Is The Grand Canyon West a Tourist Trap?

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I rarely listen to travel advice from strangers, especially if that advice is telling me NOT to go somewhere. So when I heard of people calling the Grand Canyon West a scam and a tourist trap, and ultimately not worth the visit. Well, obviously I HAD to go visit and see for myself.

That’s how travel works, right? 

Before we get into my actual trip, I think it is important to understand what exactly is “The Grand Canyon West.” 

Is the Grand Canyon West part of the National Park?

Short answer, no, The Grand Canyon West is NOT part of the Grand Canyon National Park.

But I see how it could easily be confused.

First of all, it has the same name. Grand Canyon….but…the West part? I mean, technically, yes, it contains part of the canyon that makes up the National Park as well, but the “west rim” of the canyon is not included in the National Park.

Why? Well, because it’s stolen land. I mean, all of the land currently occupied by the United States is Indigenous land. Including National Parks. Though despite the country’s countless attempts of genocide, erasure, and systematic and institutional racism, the Indigenous peoples of the Americas ARE STILL HERE. And that’s where the Grand Canyon West comes into play.

The Grand Canyon West is on the Hualapai Native American Reservation and is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. The National Park is actually 5 hours away (the south rim). The Grand Canyon West is kind of similar to the Havasupai Reservation, which is home of the Havasupai Falls. Getting a permit from the Havasupai people is the only way to trek to the beautiful Havasupai Falls, located in Havasu Canyon…which is TECHNICALLYYYY another section of the “Grand Canyon”, but not part of the National Park.

So The Grand Canyon West is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe! Got it? Cool!

Why do people visit if it’s private?

Well, National Parks aren’t free either, but I see what you mean. Why visit a specific side of the canyon if you can’t get the cute lil “National Park” passport stamp? Why the West Rim over the National Park?

WELLLLLL aside from supporting Indigenous people, most people actually visit the West Rim because of it’s proximity to Las Vegas. From Las Vegas, the West Rim is a little over 2 hours away (by car). Easily a day trip! The Grand Canyon National Park, however, is about 4.5 hours. Even flying into the closest major airport (PHX – Pheonix, Arizona) to see the National Park is STILL a bit over 3.5 hours away. So honestly, timewise, the West Rim is the easier and more convenient way to go. It isn’t the National Park, but whatever, same canyon.

Right?

The Bad Reviews

I mentioned it before, but before my -long- trip to Las Vegas, I looked into visiting the West Rim and mostly….saw a lot of complaints. They weren’t about the views themselves, but rather the price and operations.

“The West Rim is a scam”

“Total tourist trap!”

“Save your money!”

“Might as well go to the National Park instead!”

I had to say – I was intrigued. And, naturally, I went anyway. I wanted to see what made this location so “tourist trap-y” and if it was actually worth the price.

Admission Costs

Speaking of, let’s talk ticket pricing. You can’t visit for free. In fact, you can’t even drive around in your own car. You park in a parking lot, then buy a ticket, and a shuttle hop on-hop off bus carts you around to the different sites. There are a few different ticket options, so I’ll explain them really quickly below.

Legacy Tickets

When you see the word “legacy,” that’s literally just talking about the base entry fee. So the most basic ticket is just the “Grand Canyon West Legacy” ticket at $44 USD. That ticket includes the hop on-hop off shuttle One step above that is the “Legacy Skywalk” is $62 USD for all the basic level attractions + the Skywalk (which I’ll get to in a moment). And finally there is the “Legacy Gold” at $79.50 USD which includes all that and a meal!

Those will all get you in the gate.

Add on options

There is now also a new Zip Line option for $60 USD (wasn’t available during my visit). You can use all the amenities at the Hualapai Ranch, but you’d have to buy the Legacy ticket to use the shuttle bus or visit any of the other sites. And also fun options like taking a helicopter ride through the canyon to spot waterfalls ($224 USD) and a helicopter/boat duo trip ($163 USD).

There is even an option to float on the Colorado River for $174 USD (with a helicopter ride I believe). You can upgrade to a “historical” float to learn more about the region and the Hualapai Tribe ($184 USD).

ORRR You could get the super-inclusive all day “Grand Tour,” which includes general admission + Skywalk, a helicopter ride down through the canyon, the educational boat ride to a separate canyon, and then a helicopter ride back for a total of $272 USD. Which…isn’t bad considering what it comes with!

So pick whatever you fancy, I went with the Legacy Skywalk because…I don’t think most of this was even offered back when I went. I would recommend buying your tickets online, as they are cheaper, but you HAVE to buy them at least 24 hours before your date if you want the online price.

