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Frequently Asked Questions


1. What are your hours of operation?
  • Grand Canyon West is open from 8am to 5pm daily from October to March. We are open from 7am to 7pm daily from April to September. We are open every day of the year including all major holidays.
  • Last ticket is sold one and a half hours prior to closing time.
  • Hualapai River Runners departs from the Hualapai Lodge on Historic Route 66 at 8:00am. Rafts operate March to October.
  • Hualapai Ranch cabin check-in is open 24 hours 7 days a week.
  • Hualapai Lodge check-in is open 24 hours 7 days a week.
    • Diamond Creek Restaurant is open 6:30AM to 9:00PM during the summer and 6:30AM to 8:30 Monday- Thursday, 6:30 to 8:00 Friday-Sunday during the winter.
    • Note: Arizona does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, so there is a 1 hour difference from Las Vegas and California (Pacific Standard Time) when Daylight Savings time is inactive. When daylight savings time is active, the time is the same as Pacific Standard Time.


    2. Are pets Allowed at Grand Canyon West?  Back to Top
    Pets are not permitted on tours or allowed to be left in parked cars. Pet accommodations are available at the Hualapai Ranch (fee applies). Service animals are permitted on tours.

    3. Where is the nearest commercial Airport?  Back to Top
    The nearest major commercial airport is McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas is 2 1/2 drive from Grand Canyon West (30 minute flight) or a 3 hour drive to the Hualapai Lodge.

    4. Where is the nearest gas station to Grand Canyon West?  Back to Top
    There is a gas station at the Star Market on Pierce Ferry Road in Dolan Springs or at the Last Stop Grand Canyon Tour Center on the 93 at mile marker 23. You can also get gas at Grand Canyon West in an emergency.

    5. Where are the nearest accommodations to Grand Canyon West?  Back to Top
    • We offer the Tranquility package at Grand Canyon West that includes accommodations in one of our western style cabins facing the Canyon, a meal and the tour of Grand Canyon West.
    • We also offer the Hualapai Experience package at the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs, Arizona, which is 2-hour drive from Grand Canyon West on the way to Flagstaff or Phoenix. This package includes overnight accommodations and the Legacy package at Grand Canyon West.
    • You can also find overnight accommodations in: Kingman, AZ (1 1/2 hours): Las Vegas, NV (2 1/2-3 hours); Laughlin, NV (2 hours); or Boulder City, NV (2 hours).
    6. Is Grand Canyon West part of the National Park?  Back to Top
    Grand Canyon West is not part of the Grand Canyon National Park that is 5 hours away. Grand Canyon west is on the Hualapai Native American Reservation and is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe.

    7. Are reservations required?  Back to Top
    If you are driving yourself to Grand Canyon West for the day, reservations are not required. Reservations are required for overnight stays (to insure availability), rafting excursions and tours that include transportation to Grand Canyon West.

    8. If I drive to Grand Canyon West without making a reservation will I be turned away?  Back to Top
    No, we do not limit the number of visitors to Grand Canyon West. However, the last tickets are printed two hours prior to closing.

    9. How long should I plan on being at Grand Canyon West?  Back to Top
    We recommend that you arrive in time to spend at least four hours to fully experience Grand Canyon West. If you are in a hurry, it can be done in three.

    10. What is the weather like at Grand Canyon West?  Back to Top
    The weather is very similar to the weather in Las Vegas. It is approximately 10 degrees warmer in the spring and summer and 10 degrees cooler in the fall and winter.

    11. Can I bring food and beverages to Grand Canyon West?  Back to Top
    Grand Canyon West offers a variety of meal options. Bringing outside food and beverages to Grand Canyon West is not permitted.

    12. Is there an address I can put into my GPS?  Back to Top
    The physical address of the Grand Canyon West air terminal is:
    5001 Buck n Doe rd. Grand Canyon West, Arizona (no zip available)
    However, that address does not always work for every model of GPS but you can program the latitude and longitude into your GPS.
    Latitude: 36d0'43.55"N Longitude: 113d48'40.50"W for accurate directions we recommend the directions available on the web site www.hualapaitourism.com

    13. How long is the unpaved road leading to Grand Canyon West? Back to Top
    Diamond Bar Road, a Mohave County road, is 21 miles long. Only 9 miles are unpaved. However, that portion of the road is graded and maintained.

    14. What is the Legacy Package?  Back to Top
    The Hualapai Legacy Package is the basic entry package to Grand Canyon West. It is a self-guided tour of all points of interest at Grand Canyon West. Included in this package are the live performances, scenic viewpoints, cultural activities, a wagon ride and more. Unlimited use of the Hop-On Hop-Off shuttle is included in this package. Grand Canyon West is privately owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe and requires the purchase of a permit and Legacy Tour package for entry.

    15. Do I have to purchase the Legacy Package?  Back to Top
    Every visitor to Grand Canyon West is required to purchase the Hualapai Legacy Package. Optional activities such as Skywalk, Helicopter/Boat Tours, Hummer tours and Horseback Riding can be purchased at an additional cost.

    16. I want to drive my own car to the Skywalk. Do we have to use the Hop-On Hop-off shuttle?  Back to Top

    Transportation by private vehicle is not permitted at Grand Canyon West. We provide parking for your vehicle and Hop-On Hop-Off Shuttle service to take you from point to point.

    17. How often does the Hop-On Hop-Off shuttle run?  Back to Top
    Shuttles circulate throughout Grand Canyon West continuously throughout the day. They stop at each point of interest approximately every 15 minutes or less.

    18. Can children walk on the Skywalk?  Back to Top
    If children are old enough to walk on their own, they are permitted to walk on the Skywalk.

