
13 Mar Grand Canyon West: Adventures at the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is just one of those places that has left its mark on us. The splashes of pink shining off the rocks at sunset, the Colorado river that twists throughout the rocks thousands of feet below, the vast nothingness spread out before our eyes, are sights that will remain forever in our memories. We visited the South Rim of the canyon a few years back, but recently we were invited back to the canyon for some fun adventures at Grand Canyon West. This time around, we spent a day flying down the zip line, riding horses to the rim of the canyon, testing our fear of heights on the glass bottom skywalk, hiking at Guano Point, and relaxing in our cabin at Hualapai Ranch. It was definitely a different side to the canyon than we experienced on our first visit, and it was a day full of adventure and adrenaline.
Zip Line
Perhaps our favorite adventure in Grand Canyon West was the brand-new zip line that opened to the public in January 2018. The zip line is made up of two runs, the first run is around 1,100 feet long, and the second is steeper and around 2,100 feet long. You will fly almost 1,000 feet above the canyon at speeds of up to 50 mph.
The zip line tour starts at the Hualapai Ranch where you get suited up with a harness and helmet. Once you have your safety gear ready to go, you hop in a cart and make your way to the zip line. There are several flights of stairs to climb before you get to the top of the first platform.
Then, the real fun starts—you are hooked in and let loose for a wild ride.
We had a blast flying over the canyon! We were soaring down the lines so fast that my eyes started to water from the chilly morning air. It was so much fun that I couldn’t stop laughing and shrieking the entire way down. Views of the canyon sprawled out in the distance, and the farther along the zip lines we went, the better the views became. At one point, we were even able to spot a river in the canyon below!
After we made it to the end of both zip lines, we got back in the cart and started towards the ranch. We took a pit stop to take a look at the canyon from a different viewpoint while the zip line guides told us stories of the rock formations.
Skywalk
The Skywalk is essentially a horseshoe shaped glass walkway that sits 4,000 feet above the floor of the Grand Canyon. The 10-foot-wide glass bridge extends out 70 feet over the canyon to give you a thrilling view straight down. From the platform, you can test your fear of heights and find expansive views of the canyon for a one of a kind adventure.
Do note however, that photos are not allowed on the bridge. You need to lock up all of your belongings in a locker before heading onto the bridge. But, if you want a photo to remember your experience, there are several photographers on the bridge that can take photos for you. You have the option to purchase individuals photo prints, or a zip drive with all of the photos the photographer took of you plus several photos of the Grand Canyon. We don’t normally purchase photos from attractions we visit, but we did buy one printed photo of us on the bridge—we couldn’t resist.
If you want to see the Skywalk from a different vantage point, head to Sa’ Nyu Wa restaurant for views of the bridge while you eat. This restaurant provides a fantastic view of the Skywalk, and while photos of the bridge aren’t normally allowed from here either, we were able to take a few extra snaps when the manager was showing us around.
Horseback Ride
For a different perspective of the canyon, hop on a horse and go for a ride to the edge of the canyon.
Grand Canyon West offers 30, 60 or 90 minute horseback rides, each with different views of the canyon. Due to time constraints, we opted for the 30 minute ride. Neither Micah nor I are experienced horseback riders, so the short and simple ride to the edge of the canyon and back was perfect for us. Plus, the views of the canyon were wonderful in the early morning light!
Hike at Guano Point
Hiking always makes its way onto our itineraries—it’s one of our favorite things to do, and at Grand Canyon West, it was no exception. Because the land at Grand Canyon West is all tribal land, you aren’t able to roam around the rim of the canyon and hike on unmarked trails. But, one of the areas you are able to explore and wander around, is the Guano Point area. The trail at Guano Point is short and sweet, and you can make it as easy or as difficult as you would like. Part of the trail is flat and groomed, and there are also plenty of rocks to climb around and explore.
Make sure to check out the remnants of the tram that used to run across the canyon to a guano mine on the other side of the canyon. The tram used to span around 8,800 feet across the canyon, and that’s how this area received its name. It is crazy to imagine how intense the tram ride would have been during operation—it’s definitely a long way down!
The views from this vantage point are absolutely spectacular. You will definitely want to plan a couple of hours (or more!) to soak up the views at Guano Point. We arrived late afternoon and once the area closed at 5 p.m., we could barely pull ourselves away. The phrase of the afternoon became “one more photo!” because we just couldn’t stop.
Hualapai Ranch
The Hualapai Ranch is essentially a replica of an old Wild, Wild West Town. Complete with a (root) beer saloon, a gun show, the Shootin’ Gallery which is an animatronic shooting game, wagon rides, mechanical bull rides, hay bales to lasso, and more; the ranch is a cute spot for some Wild West fun. We couldn’t help but think how perfect this spot would be for a family with kids—we would have loved visiting the ranch when we were children!
