The Grand Canyon Skywalk Destination FAQ

It always pays to know before you go to vacation destination spots. The newest of Arizona's Grand Canyon tourist destinations is Skywalk, located along the west rim. Thousands go there to walk onto a glass extension that extends 70 feet over the Grand Canyon rim allowing visitors to peer down 4000 ft. below. Thousands of feet. As breathtaking as it is, know that you will pay dearly for it.

The project is a joint venture between, David Jin, a Chinese born man who runs a tour business there and the Hualapai indian tribe. It is purely a revenue cash cow for both. The Skywalk cost $30 million to make and Jin makes a portion of the revenue and also receives discounts for those tourists he brings in from Asia. The two parties are now in court, warring over the proceeds. Jin claims the Indians are ripping him off. The Indians claim he never completed the contract and left many projects uncompleted.

The Skywalk is either an awesome experience or a rip-off. Plan on spending about $75 per person just to access and then enter the Skywalk overhang to peer down. Photos are verboten. Be prepared on driving along a dirt, rocky road for some of the way to get there. To access the glass overhang, you will take off your shoes and where slippers. Be prepared for high prices at the gift store, like, $2000 for an indian headress or $30 for one arrow. The Skywalk website is deceptive in their pricing. One can also purchase photos on a USB stick for $100 and get three photos (your choice) 5×7 in nice frames. Also on the USB stick there were a dozen more photos preloaded of different views of the canyon. Up to three photography stations are installed on the Skywalk. Photographs taken may be purchased in the gift shop at $29 each (all personal belongings, phones, cameras etc., must be stored in a locker before entering the Skywalk)

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. One does not simply drive up, park, and walk onto the Skywalk.

They want your business. I say drive a few more hours and go to the National Park at the South Rim. For $25 a vehicle you can walk right to the rim or down into the canyon itself.