    19. Will I have to walk a lot?  Back to Top
    You will not have to do a lot of walking. There are many areas where you can sit down at each point of interest and the Hop-On Hop-Off shuttle can transport you between points quickly.

    20. Is there hiking?  Back to Top
    There is a moderate hike at Guano Point called "Highpoint Hike," which has a beautiful panoramic view of the Canyon/Colorado River . There is also an easy hike down to the edge of the canyon where you can see the remnants of a old Guano mine.

    21. Is there a gift shop?  Back to Top
    There are several shopping locations at Grand Canyon West at each viewpoint where you can purchase Grand Canyon west and Skywalk memorabilia, jewelry and other items crafted by Native American artisans, and mementos from the Old West.


    Fun facts:

    When did Grand Canyon West Open?
    Grand Canyon West shares it's " "birthday" with the State of Arizona. On February 14, 1912, Arizona became the 48th and last of the contiguous states admitted to the Union. Seventy-six years later on February 14, 1988, the Hualapai Tribe created Grand Canyon West and opened its land to travelers. The first official tourists were a group of 30 from the United Kingdom.

    When was the Hualapai Reservation formed?
    On January 4, 1883 President Chester A. Arthur signed an Executive Order officially recognizing the Hualapai as a Native American tribe and created the Hualapai Reservation.

    Are there Hualapai tribal members that work at Grand Canyon West?
    In 2007 alone, Grand Canyon West had quadrupled its number of employees, which provided job opportunities to hundreds of Hualapai men and women.

    How much of the Grand Canyon does the Hualapai own?
    The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and the Hualapai Tribe owns 108 miles of the "West Rim," which lines the southwestern side of the Canyon. The entire Hualapai Reservation occupies nearly 1,000,000 acres.

    Where do the Hualapai live?
    The capital of the Hualapai Tribe is Peach Springs, Arizona, which has a population of 2000 people - 1500 of which are Hualapai members and the remaining 500 are from other tribes.

    Where did the Hualapai come from?
    In the Tribes "Creation Story" the Hualapai originated from the sacred mountain, Wikame, which is located 20 miles north of the point where Arizona, Nevada, and California meet. Petroglyphs found at Wikame tell a story of the world covered with water and depict the creation of the Hualapai people and other Yuman-speaking tribes.

    What should I say when I meet a Hualapai?
    "Gamyu" that is the traditional greeting of the Hualapai.

    Is Grand Canyon West the Hualapai's only means of income?
    The Hualapai economy is based completely on tourism. Revenues from Grand Canyon West, the Hualapai Lodge, and Hualapai River Runners are the primary economic vehicles that fund the schools, roads, and other social services the Tribe relies on.

    What animals might people see on a trip to Grand Canyon West?
    Grand Canyon West is home to a variety of wildlife including Desert Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer, Coyotes, Gray Foxes, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Burros, Eagles and Red-Tailed Hawks to name a few.

    Does Grand Canyon West use any "green" energy?
    Grand Canyon West's main terminal and the guest facility at Guano Point are partially powered by solar panels. Researchers are also using Eagle Point as a testing ground for new wind power technologies.

    Do the Hualapai work with other Native American tribes?
    Grand Canyon West offers an experience that includes multiple tribes in the region and educates the public on the differences in customs and culture. Representatives from the Navajo, Havasupai, and Hopi (to name a few) haul in materials from their reservations and build their tribe's traditional dwellings in the "Indian Village" for visitors to explore. There are also dancers from these tribes that perform daily for the visitors.

    Is there really a glass walkway that hangs over the Canyon?
    Yes, Grand Canyon West is home the Grand Canyon Skywalk, which is a glass walkway that is nearly three times as high as the tallest building in the world (approximately 4000 feet above the canyon's floor). The Skywalk opened to the public on March 28, 2007.

    Who was the first to walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk?

    The first person to walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk publicly was one of the first men to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin. Also to walk during the "First Walk" ceremony was the first Native American in space, John Bennett Herrington, who led the Tribal leaders to greet Buzz Aldrin at the apex of the walkway. History was made.

    Do the Hualapai offer rafting in the Grand Canyon?
    The Hualapai operate the only one-day whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon called Hualapai River Runners. The rapids scale from class 3 to 7 and the trip ends with a helicopter flight to the top of Grand Canyon West.

    Are there movies filmed at Grand Canyon West?
    Multiple blockbuster films have been taped at Grand Canyon West most recently were "Into the Wild" with Sean Penn and "Next" starring Nicholas Cage.

    Where did Robbie Knievel jump over the Canyon?
    On May 20, 1999 Robbie Knievel jumped a distance of 228 feet over a 2500-foot deep side-canyon at Grand Canyon West. It has since become one of his most famous successful jumps.

    Is there really a viewpoint at Grand Canyon West named after bat droppings?
    Yes, one of three viewpoints at Grand Canyon West, Guano Point, is named after an old guano (bat droppings) mine that operated in the 1950's. Guano was used primarily as a fertilizer because it is extremely rich in minerals. Daring miners would hoist hundreds of pounds of guano across the Colorado River up to the present day Guano Point. The ruins of the mine and pulley system still remain, visitors can walk right up and touch them.

    Are there cowboys at Grand Canyon West?
    Yes, the Hualapai Ranch is a Wild West town that has cowboys that guide horseback rides along the Grand Canyon and even give lessons in roping and axe throwing.

    Where is the closest airport to Grand Canyon West?
    Grand Canyon West has had an onsite airport from the very beginning. Originally, there was just a small dirt air strip, now there is an airport that accommodates nearly 30 tour companies with a 5,000-foot paved runway and 10 helipads.