Drive & FLY: Take Your Rental Car to the West Rim and Do a Helicopter Tour (and More!)
There are times when it's easier to fire up the rental car and road trip it to the West Rim. No muss, no fuss. Just turn the key, punch the gas and head east down I-11 to I-93 and then hang a left at Dolan Springs).
Used to be the majority of people wanted to helicopter directly to the West Rim and land on the bottom. Or they'd try the one that landed on the top. But things have changed and I'm getting a TON of requests for the overland package.
So, by popular demand, I'm giving this "dry & fly" package its due. First, it takes appx. 2.5 hours to get from Las Vegas to the West Rim. Please, make sure to fuel up in Vegas. Gas stations east of Hoover Dam exist but the price per gallon is expensive.
I also urge you to consider bringing plenty of water and some salty snacks and food. During the summer, temperatures are easily over 100 degrees by mid-day. Not the most affordable place for breakdowns. That said, the road is in excellent condition and well traveled. On the flipside, winter tends to be on the cold side.
Bottom Climate
The takeaway: Be prepared and dress for weather. Summer travelers should consider sunscreen, a brimmed hat, long-sleeve shirt, lightweight pants and sunglasses. Winter guests should dress in layers and pants and bring a jacket, scarf, hat, sunglasses etc. Avoid open-toe shoes. In fact, wear running shoes or boots. You'll need the traction.
The West Rim sits amid the Hualapai Indian Reservation, which comprises one-million acres of pristine Mojave Desert and the western-most part of the Grand Canyon. It's a stark, beautiful, wild landscape that's home to wild burros and bighorn sheep (the state animal of Nevada).
Drive & Fly packages include a West Rim park pass. There's designated parking for guests' vehicles, with plenty of room for campers and RV's. Exiting the car you'll walk over to the Skywalk Complex and check-in for your flight. The exact location for check-in will be on your confirmation letter.
It's recommended that you check-in 30-minutes prior to flight time. Remember, too, that during spring, Las Vegas time is one hour behind Arizona time, and Arizona is where the West Rim is located. You can confirme what's what with your hotel concierge or by calling 24 hours prior to flight time to confirm.
Options
There are two West Rim heli tours available. The first one takes off from the top, flies over the Canyon, then makes the 4,000-foot descent to the bottom and lands at our private airfield next to the Colorado River. This is the part of the tour that I enjoy the most. In fact, it feels downright prehistoric as you cut and juke past buttes and cliffs in the "land that time forgot."
The other tour does the same but includes a boat ride down the mighty Colorado River. The boat itself is a steel-pontoon cruiser with outboard engines. It's owned and operated by members of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, who are super helpful and will answer any questions you might have about the Canyon, the river or the Tribe. The boat motors about 15 minutes upstream then cuts its engines and u-turns for the ride down and back to the dock.
There's plenty of time to take pictures on the bottom, and I recommend you do so. Under 5% of the six million people who visit the canyon make it to the bottom. You're in an elite group that says it's done it. That, in my opinion, deserves photographic proof ;-) Same can be said for the boat. Then it's back in the chopper and ascending to the top, which is just as amazing as flying to the base.
The West Rim is open until early evening and you are welcome to spend as much time as you like there before they close the gates. One thing I recommend is trying the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Also known as the Glass Bridge, it's actually an all-glass platform that lets you walk some 75 feet over the edge until you're suspended 4,000 feet over the bottom. You're not allowed to take cameras or phones on the bridge (they have lockers where you can safely store your devices), but there are Tribe-hired photogs who'll get that perfect shot for you.
@TheSkywalk
The Skywalk overlooks Eagle Point, a canyon ridge that looks like its namesake. The Skywalk Complex is directly west of the bridge. It's home to several kiosks where you can buy food and drink. There's also a VIP lounge on the second floor and the [TIP!] views are incredible. The complex is also near The Amphitheater, where the Tribe performs ritualistic dances and more.
You can also catch a ride on the free hop-on hop-off shuttle. It starts at The Complex and ends at Guano Point, site of an abandoned guano mine. The view from Guano is spectacular and to my mind is better than Eagle Point because you really get to interact with the Canyon and can see the River, which from the top looks like a sliver (truth is it's huge and you'll know that having already flown to the bottom and taken the boat ride). You can also take the shuttle to Hualapai Ranch, which is a recreation of an Old West town featuring gunfight reenactments and townspeople in character. There's also several food kiosks to satisfy the munchies.
Typically, I'm finding travelers spending a good part of the day here. When you include drive-time, this tour will most likely get back in the early evening so plan for that and avoid trying to add on a show or a dinner reservation. Too many variables to account for to make back-to-back plans upon your arrival in Las Vegas. Overall, these Drive & Fly tours are getting great reviews and are highly recommended for folks who enjoy the adventure of the open road.
Click Here for West Rim Helicopter Bottom-Landing
Click Here for West Rim Helicopter Bottom-landing Plus Boat
