World's Highest View

 

The Grand Canyon West Glass Bridge
You’re standing on a platform made of glass. The rim of the Grand Canyon is 70 feet behind you. The other side of it is 3 miles in front of you. Then you dare to look down and see ………… nothing - nothing but 2,000 feet of air between you and the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Until recently, a sensation like this could only be experienced in dreams. But now, on a small Indian reservation East of Las Vegas, dreams and reality will meld into one with the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Located at Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, the new Grand Canyon Skywalk opened to the public on March 28th, 2007. The structure, consisting of a U-shaped cantilevered glass bridge jutting 70 feet past the rim of the Grand Canyon, was dreamt up by Las Vegas businessman David Jin while taking part in a Grand Canyon tour in 1996. With the help of Las Vegas design firm Lochsa Engineering, Jin’s creation will be sturdy enough to hold the weight of a dozen fully loaded 747’s, and strong enough to withstand winds up to 100mph. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin lead the first walkers on the Grand Canyon Glass Skywalk in a private ceremony on March 20th, 2007.

It is hoped that Grand Canyon West’s Skywalk Project will give an economic boost to the Hualapai Indian Tribe, who have battled widespread unemployment and poverty for decades. Grand Canyon West, in development since 1988, offers Grand Canyon touring opportunities not available elsewhere, such as helicopter rides to the Colorado River, cowboy cookouts, horseback rides on the canyon rim and one-day Grand Canyon white water rafting trips.

Grand Canyon West is located approximately 3 hours from Las Vegas, 6 hours from Phoenix or 4 to 5 hours from Grand Canyon's South Rim. Since one of the primary access roads to the area is unpaved, it is recommended that visitors take advantage of a Park and Ride Shuttle Service offered for a nominal fee from the Grand Canyon West Welcome Center located near Meadview, Arizona. Half-day and full-day tours to Grand Canyon West are available from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon South Rim, Page/Lake Powell, Peach Springs, Flagstaff and Sedona.