Grand Canyon West Rim

The West Rim generally refers to the Hualapai Indian Reservation (Grand Canyon West), which is located along the western portion of the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Grand Canyon West is home to the Skywalk, a glass bridge over the canyon’s rim and one of Grand Canyon’s most popular tourist attractions. The West Rim also makes up the Havasupai Indian Reservation and Havasu Falls, as well as Toroweap and Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument in the far western Grand Canyon along the North Rim.

The geology and landscape of the West Rim is dramatically different from that of the North and South Rim. The Rim itself has little or no forest, and the views although beautiful are not as dramatic as those inside Grand Canyon National Park. Due to its lower elevation, the West Rim is warmer than other parts of the Canyon, and has great weather in the cooler seasons. The summer on the other hand can be very hot, but it’s a great time to visit Havasu Falls or do the Grand Canyon’s only one-day whitewater rafting trip, a classic canyon adventure. Read the guide below to learn more or check out our West Rim map to see all the West Rim destinations and attractions.

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West Rim Destinations

Grand Canyon West, the Skywalk and the Hualapai Reservation

This is where the Grand Canyon Skywalk and other attraction are located, including the Grand Canyon West Airport. The increasing popularity of the Skywalk brings a wealth of visitors to the Hualapai whose main source of income is tourism. To get to the West Rim visitors need to fly via plane or helicopter, or make the drive down Diamond Bar Road. The closest town to Grand Canyon West is Meadview, AZ which has some lodging and facilities, as well as access to Lake Mead NRA.

The West Rim is closer to Las Vegas than Grand Canyon Village and a portion of the drive goes through a beautiful Joshua Tree Forest. This drive is an isolated are of sage brush and high desert giving you a wild west type vibe. Your trip to the rim will be fairly uneventful except for a modern-day dude ranch you'll pass on the way. Once you reach Grand Canyon West there is an entry fee you'll need to pay along with the fee to visit the Skywalk or other activities.

Besides the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the West Rim offers several other activities for tourists. There is a Dude Ranch, Colorado River boat rides, Hummer Rides, an Indian Village Replica, Cowboy and Indian shows, and various other viewpoints. The Tribe has a restaurant along-side the Skywalk and there are snack and drinks available in their souvenir shop. If you've been to the North Rim and South Rim, or just have a short window from Vegas, Grand Canyon West is a great option.

Havasupai Reservation and Havasu Falls

Not far from the small town of Seligman, AZ is the turn-off for the Havasupai Indian Reservation. This road leads through high desert sage and pinyon juniper forest to Hualapai Hilltop the jumping off point to visit Havasupai Falls and Supai Village. The only way to arrive to these destinations is hiking the 10-mile trail or catching a limited first come first serve helicopter flight. The main attraction on the Havasupai Indian Reservation is Havasu Falls and several other waterfalls found along Havasu Canyon. This area offers world class hiking, swimming holes, mules rides and a chance to learn about the culture of this unique tribe.

Guru Tips for Exploring the West Rim

The West Rim is home to the Skywalk and Grand Canyon West as well as Havasu Falls and some off the beaten path adventures. Nearby Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Black Canyon and Las Vegas also offer a variety of attractions and activities. Here’s a couple tips for making the most of a West Rim visit.

Reserve your hotel or campground in advance

Although it's not as busy as the South Rim, West Rim Lodging options are limited so it's a good idea to book in advance. Check out our West Rim Hotel guide to learn more or make reservations for your West Rim adventure.
Camping is also limited on the West Rim, but Havasu Falls is extremely popular and offers a world class backpacking and camping trip. Check out our Havasu Falls page to learn more.
Another great option to explore the canyon and other nearby attractions is to rent an RV. Outdoorsy has a ton of options from camper vans to larger RVs.

Book a tour or ticket before you get to the canyon

A guided tour is a great way to really experience the Grand Canyon and having a reservation means you won't have to worry about finding activities when your on vacation.
Learn more about tours with our complete list of Grand Canyon Guided Tours.

Get geared up

Make sure you have the right gear for your trip. From whitewater rafting and hiking to multi-day Havasupai adventures good gear is essential.
We’re definitely gear junkies here at the Grand Canyon Guru. Check out our recommended gear for our favorite canyon-ready clothing, travel bags and outdoor gear as well as rental options to outfit your trip.

More resources for your West Rim trip

It always a good idea to have travel insurance for your trip. Check out rates and get travel insurance before you head to the canyon.
If you need more booking options for hotels, rental cars, flights, tours and tickets just check out our Grand Canyon reservations page.
Take a look at our featured tour and recommended West Rim hotel below and learn more about West Rim Visitor Centers, locations and more.

Recommended Attraction - Hoover Dam with Skywalk Option

Experience the Hoover Dam and West Rim from Vegas, with an option to add on a ticket to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, from $189 on Viator.

Hualapai Lodge - Best Hotel Near the West Rim

Located in Peach Springs, AZ the Hualapai Lodge is close the Skywalk, Whitewater Rafting and the Havasu Falls trailhead. Rooms start at $139 a night.

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West Rim Visitor Centers

Grand Canyon Skywalk Visitor Center

In 2007, Grand Canyon visitors got an entirely new view of the canyon with the opening of the Skywalk at Eagle Point (also referred to as Grand Canyon West). The 10-foot-wide, horseshoe-shaped glass bridge extends 70 feet out over the rim of the Canyon. Your heart will race as you look down 4,000 feet to the floor of the canyon below. While there is no official visitor center in Grand Canyon West, there are numerous facilities to meet all of your needs and friendly staff throughout that can help answer questions or book tours.

There's something for everyone at Grand Canyon West: thrill seekers can feel the adrenaline by booking a trip on the Skywalk, zipline or river rafts, while more relaxed visitors can take in the views and learn more about Hualapai culture from the more traditional canyon overlooks, artisan and dance demonstrations, gift shops and restaurants.

Grand Canyon Skywalk Visitor Center: Hours, Address and Location

Season: Open year-round.
Address: 5001 Buck N Doe Road, Grand Canyon West, Arizona.
Parking: Ample parking for vehicles, RVs, trailers and tour buses.
Hours: 7am-7pm.

Supai Village Visitor Center

Supai Village is located deep in the heart of Grand Canyon, next to the world-famous turquoise waters of Havasu Falls. Accessible only by a 8-10 mile long trail (and 2000 ft below the rim of the canyon) or helicopter, visitors can choose to hike or travel in via pack mule. This area is not open to day hikes and permits must be acquired in advance in order to access any part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. For those lucky enough to get a permit, you can visit the Supai Village Camping Tourist Office upon arrival and get more information about area hikes and services. The small trailer in the Haulapai Hilltop parking lot is not reliably staffed so make sure that you get your permits and any necessary information before you arrive.

Supai Village Visitor Center: Hours, Address and Location

Season: Campground is open February 1st-November 30th. Lodge is open year-round, with temporary closures for renovations through March 2018.
Address: Due to its unusual location, there is no address for Supai Village. All access to the area starts at Hualapai Hilltop parking lot. Take Interstate 40 to Historic Route 66. Turn north on Route Indian 18 and travel 63 miles down a dirt road until it dead ends at Hualapai Hilltop.
Parking: Small dirt parking lot is only designed to accommodate those with prior reservations.
Hours: Camping Tourist Office is open 6am-6pm May-October and 9am-3pm November-April.