The Skywalk’s 10-foot deck is made up of six layers of Saint-Gobain Diamant low iron glass and DuPont SentryGlas. Dropping your camera will damage the glass. The rule also extends to camcorder and cell phones. Additionally, you will be asked to wear fabric shoe covers prior to stepping onto the Skywalk, which makes sense considering the surrounding terrain is dirt and rock.
This is not ordinary glass. The 46-glass floor panels are reported to have a production cost reaching $250,000 each, and can be scratched or damaged by falling metal objects. This glass is also used for the Bridge’s 5-foot, 2-inch wind-resistant glass railings.
So how do you get a picture of you on the Skywalk? Two ways: 1) Cameras affixed to the bridge; and 2) authorized photographers. Pictures taken by the stationary cameras can be purchased and picked up in the gift shop.
COSTS
You can purchase tickets to the Skywalk on site or have them included in your tour package. Current admission prices are: Adult – $29.95 Child – 3-11 years: $22.46 Senior & Military – $26.96 You can stay on the Bridge as long as you want.
PACKAGE TOURS
Most Las Vegas-based tour operators are able to include tickets to the Skywalk in your tour package. This specifically applies to West Rim bus tours and helicopter flights. Discounts might be available if you purchase online.
GETTING THERE
The Skywalk is located in Grand Canyon West, also known as Grand Canyon West, which is located 120 miles east of Las Vegas. Drive time takes 2.5 hours. Typical routes follow Highway 93 South, passing Lake Mead, the nation’s largest man-made lake, and Hoover Dam, before detouring down a 10-mile dirt road to the Canyon’s edge.
BACKGROUND
Grand Canyon Skywalk, elevation 4,770, is owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe and opened in 2007. The horseshoe-shaped glass walkway stands 3,600 feet above the Canyon’s floor – a height that exceeds that of the world’s highest skyscrapers. The Skywalk extends over a side canyon that offers unparalleled views of Granite Gorge, the main canyon that contains the Colorado River. The Skywalk can support 100 pounds per square foot, as well as seismic shocks and strong winds. The walkway could carry 822 people that weigh 200 pounds each without overstressing the structure. However, maximum occupancy at one time of 120 people.
CONCLUSION
Don’t let the ban on cameras stop you from seeing the Grand Canyon Skywalk. The attraction is still one of the most breathtaking ways to get experience the canyon. To prove this, I’ve posted this Skywalk video. Give it a look, then decide if the West Rim is for you. I think after 10 seconds you’ll agree that the Skywalk is definitely a must-do adventure.