Overnight in the Cabins at the Hualapai Ranch
If you’d like to stay overnight at Grand Canyon West, there are 26 rustic cabins at Hualapi Ranch that you can rent. We spent two nights in a cabin and really enjoyed the solitude after the crowds left for the day. Our cabin had a patio out front, queen sized bed, couch, and a bathroom—it was a cozy place to spend a couple of nights.
Weather permitting, you can join a nightly bonfire complete with s’mores and campfire stories. And, if you are thirsty at any point throughout the night, the Food Hall doors stay open 24 hours (food service stops at 8 p.m.), so you have access to coffee, tea and soda. Breakfast is also included in your stay, and we had the option of pancakes, eggs, biscuits with gravy, bacon, sausage, and toast.
Dining
There are several restaurants at Grand Canyon West, so you can surely find something to suit your tastes and budget. Each viewpoint stop has a restaurant or café to pick from, but we only ate at the Hualapai Ranch Food Hall and the Sa’ Nyu Wa restaurant at Eagle Point.
The Food Hall at the Hualapai Ranch offers western style food and musical entertainment. You can dine at the Food Hall for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast, as I mentioned above, was included with our cabin stay. We ate here both mornings and enjoyed the short stack pancakes (which were huge!) with bacon, and another meal of eggs, toast and bacon. For dinner, we returned to the Food Hall for another nice, hot meal. We had our choice of meat, two sides, cornbread, and a cookie.
For lunch one day, we ate at Sa’ Nyu Wa, which is the fine dining restaurant at Eagle Point. Micah ordered the French dip sandwich and I had the Hualapai tacos on fry bread. Both options were delicious, and the views of the canyon and Skywalk right outside the window made the experience complete. Since we were there for a work project, the chef brought out a sample of some other dishes served at the restaurant, as well. We were able to try the fry bread appetizer, calamari, quail, chicken wings, and more—needless to say, we were stuffed!
Admission Packages
When you visit Grand Canyon West, there is an admission cost per day to enter the tribal lands. There are several different admission packages that you can purchase. Basic admission (Hualapai Legacy Day Pass) includes access to the viewpoints and stops via a shuttle bus, photo opportunities with the Hualapai tribal members, and an official Hualapai visitation certificate. In addition to what is provided with the basic day pass, the Legacy Gold Level comes with a skywalk ticket and a meal at one of the viewpoint restaurants. There is also a VIP admission option which includes a guide and a Native American gift in addition to everything in the packages listed above.
No matter which level of admission ticket you decide on, you always have the option to add on any meals or activities once you arrive. You can participate in activities such as horseback riding, aerial tours, boat rides and float tours, zip lining, rafting trips, and more.
Tips for Visiting and Things to Remember
While images of off-trail hiking might come to mind when visiting the Grand Canyon, this portion of the canyon is located on Tribal Land. This means that since the land is used by the Hualapai Tribe for their day to day lives, you aren’t able to roam wherever you want. You need to stay on marked trails and access points, as well as ride the shuttle through the park. But this doesn’t mean you won’t experience the amazing wonders of the Grand Canyon. You do have access to many fantastic views of the canyon as well as all of the adrenaline inducing adventure activities we mentioned above.
It’s always a good idea to make advance reservations for lodging, and there are several activities that can be booked online prior to your visit. Head to the Tickets tab on the Grand Canyon West website to see what can be purchased in advance. But, reservations for most of the activities can be booked upon arrival.
So, no matter how you decide to experience the canyon, it’s definitely one of those places that deserves a spot on everyone’s bucket list!
We visited Grand Canyon West as part of a paid media campaign. Special thanks to Grand Canyon West for hosting us on our adventures through the canyon. As always, all opinions, thoughts, and ramblings are our own.
Eva
Posted at 02:43h, 17 MarchThe Grand Canyon is on the top of my list of places yet to visit in the US. Your post is therefore great inspiration to define this list with more detail. Now I do not only want to visit the Gran Canyon, but I want to go horseback riding there, too 😀
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:35h, 22 AprilGlad to hear that–thanks, Eva! Hope you enjoy it when you visit! 🙂
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Catherine Salvador Mendoza
Posted at 07:31h, 17 MarchThe Grand Canyon is mighty awesome! It’s one of those amazing places that anyone must see including me! Zip lining looks very fun, I’ve only done it once and at first I was so terrified but eventually, I enjoyed it. It’s more enjoyable if you get one of the best views like you’ve had. World class views, exciting activities, and a relaxing cabin! Love the bed there! I could stay for more nights! How cool is the horseback riding?!
