The walls of the Grand Canyon are a sight that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. It’s hard to describe into words how the walls of this massive canyon are painted with the colors of nature, creating a unique landscape like no other and seen for miles on end. I had always wanted to see the Grand Canyon but never made it that way. I knew of Grand Canyon trips from Vegas, so when we went with the kids, I decided it was the perfect time to try it. Grand Canyon West, on the Hualapai reservation, is the end of the Canyon but home to the SkyWalk a unique glass bridge over the canyon that gives you a view like no other. We had to go and see this marvel!
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- Why We Booked
- About National Park Express
- About the Grand Canyon West & Hoover Dam Photo Stop Day Tour from Las Vegas
- Why I Liked the Tour
- Who the Tour is For
- What to Know Before You Go
- How to Book
Why We Booked
Those on the blog know that we like the easy button on this blog, and my husband and I don’t love to do long drives during our relaxing vacation. I knew that there were a number of bus tours that would leave from Vegas and take you to the Western Rim of the Grand Canyon. We had never been, so we figured this was the perfect way to see the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and eliminate the pesky hours of driving ourselves.
About National Park Express
National Park Express, around since 2000, is a private company that specializes in tours in the Southwest Region, such as Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion. But their original tour was from Vegas to the Grand Canyon and that is what we chose. With luxury motor coaches, convenient pick-up spots on the Strip, and lunch provided, it was the perfect choice to fit in with a day trip to the Grand Canyon.
About the Grand Canyon West & Hoover Dam Photo Stop Day Tour from Las Vegas
We selected the classic Grand Canyon West and Hoover Dam Photo Stop Tour that left from Vegas at about 7 am. We were picked up right on the strip at the former Treasure Island. There were lots of tour busses picking up from that same location, but luckily National Park Express’s Moter Coaches are branded, making it easy to find. They call out the destination, and then you check in with the guide as you board the bus. Once everyone is aboard you are off!
Drive to Grand Canyon
It is about a three-hour drive to the Grand Canyon West, and they stop after an hour and half in at a rest stop with clean restrooms and a store with snacks. I have teenagers who were already unhappy with the early wakeup, so they slept the first half of the trip. The driver did let us know when we were crossing the Colorado River or something interesting was outside, but honestly, we were all tired on the ride up, saving our energy for the big event.
Entering Grand Canyon West Park
When we entered the Hualapai reservation, the driver put on the speakers and our crew started to wake up to hear the instructions. You are provided three hours in the park. We were dropped off at the entrance where there is a bus that goes around to different stops in the park. We were warned that there was enough time to do maybe two stops, and only enough time to do the Zip Line adventure or the SkyWalk. SkyWalk is the most popular and it was suggested that you go there first if you had included the SkyWalk in your package, which we had. We were also warned that there was no way off the reservation once the bus left except by private plane so don’t miss the bus. Talk about scare! We had purchased SkyWalk Tickets, so we got off and took the bus to Eagle Point and immediately joined the line for the SkyWalk.
Scaling the SkyWalk
I remember when the news articles came out about SkyWalk, but I was so excited to actually experience it myself. SkyWalk is a 10-foot wide, horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that goes OVER the Grand Canyon to provide you with views that you could only see from a helicopter. When you arrive at Eagle point, you immediately head to the building holding the bridge and join the line. It moves quickly and you get up to the front where you learn the rules.
- You must wear shoe covers walking on the glass.
- No bags, phones or cameras are allowed; they all have to be locked up.
I was incredibly disappointed about the no cameras rule. However, they conveniently have professional photographers available, and you can purchase the photos at the end. Note that they will not take cute, candid photos. They are all posting photos and they will try and push you along as fast as possible. We tried to hold back as long as possible to look and take in the view that you get like no other. The view is spectacular and it’s so cool to see the walls of the canyon and the river below.
Hiking Guano Point
Once we finished the SkyWalk, we took the bus to Guano Point. Here you have a picnic area surrounded by awe inspiring views of the Canyon. Our tour provided a bagged lunch, so we took this opportunity to eat. Then we went on the rail-less trail to get views of the canyon. We climbed up to the highest point and got a view for miles of the canyon. It was hard to take in all we were looking at once. But after about an hour, we took the bus back to the entrance and made sure to make it to the bus on time.