My Experience at the Grand Canyon West

So I didn’t have any fancy add-on experiences, just the Skywalk.

Overall, my experience was great! And I’ll start with the positives. My total ticket price was $62 USD. If you compare it to the National Park ($35 USD per vehicle), it’s almost double, buut you don’t have to use your own gas while driving around (since you use the shuttle), so that’s nice. By visiting the West Rim, you are supporting the Hualapai Tribe. Dope. It’s really close to Las Vegas, you see cool historical sites (like Guano Point), and you see some great canyon views at the same time!

Now the negatives. I meannn. $62 USD is a lot of money. You could opt for the $44 basic option and leave out the Skywalk, which helps a little (I know I know, I’ll get to the Skywalk). The food is expensive as well, but tbh it’s expensive at the National Park too so you can’t really complain about that.

The shuttle comes…regularly enough, every 20-30 minutes, if I remember correctly, but waiting around in the HOT SUMMER SUN makes every second feel like years. Oh yeah, did I mention I went in the summer? The first week of August. PEAK HEAT. Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend that. There isn’t any shade really, so, be prepared for that.

OKAY KAY, WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE SKYWALK!?!?

Alright alright.

The famous Grand Canyon West Skywalk.

Where do I begin.

So I bought the slightly more expensive ticket to get the opportunity to walk on the glass platform jutting off the side of the canyon and overlooking the Colorado River. Sounds pretty rad in theory, right?

Well, let me give you a heads up. NO CAMERAS.

Nope, not even cell phones.

You get a free locker to store all your stuff, then you scuttle over onto the platform hands (and pockets) free. They have photographers there to take your picture for you, and then, of course, sell them to you afterward. If you don’t want any pictures, then you can roam around on the platform for as long as you want, but be mindful of other guests. If you do want a picture…well, prepare to wait.

But this is what killed me—

When I went, there were three photographers, and it seems like that might be the case year-round since they space the groups apart from each other. I waited about 20 minutes for my turn, which I suppose isn’t THAT long, but in the sweltering heat, it felt like death. Now, two of those photographers seemed pretty skilled. They would get on their tiptoes, crouch low for the angles, and seemingly had a good eye (not that I saw the outcome). My photographer happened to be the only young adult on shift who…well…did not give the same effort. Betrayed by my own generation *cry*

After the photoshoot (about 10 minutes), I went inside for the AC and to view the pictures. They were all REALLY BAD. I mean, granted, it was about 2pm and the lighting wasn’t doing any favors, but even the angles were unflattering. I can’t speak for the quality of all the photographers, but mine was disappointing. If you happen to get a good photographer though (I’ve seen their Instagram, and SOMEONE has to be good cuz those pics are bomb), each picture is $16 USD, or you can get all of them for $65 USD.

It would be nice to be able to ask the photographers to at least use your own camera so you could edit the RAW image, but alas. Maybe in the future.

Other Tips for Visiting the West Rim

• No pets! AND NO LEAVING THEM IN THE CAR EITHER. You can drop them off at pet daycare at the Hualapai Lodge.
• I’d say 4 hours is a good amount of time for the general admission without any add-ons. That said, I visited for only 3 hours and missed the “wild west” drop off point because I get scared of driving in the dark and wanted to leave before sunset.
• No outside food permitted, so either eat before or grab a bite inside.
• It’s not really a hiking destination, but bring comfortable walking shoes.
• BRING A SUN HAT. AND SUNSCREEN.

Final conclusions on the Grand Canyon West Rim

So my final thoughts – NO, it is not a tourist trap. It’s almost the same price as the National Park (if you go alone), and you’re supporting Indigenous People. This “attraction” that visitors come to see is the main source of revenue for this Tribe. A community that is neglected, underrepresented, underserved, and discriminated against by the government. So I understand the price point.

Plus, the facilities were all clean and functional, the staff was friendly, everything was well organized, and the canyon was…well, pretty darn grand. With the exception of the Skywalk, I personally had a gosh golly great experience. So if you want to save money, for sure go for the most basic entry ticket and skip the Skywalk, though I don’t regret doing it! It was still pretty cool, even without a picture! And I even want to go back for the Zip Line!

So in my opinion, the Grand Canyon West is not a scam. It isn’t a tourist trap. Also…idk, but it’s…kind of rude to call someone’s home a tourist trap, eh? I think many people might not grasp the complexities behind the price tag. BUT if you’re on a budget, this isn’t the best option for you. Maybe check out the Red Rock Canyon a few minutes away from Las Vegas instead.

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What are your thoughts?

Have you ever been to the West Rim? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments below!

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