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:32h, 22 AprilTotally agree–definitely a must see spot! All of the adventures were so much fun and the views were certainly a plus 🙂
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Danik
Posted at 10:07h, 17 MarchOK, you sold me even more. Grand canyon is the next place I want to see in the USA and looking at wha tyou did, I really want to do myself. And the skywalk…yup, I am totally sold. Bookmarked this page. 🙂
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Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:31h, 22 AprilGlad to hear you are going to check it out next time you are in the USA! The Grand Canyon is wonderful!
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noel
Posted at 12:05h, 17 MarchI didn’t know the western side was this gorgeous and filled with fun adventure and recreation. I would love to do this and check out the reservation and natural beauty here.
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:30h, 22 AprilYeah we didn’t realize how much was there either! Lots of wonderful adventures and nature!
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Leah
Posted at 02:46h, 18 MarchAs an American, how can I have never been to the Grand Canyon? I’m so ashamed!!!! When I do finally get there, I’m totally doing that zipline. How fabulously thrilling and scary!
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Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:29h, 22 AprilDoesn’t it always seem like the places close to home are the hardest to visit sometimes?! Hope you can check out both the Grand Canyon and the zip line sometime–both so amazing!
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Danijela
Posted at 03:19h, 18 MarchI’m always stunned by the Grand Canyon landscape and your photos really give the place justice. 🙂
Love those rustic cabins. What better and more authentic place to stay when visiting here, right! And how about the new zip-line, would love to try it sometime! Judging by your photos, you had great time.
Lovely! Thanks, guys! 🙂
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:28h, 22 AprilThanks, Danijela! We loved the cabins too–they were really fun to stay in for a couple of nights!
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Marcus & Mel
Posted at 11:36h, 18 MarchWe have been to the Grand Canyon once but we would love to go back and spend more time to enjoy that wonderfully dramatic landscape. The zip line looks fun but not too sure about that skywalk. The Sa’ Nyu Wa fine dining restaurant looks really good and what better views could you have.,
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Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:26h, 22 AprilHaha, yeah the skywalk was a little intense! It was a lot of fun, but the views were pretty crazy, lol!
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Rosemary
Posted at 21:45h, 18 MarchTwitter: afoodquest
The Grand Canyon continues to be at the top of my list and I’m saddened I have not made it there yet. This is fascinating to read about everything there is to do. The ziplining looks like so much fun. Getting to be in the tribal grounds is also a very special experience. Thanks for the inspiration to finally book my trip to the Grand Canyon!
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:26h, 22 AprilHope you enjoy it when you visit! It’s such an amazing place and really moving to see in person!
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Janine Thomas
Posted at 04:49h, 19 MarchThe Grand Canyon has been on my bucket list for ages. I watched a program about the Skywalk being built and it fascinated me. I definitely want to see it. Great tip about another view from the restaurant area. You were lucky to get the extra shots. Reading this makes me want to head to the USA, now but I have so many plans for this year so maybe next year 🙂
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:24h, 22 AprilThe program about the Skywalk being built sounds so interesting! Will have to check that out. It was really a neat thing to see in person, so hope you can check it out next year! 🙂
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Linda de Beer
Posted at 01:11h, 21 MarchWow, you sure had an action-packed day at Grand Canyon West. That must be the longest zip line I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been on skywalks in Austria, but this one is sure to test my fear of heights. I can’t wait for the Grand Canyon to leave its mark on me and to taste the food of the Sa’ Nyu Wa fine dining restaurant.
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:20h, 22 AprilIt really was an action-packed couple of days! Hope you can visit the Grand Canyon sometime–the zip line and skywalk were all so fun and the food at the restaurant was wonderful, too. Would be great to check out the one in Austria too!
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Sophia Grace
Posted at 00:47h, 29 MarchNice one! The Grand Canyon looks really wonderful.
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:04h, 22 AprilThanks! It is a really great spot!
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Tadej Kozar
Posted at 03:58h, 29 MarchOh a place for me this is! I love adventures and adrenalin sports. Grand Canyon here I come.
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 03:03h, 22 AprilIt’s definitely a great spot for some adrenaline and adventure! Enjoy!
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Dustin Borglin
Posted at 04:33h, 19 AprilHello from one travel lover to another! That looked like one long zip line! What a great adventure, I really need to make it to the grand canyon. Have a great day and thanks for sharing : )
Jenna Kvidt
Posted at 02:57h, 22 AprilThanks, Dustin! It was a long zip line–so much fun! Hope you can make it to the Grand Canyon sometime soon!
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