Best South Rim Helicopter Options...The ONLY Way to Visit the Grand Canyon...50-Minute flight is best value...The North Canyon is the cheapest...Best Combo? Try the 30-Minute Heli Ride w/ Jeep Tour!
The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is located north of Phoenix and just one-hour from Flagstaff. If you're coming over from Las Vegas, it's a 5.5-hour trip. Is it worth the effort? Yes! Because the South Rim is THE REAL canyon.
By that I'm contrasting the South Rim to the West Rim, which is situated on the Hualapai Indian Reservation adjacent to the National Park but NOT in it. This is an important distinction because most Vegas Visitors go to the West and think they can cross the National Park of their bucket-list.
THE WEST RIM IS NOT THE SOUTH RIM BUT IT'S AWESOME, TOO
Don't get me wrong about the West Rim. It's absolutely beautiful and there are some lookouts that give the ones at the South a run for the money. Plus there's the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a/k/a the Glass Bridge; specifically it's a cantilevered horseshoe-shaped bridge that suspends you 4,000-feet over the bottom.
Couple of other things...the West Rim is the only place where you can fly below the rim and land on the bottom. There's a package that includes a pontoon boat ride down the Colorado River but it's on hiatus until the tribe feels more comfortable offering it during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, back here at the South Rim, you have a smorgasbord of helicopter options, the best being the one that gives you 50-minutes of airtime, which is equivalent to going over 75 percent of the National Park. Personally, I find that PHENOMENAL. Seriously, tell me how you're going to do that in a day?!?! Further, the North Rim, which is a straight shot from the South, is closed from November through March and so the only way to see it is by heli. Case closed!
LONGER FLIGHT MEANS MORE TIME OVER THE NATIONAL PARK
In terms of price, the 50-minute is your most expensive option (and worth it because you also get to do the tour on an EcoStar 130 helicopter, the newest, best tour-dedicated heli in production today!). However, and I totally understand where folks are coming from in terms of deflated budgets during this COVID-19 economy, there is a really good 30-minute tour option.
This tour goes from the South to the North and back via the Dragoon Corridor, which is the deepest and widest and most breathtaking section of the National Park. The views are terrific and you truly get a feel for the Canyon's width and breadth. It's also one of the best ways to see the Colorado River, which is the ancient waterway that created the Canyon millions of years ago.
Now here's something I need to share: The 30-minute heli package can be upgraded to include a Jeep tour! It works like this: You do the flight first and then you do the Jeep, which can be done during the day or, if you REALLY want to go for it, can be done during sunset. The Jeep basically combines pavement and dirt backroads to get you to the best (and least crowded) lookouts. IMHO, this combo package does the best job of combining air and ground. By the time you're done you can boat that you've been there, done that," and I for one will back you up.
PRIVATE TOURS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE BUT COST MORE
I also want to bring to your attention that all these tours EXCEPT the combo tours can be privatized. That means you get the entire chopper to yourself. Right now, I'm seeing a lot of friends and families pitching in to get all six seats and sharing an experience that they'll enjoy for a lifetime. If you decide to go private, book it in advance as it's a very popular option during COVID-19. Price per seat is a bit more expensive compared to a shared tour but that's how it goes if you want to fly exclusive.
Ready to try a helicopter tour? Go here for South Rim flights. And here for tours that depart from Las Vegas.
Make it a GRAND day!
