Grand Canyon Skywalk is a sham!
After reading good and bad things about the Grand Canyon Skywalk, we wanted to experience the feeling of “walking in air” on this architectural marvel, that was completed in March, 2007 after 2.5 years and 30 million dollars worth of hard work. After reaching there we were shocked for what it was worth and we DO NOT recommend visiting this horse-shoe shaped glass walkway.
The reasons why we call it a sham are:
1. The road leading to the Skywalk has 20 miles of dirt-road which, surprisingly, is not constructed even after 2.5 years of the opening of Skywalk. This can be be extremely difficult to drive if it’s pouring down.
2. Parking at The Skywalk is provided but access to the Skywalk is only permitted by supplied coach buses. The cost of the coach ride $30, which will take you the Skywalk and two other viewing areas. There is also an additional fee of $45 for being on Hualapai land making the total cost $75 per person.
3. No personal equipment is allowed on the Skywalk and lockers are provided. No photographs may be taken by visitors on the Skywalk! However, up to three photography stations are installed. Photographs taken may be purchased in the gift shop at $29 each.
4. The whole experience of “walking in the air” is impossible because visitors have to walk on a carpet laid on the half-side of the glass floor. Walking on the glass is prohibited which makes it feel like ‘walking on land’!
5. The authorities may close the Skywalk on a slight chance of high wind or rain, and visitors who make it up to the Skywalk parking area, after driving through the dirt road, are NOT informed that the Skywalk will be closed and are still issued tickets. Upon reaching the Skywalk, they are informed that they will have to wait until the winds have died down or the rains have stopped. No refunds!
Video of the 14-mile dirt road
[Sources: Wikipedia and personal experiences]
Thanks for the info. I’m planning a 3 week trip in western usa and I wanted to propose my girlfriend on the Skywalk, but indeed, what a sham… Now looking for an other unforgettable place…
We were recently at the Skywalk in May of 2010. I thought it was absolutely breathtaking. Yes, it was a bit expensive, however still loved it. We were given little booties to wear on the glass floor but could wall anywhere we wanted on it. The photographers were great, took lots of time with us and we were able to purchase all of our photos on a USB stick for $100 and received three 5×7 prints in nice frames and on the stick there were a dozen more photos of other views of the canyon professionally preloaded.
I was not impressed with the roads either, but the View was breathtaking once we got there.
For reason #1: the roads are on an indian reserve, perhaps this is a reason why the roads aren’t paved, and isn’t the grand canyons one of the states greatest natural wonders? if you pave it with road it will loose it’s appeal and rustic/dessert feel and therefore the residents on the reserve don’t want their lands unnaturalized.
That’s nonsense. The mere fact that there is a road removes the “appeal and rustic/dessert(sp)feel” Pave the darn road.
Nonsense. You’re in an area that was the last completely unexplored wilderness in North America. Stop expecting the world to be paved….dirt roads are the standard in that region. If you can’t take a little ride on a dirt road, stay out of the region. A huge part of the resistance to developing the SkyWalk, as well as South Rim Village, was because it was going to bring a bunch of namby pamby city folk who demand luxuries at the expense of the very environment they came to see.
People have been all over the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. There are lots of early sites of habitation going back thousands of years. If it was paved, they would have more people and would not be able to watch everyone.
People would explore, go where they are not supposed to go, get lost and die. It would cost tons of money to find them and maybe get sued.
So, they keep the masses away.
total nonsense. the road on the south and north rim access points are fully paved. there is no reason that the road cannot be improved. this is supposed to be a money making venture for the Tribe. Please dont tell us that it is for the public good or something spiritual. the motive is profit. and the costs are enormous. required access fee, required parking and bus fee, entrance to skywalk fee. Also the videos on the skywalk website show people on the skywalk with cameras, which is a scam as they are not allowed. Plan on 150 a person to travel 14 miles on a dirt road, hearded like cattle from bus to whatever, spend a few minutes overlooking the grand canyon, then forced to buy high priced, terrible quality souveniers and food. No thanks. My suggestion to all is stay away.
and by the way, it is “lose” not “loose”
I found the Skywalk to be fantastic!
I visit the skywalk several times a year since it opened, and I love it! The dirt road out to it is half the fun and makes for a great adventure. The only thing I don’t like is the namby pamby tourists that try driving out there in the family sedan, you need an SUV or a truck, and when you see the big white Chevy Duramax riding your keester, MOVE OVER!
What a scam! The prices listed on the website for tickets are not the actual prices you pay once you drive 27mi., 10+ mi. of that unpaved road to get to the actual visitors center. The center is a temporary structure, and they MAKE you purchase a tour package that you don’t even want!
I was so pissed off, we actually turned back and went home! I know the tribe needs to recoup for expenses, and maybe some of the price gouging is out of their control, but everything is so misleading.
We’ll try for the national park in a couple months-good thing we live close, in Vegas.
Very disappointed on the poor direction signs, entrance fees, mandatory meal plan, man-made wonder & inadequate services.
Unbeleivable it is in USA. Tons of improvement are necessary.
Please follow Japan.
We were just there in May of 2010, I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Yes, it was a bit expensive, however what isn’t? We were given booties to wear on the glass floor and you could walk wherever you wanted. The photographer that we had was amazing, very patient and took any photo we wanted. My daughter was lying on the glass floor and he made it look like she was almost flying like superman would with the canyon below her. We were able to purchase all of our photos on a USB stick for $100 and we also got three photos (of our choice) 5×7 in nices frames. Also on the stick there were a dozen more photos preloaded of different views of the canyon. That was great!