to do there (other than the fake western town and petty zoo that has about 3 farm animals).

As for crowds... I was there the second weekend after it opened, and while there were plenty of people there, it was far from crowded. I never saw more than about 2 dozen people on the SkyWalk at the same time. However, even this small number was too many for the shuttle bus service which only came around about once every 20 minutes, by which time more people were in line to go back than the bus could hold. The end result, is that you end up spending 20-40 minutes in line (no seats or sun shades) waiting for a bus to get between the visitor center and the two points on the package tour. Hopefully this will improve.

Others may have different views, but I personally found the whole experience to be overpriced, over-hyped and kinda cheesy. I much prefer the National Park area. The SkyWalk and Grand Canyon West area was developed to raise money for the Hualapai Indian Reservations which suffers from poverty and can't complete with a casino because they are so close to Vegas. I don't blame them for trying to improve their situation by leveraging the amazing landscapes on their land and I hope they find a good balance to do so in the future. But the Las Vegas promoters who designed and financed the SkyWalk have turned it into something of a tourist trap designed to suck in tourist dollars. Visitor Beware.

Source(s):
Arizona resident and frequent Grand Canyon visitor and hiker.

Official SkyWalk Website:
http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/home.h...

Warning: the artist renditions are completely false and misleading.

Answer 2

It'd totally be a thrill! Think about it- a glass floor, and when you look down- woah! I'm a bit scared of heights, but it'd be such an amazing experience! If you really want to, give it a try! There's nothing to lose on going on to the Skywalk (except maybe some money and get a little fright!). I'd definantly wanna go- too bad they built the Skywalk just when I left Grand Canyon :(

Answer 3

VISITING GRAND CANYON WEST;

GRAND CANYON WEST AND THE SKY-WALK IS LOCATED ON THE HUALAPAI TRIBE RESERVE. (121 MILES FROM VEGAS)

REGARDLESS WHICH COMPANY YOU BOOK WITH,
THE ACTUAL TOURS INTO THE RESERVE GO THROUGH THE HUALAPAI TRIBE, ANYWAY.

SO IF YOU CAN, JUST CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MAN.

and DRIVE THERE, (on your way stop at the Hoover Dam)

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IF YOU CAN DRIVE TO THE WEST-RIM

BOOK AND TRAVEL THRU THE HUALAPAI TRIBE, DIRECTLY
HERE IS THERE WEBSITE BELOW:

THEIR PACKAGES START AT $29
ADD $25 TO WALK THE SKYWALK

http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/in...

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IF YOU CAN' T DRIVE TO THE RESERVE

BOOK THROUGH A REPUTABLE COMPANY:

HERES A FEW GOOD ONES

SCENIC AIRLINES
http://www.scenic.com/

MAVERICK AVIATION
http://www.maverickhelicopter.com/...

SUNDANCE TOURS
http://www.sundancehelicopters.com/...

PAPILLON TOURS
http://www.papillon.com
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DO UNDERSTAND THAT ALOT OF THE WEBSITES AND COMPANIES OUT THERE ARE STRICKLY A BOOKING COMPANIES AND ARE NOT TOUR COMPANIES. JUST MIDDLEMEN, TAKING A CUT... AND COSTING YOU MORE.

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NOW THIS IS WHERE YOU BUDGET AND PREFERENCE COME IN TO PLAY;

HOW LONG OF OF A TOUR DO YOU WANT? HOURS? DAYS?

DO YOU WANT TRAVEL BY BUSES, PLANES, HELICOPTERS, BOATS, RAFTS, ATVS, JEEPS OR HUMMERS? WHAT CLASS?

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ALSO CHECK THIS LINK FOR BOAT RENTALS AND FLOAT TOURS IN BLACK CANYON @ HOOVER DAM ON THE COLORADO. AWESOME
http://www.blackcanyonadventures.com/...



HAVE FUN!

-M

Answer 4

Try the direct link for information about all fees:

http://www.destinationgrandcanyon.com/tours.html

Seems to be: Skywalk Glass Bridge $25.00 base price, then more for the added "extras" that are NOT optional.

You might also want to read the Best Answer to this similar question from someone who has actually GONE there:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuBw5G4TdU9a37xRq4EPj7tV7hR.?qid=20070513105314AAqpkSE