Grand Canyon West Helicopter Tours
Grand Canyon West helicopter tours start with flights from Las Vegas that reach the Grand Canyon West rim, and the options below cover where those flights land, which companies run them and what the tours include.
Where the flights start and land
Helicopter flights run from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West rim. Flights that land inside the canyon touch down on the Havasupai and Hualapai Indian Reservations, and that area includes the Grand Canyon West area. Scenic flights may not fly below the rim within Grand Canyon National Park. Some helicopter flights land on the Hualapai and Havasupai reservations, which lie outside the park boundary.
Operators and passenger volume
Papillon Helicopters flies an estimated 600,000 passengers a year on daily tours to the Grand Canyon, and those tours include the West Rim. Maverick Aviation Group, based in Las Vegas, offers helicopter and airline tours to both the West and South Rims of the Grand Canyon.
| Operator | Base or service | Coverage | Passenger figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papillon Helicopters | Daily tours | Grand Canyon, including the West Rim | An estimated 600,000 passengers a year |
| Maverick Aviation Group | Based in Las Vegas | Helicopter and airline tours to the West and South Rims | No passenger figure given |
- 600,000Estimated passengers a year, Papillon Helicopters
Tour options and cost
The Grand Escape tour combines a helicopter ride with a Colorado River rafting trip, so the river is part of that itinerary. A separate option is a helicopter flight down to the canyon bottom, next to the Colorado River, and that flight is an extra-cost option at Grand Canyon West. Both options involve the Colorado River.
- Grand Escape: a helicopter ride combined with a Colorado River rafting trip
- Canyon bottom flight: a helicopter flight down to the canyon bottom, next to the Colorado River, listed as an extra-cost option
Tours at Grand Canyon West
Canyon features and the river
The zipline at Hualapai Point spans 1,100 feet across canyon walls. Below the Skywalk, the Colorado River lies at an elevation of 1,160 ft (350 m) at the base of the canyon. Both figures appear in the table, alongside the feature each one describes.
| Feature | Figure | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Zipline at Hualapai Point | 1,100 feet | Spans across the canyon walls |
| Colorado River below the Skywalk | 1,160 ft (350 m) | Elevation at the base of the canyon |
Development history
Grand Canyon West was established in 1988 with a dirt airport, and it originally offered tours led by tribal members. The road to Grand Canyon West was paved in 2014. The site first passed 1 million annual visitors in 2015. The official site frames a visit as a journey six million years in the making.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Established with a dirt airport; originally offered tours led by tribal members |
| 2014 | The road to Grand Canyon West was paved |
| 2015 | First passed 1 million annual visitors |
- 1988Year Grand Canyon West was established
- 2015Year first passing 1 million annual visitors
Services and staffing
The Hualapai's planned Grand Canyon West development was to include hotels, restaurants, a golf course and casinos. Employee housing is not provided at Grand Canyon West. Water resources there are limited.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Hotels, restaurants, a golf course and casinos | Part of the Hualapai's planned Grand Canyon West development |
| Employee housing | Not provided at Grand Canyon West |
| Water resources | Limited |
Frequently asked questions
Where do Grand Canyon West helicopter flights run from?
They run from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West rim.
Do helicopters land inside the canyon at Grand Canyon West?
Yes. Helicopters that land inside the canyon touch down on the Havasupai and Hualapai Indian Reservations, which includes the Grand Canyon West area.
Can scenic flights go below the rim inside Grand Canyon National Park?
Scenic flights may not fly below the rim within Grand Canyon National Park. Some helicopter flights land on the Hualapai and Havasupai reservations, which lie outside the park boundary.
Is the flight to the canyon bottom an extra-cost option?
Yes. A helicopter flight down to the canyon bottom, next to the Colorado River, is an extra-cost option at Grand Canyon West.
What is the Grand Escape tour?
The Grand Escape tour combines a helicopter ride with a Colorado River rafting trip.
Which companies offer these tours?
Maverick Aviation Group, based in Las Vegas, offers helicopter and airline tours to both the West and South Rims. Papillon Helicopters flies an estimated 600,000 passengers a year on daily Grand Canyon tours that include the West Rim.
When did Grand Canyon West first pass 1 million annual visitors?
Grand Canyon West first passed 1 million annual visitors in 2015.