Things to do at Grand Canyon West

7 min read Updated November 2026 Compare all tours

Grand Canyon West is the tourist area of the Hualapai Reservation, on the western end of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It is run by Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, a company owned by the Hualapai Tribe, and it is not part of the national park. Cars stay in the lots by the main terminal and the welcome centre; from there a free hop-on hop-off shuttle runs between the three points, and according to the ticket page it comes every 15 to 20 minutes. The area is open every day of the year, including holidays.

Eagle Point and the Skywalk

The Hualapai name of Eagle Point is Sa’ Nyu Wa. It refers to a rock formation in the canyon wall that looks like an eagle with spread wings; in Hualapai tradition an eagle saved the ancestors from a flood by carrying them to the west rim. The best views of the rock are from the middle of the Skywalk or from inside the Sky View Restaurant.

The Skywalk opened in March 2007: a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge, 10 feet wide, that reaches 70 feet out beyond the rim. You walk in protective booties over your shoes. Phones are allowed on the bridge, at your own risk; cameras, bags, backpacks and selfie sticks go into free lockers, and photographers on the bridge sell pictures if you want them. At busy times each visit is limited to ten minutes, but you may queue again up to three times a day. The busiest hours are 11 am to 3 pm. Strollers are not allowed, but children who can walk may walk across, and smaller ones may be carried. An elevator in the terminal serves the bridge and the gift shop. More on our Skywalk and Eagle Point pages.

Beside the Skywalk, the Native American Village has traditional dwellings, ovens and sweat lodges that you can walk through on your own. Song and dance performances take place in the outdoor amphitheatre, mostly at weekends. Large parts of the rim at Eagle Point have no railing.

Guano Point and the old tramway

Guano Point owes its name to a mine. In 1930 a cave full of bat guano was found in the canyon wall; guano was used then for fertiliser, explosives and even make-up. In 1957 the U.S. Guano Corporation built an aerial tramway that spanned 7,500 feet, and soon afterwards the deposit was exhausted. The rusted remains of the tram towers still stand on the point.

A short, unpaved trail called the Highpoint Hike leads to one of the highest accessible points in the area, with views in every direction and no railings or barriers. Grand Canyon West rates it as moderate; the path to the tramway remains is easier, but it is a dirt road, so watch your step. The Guano Point Cafe serves barbecue with vegetarian options at tables outside. Our Guano Point page has more on the history.

Hualapai Point and the zipline

Hualapai Point is laid out as a western-style street with exhibits on Hualapai life, the Walapai Trading Post for crafts, the Hwal’bay Gallery and the Gwe-Ma’jo Restaurant. All-Access Pass holders can also use two extra hiking trails and play in the arcade.

The zipline opened in 2018 with two lines side by side. It runs for 2,100 feet, 700 feet above the floor of a side canyon, at up to 40 mph. Rides start at 9:20 am, you must be in line before 3 pm, and a ride is not guaranteed: it depends on demand and weather. Riders must weigh between 90 and 275 lbs and be at least 4 feet tall. Anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian who rides along. One guest on a coach tour was told that adding the zipline would leave little time for the canyon itself.

Down to the Colorado River

There is no trail from the rim to the river at Grand Canyon West. The quickest way down is by helicopter. From the West Rim air terminal, Papillon flies for about five to seven minutes each way to a landing spot on the canyon floor, from where you walk to a pontoon boat for a ride on the Colorado. Maverick lands on its own site above the river for about 20 minutes. Both start at Grand Canyon West, and admission to the park is a separate ticket. Papillon weighs every passenger at check-in.

From Las Vegas, the helicopters of Papillon and Maverick fly over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, land in the canyon on Hualapai land and serve champagne by the river; Papillon allows about 30 minutes on the ground. Grand Canyon Airlines combines a plane flight from Boulder City with the helicopter and the pontoon, followed by the shuttle to Eagle Point and Guano Point. The helicopter tours and Colorado River pages compare them.

For a whole day on the water, the Hualapai River Runners run one-day motorised trips with river guides from the Hualapai Tribe. The main season runs from April to October, with a few dates outside it, and everyone must be at least 8 years old. The day starts at 7 am at the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs, follows a 21-mile dirt road down to Diamond Creek, runs rapids in the first half, includes an optional hike with ropes and ladders to Travertine Cavern Falls and ends with a helicopter flight up to Grand Canyon West. Details and booking are on the Hualapai River Runners page.

In the air

A plane flight shows the canyon without a landing. Grand Canyon Airlines flies 70 minutes from its terminal at Boulder City over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the West Rim, with headset commentary in many languages, including German, French, Spanish and Japanese. Passengers over 300 lbs buy an additional seat. More on the airplane tours page.

Eating and the house rules

Grand Canyon West does not allow outside food or drinks, so lunch is part of the plan. The Sky View Restaurant at Eagle Point has a children’s menu and serves beer and wine; the Skywalk Cafe sells American food from a window, and the Guano Point Cafe and Gwe-Ma’jo at Hualapai Point cover the other points. A coffee shop opened recently between Eagle Point and Guano Point. One reviewer advises buying lunch at the first stop rather than waiting for the second.

The reservation has its own rules. Drones, firearms and bringing your own alcohol are prohibited; smoking is allowed only in marked areas. Do not take rocks, plants or artefacts, and do not throw anything into the canyon. Hualapai staff ask that visitors do not touch their hair or clothing, and they welcome questions about Hualapai culture.

On the way from Las Vegas

Most visitors pass Hoover Dam on the way. The dam is open daily from 5 am to 9 pm, and the visitor centre from 9 am to 5 pm, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Guided dam tours are sold only on site. A short tour from Las Vegas covers the dam in three hours, with time on the bypass bridge walkway and 25 minutes on top of the dam. Further on, Diamond Bar Road runs for about 20 miles through a high-desert forest of Joshua trees before the entrance.