Grand Canyon West or South Rim
Setting and operation
Grand Canyon West is a tourism development on the Hualapai Reservation in Mohave County, Arizona. The tribal-owned Grand Canyon Resort Corporation operates it, and the site is the tribe's primary source of revenue and employment.
The site was established in 1988 with a dirt airport, and its first tours were led by tribal members. The road to it was paved in 2014, after a lengthy legal fight with a nearby landowner.
Getting there by road and air
Diamond Bar Road leads southwest for 20 miles (32 km) from Grand Canyon West to County Highway 25 near Meadview. The Skywalk can be reached from Las Vegas to the north or from Kingman to the south via Highway 93.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Diamond Bar Road, from Grand Canyon West to County Highway 25 | 20 miles (32 km) |
| Kingman, Arizona, to the Skywalk | About 50 miles (80 km) south |
| Las Vegas to the Hualapai location | About three hours |
Kingman, Arizona, is the nearest city with more than 10,000 people, and it lies about 50 miles (80 km) south of the Skywalk. Grand Canyon West Airport offers air taxi flights from Las Vegas and serves as a base for sightseeing helicopters. Helicopter flights also run from Las Vegas to the canyon rim.
Tours at Grand Canyon West
Airspace and flights
The Hualapai permit helicopters to fly between canyon walls and land near the canyon floor. Aircraft may not fly below the rim within Grand Canyon National Park.
The Hualapai allow activities that the national park does not, including flights within the canyon, motorized boats on the Colorado River and stunts.
Federal overflight limits for Grand Canyon National Park do not apply to tribal airspace above Grand Canyon West. Concerns about noise, the environment and safety are attached to that airspace.
Facilities, power and staffing
Grand Canyon West has a visitor center, restaurants, cabins, a zipline over a side canyon, a Western-themed street and examples of Native American dwellings. At the north end of the site, Guano Point has remnants of a closed mine tramway headhouse and a panoramic canyon view.
Grand Canyon West is not connected to the main electrical grid. A solar microgrid with battery storage was installed in 2023.
Employee housing is not provided at Grand Canyon West, and its water resources are limited.
Common questions
Who operates Grand Canyon West?
The tribal-owned Grand Canyon Resort Corporation runs the site, which is the tribe's primary source of revenue and employment.
Can helicopters fly below the rim inside the national park?
No. Aircraft may not fly below the rim within Grand Canyon National Park.
How far is Las Vegas from the Hualapai location?
The Hualapai location is about three hours from Las Vegas.
Is employee housing available at the site?
No. Employee housing is not offered at Grand Canyon West.
When was the site established?
Grand Canyon West was set up in 1988 with a dirt airport and tours led by tribal members.