Checking Out Joshua Trees
On the way back, we stopped at Arizona Joshua Tree Forest to view the Joshua Trees. The inspiration for the trees in the Lorax, Joshua Trees live in the desert. When the Mormons were crossing the Mojave Dessert, they saw this tree and the branches looked like the biblical Joshua raising its arms in prayers, and so they were named Joshua Trees. My daughter was tired at this point, so she stayed on the bus, but the rest of us got out and walked around a little bit to see the trees and take pictures. The bus was always in view so it’s not a long stop.
Photo Stop at the Hoover Dam
As we boarded the bus, the TVs showed an episode of Modern Marvels from the History Channel that focused on the building of Hoover Dam. This was a great introduction to what we were seeing and some background information in an easy and interesting way. Once the video was over, we arrived at the Hoover Dam photo stop. We were given 45 minutes to go up to the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and walk out to see the Hoover Dam. On the way up to the bridge, there were exhibits about the building of the bridge, but we did rush past them so we could get to the bridge in a limited time. The bridge gives a spectacular view of the dam, and you can see all the features that were mentioned in the video such as the leaning the transmission towers are actually angled to ensure that the high voltage wires don’t touch the rock faces.
Why I Liked the Tour
The tour is a long full day, but you get so much in one day, and you can rest after all your exploring instead of driving and focusing on the road and making sure you don’t get lost. I didn’t really need the Joshua Tree stop; I would have preferred more time at the Hoover Dam or Grand Canyon West. But otherwise, it gave us enough time at all the places we stopped and let us see things we never have before.
Who the Tour is For
This is one of those large tour buses with about 60 people, so to enjoy this tour, you have to be able to both be ok with a structure and be independent enough to explore on your own within a strict timetable. It works great for families who want the easy button, like us, that gets everything done for them. It’s also good for people who are vacationing in Vegas and don’t want to rent a car and do this on their own. The wake-up time is hard on the teenagers, but doable (with some Starbucks bribery and a promise to sleep on the bus). This is great for families of elementary school kids as it is just the right amount of time for every location.
What to Know Before You Go
- Get breakfast to go: The pickup is early, so we decided to get breakfast to go, and it was the best decision. Our bus pickup was near Starbucks so we mobile ordered some breakfast sandwiches and coffee and enjoyed that on the bus as we headed out of Vegas.
- Battery Backup: It is a long day, and you are going to be taking a lot of pictures. Make sure to bring a battery backup with you, and cords. I love these battery backups from Amazon that have the cords included for easy packing.
- Snacks: Lunch was ok, but you also don’t want to make sure that you maximize your time at the parks instead of sitting and eating. I suggest that you have a number of snacks in your bag to help you get through the long day. I love to have granola bars or Clif Z-Bars as they are packable and filling.
- Good Sneakers or Hiking Shoes: We didn’t do very strenuous hiking, but if you do or want to get into the more involved trails, then you should have hiking boots. We did fine with our handy Sketchers Go Walk Sneakers
- Day Backpack: It’s a long day, and you are away from the bus for a significant period of time, so you need to carry a lot, especially if you are a family. Lunch needs to be carried with you. I brought my usual day bag but wished I had brought a regular day hiking backpack to hold everything.
- Plan your SkyWalk Time: I wish I had realized how the photos would be rushed on the SkyWalk. I suggest if you want specific shots, you tell them right up front instead of being pushed into the typical family shots that they force you in.
How to Book
We booked the trip through Get Your Guide, a tour aggregator that I love for finding tours that fit your needs. You can also book directly through National Park Express website.
It’s okay to see nature and not be a hiker. It’s okay to use the easy button to see the major sites. We took this tour and saw one of the most amazing natural wonders, and one of the most amazing modern marvels all in one trip. Everyone loved the natural wonder, climbing on rocks, and looking at the damn. The teens enjoyed the big comfortable coach bus, and I enjoyed napping on the ride instead of driving or having to direct. This trip is an excellent way for families to take this amazing adventure without the hassle of planning on their own. And it creates a wonder that she stays with the kids for years and years to come.
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