Las Vegas Grand Canyon Skywalk – A Great Day Trip
Need a break from the Las Vegas Strip? Take a Grand Canyon Skywalk tour. The “glass bridge” is only 120 miles away and offers you the chance to go 70 feet past the edge and be 4,000 feet above the churning Colorado River.
How to Get There
The most popular ways to get to the Skywalk include bus, helicopter, airplane, and rental car. The most economical option is the bus, which is a 2.5-hour trip. The quickest way is the 25-minute airplane flight. Helicopters take 45 minutes. The most expensive choice is rental car, the fees for which add up quick because you are required to use a sport utility vehicle (high fuel and insurance costs).
The route to the glass bridge includes Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the U.S.; Hoover Dam bypass bridge, officially known as the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge; and the Grand Cliffs wash. If you take a bus tour, there’s a Hoover Dam photo stop. The final 10 miles to the West Rim (Grand Canyon West) is on a semi-graded dirt road. I suggest that self-drivers rent a vehicle with GPS.
Why the Glass Bridge is Unique
The Skywalk is an engineering and technological marvel. The glass-bottomed cantilever structure extends 70 feet into the canyon’s chasm. Four-thousand feet below, the Colorado River roils. The bridge has been designed to withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes and support 71 fully loaded 747 airplanes. Although the bridge was designed to hold 800 people, maximum occupancy is 120. The glass walkway consists of 46 panels that cost $250,000 each. Cell phones and cameras are banned from the Skywalk in order to prevent chipping and scrapping. You must wear cloth booties as well. On site are professional photographers who will take your photo.
How Much Does It Cost?
Compared to other Las Vegas attractions, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is a deal. There are three packages. You want the one called Legacy Gold. It includes Skywalk tickets plus unlimited access to Hualapai Ranch, Eagle and Guano Points, hiking trails, and the shuttle bus system. I’ve seen a lot of offers on the Internet that sell just Skywalk tickets. Don’t be duped. You’ve got to get the pass, too.
I mentioned earlier that renting a car and self-driving to the Skywalk is the most expensive option. The least expensive and the most enjoyable is to take a tour. Trips include hotel shuttle service, all associated park fees, lunch, and tickets to the Skywalk. Grand Canyon West is also the ONLY place where you can ride a helicopter to the bottom of the canyon. This particular trip can also be upgraded to include a float trip down the Colorado River. Air tours take half a day. Bus and extended helicopter and airplane tours require a full day.
Summary
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is Las Vegas’ greatest outdoor attraction. Located 120 miles away from Sin City, the glass bridge makes the perfect day trip. Grand Canyon views like this are few and far between. You get to walk 70 feet past the edge and immerse yourself in one of nature’s greatest panoramas. Visiting the bridge is as simple as taking a helicopter, airplane, or bus tour. Then be prepared to be amazed.
Visiting Las Vegas and want to visit the Skywalk Grand Canyon? Read travel journalist Keith Kravitz’ Skywalk reviews first at: http://www.GrandCanyon123.com
Travel Show Live’s Erik Hastings interviews Brian Kroten of Maverick Helicopter Tours in Las Vegas, NV.
this is all the stuff i did on my vaction to las vegas
Las Vegas Helicopter Tour of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Extinct Volcano, Las Vegas Strip. You are looking at the top of the volcano at 2:05. Incredible Experience.
Checkout the traffic and the people waiting for the bus. Also I had some extra time before I went to work so I decided to film the Grand Canyon with the snow inside. Music By 009 Sound System. Join us at http://www.adroed.com
This is when I went to Williams, AZ to get a State ID at the DMV. They were also shooting a movie on the same day. I decided to film some of the activites while I waited for the shuttle bus to take me back to the Grand Canyon. Ok I made it back to the Grand Canyon and caught the Bus and an Elk eating on my way back to my room in Trailer Village. Come join us at http://www.adroed.com Music by The Circ
After getting on the bus and going to pick up my shoes from work I saw these deer coming down the path. I got some good footage and so did this family who was waiting on the bus also. I got these other deer looking for food on my way back to my room in Trailer Village. Music by Dan Marciano and Michael Kaiser
Took the kids, the video camera & new Springsteen CD at the time (The Rising) to the Grand Canyon BY BUS to get over a broken heart (and a fear of heights). Discovered Bruce’s “Lonesome Day” on the trip, and edited our home movies to it when I got home. First time kids used the video camera, so extra fun to edit.
Highlights from Adventure Bus Tour Grand Canyon and the Wild West featuring Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches.
Grand Canyon Air and Floor Landing Tour from Las Vegas McCarran Airport to the Grand Canyon. In the video, you will see us flying over and through the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas Valley, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Vegas Strip. 
