Grand Canyon Walkway

The Grand Canyon walkway is also known as the Skywalk and it's called this for good reason. This bridge is made from glass and provides you with a vertical view of the spectacular gorge. The Skywalk is shaped like a horseshoe and spans 70 feet from the edge of the rim. The bridge is a mile above the Colorado River. People who are afraid of heights may have a real problem with this bridge. When you look down, you get to see a clear view of the Canyon bottom 4000 feet below.



The Skywalk bridge was created by the Hualapai Indian tribe and is located on their reservation at Grand Canyon West. The grand opening of the bridge was in March of 2007 with the first people to walk on the structure the Hualapai elders and famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Although the bridge looks frightening, it is very safe. It can withstand weight equal to 71 Boeing 747 airplanes. In addition, it can hold up under 100 mph winds. It's even earthquake proof up to 8.0 on the Richter scale. Because the most dangerous part of the walk is the risk of slipping, visitors are required to wear protective shoe covers.

You are not allowed to take cameras or other personal belongings onto the Skywalk. However, you can purchase photographs taken by your tour guide. The Skywalk is offered as an addition to various tourism packages sold by the reservation. These packages include things like tours through the Hualapai village, cowboy demonstrations, a petting zoo, various exhibits and shows, and more. It costs $25 to add the Skywalk to any of the available packages. This seems pricey but a walk on this amazing glass bridge is the experience of a lifetime.

One of the downsides to reaching the Skywalk is the drive you must make to get there. The road is rough and bumpy for approximately 14 miles. If you do not want to drive your car there are various tours that go to this region. There has been some controversy associated with the bridge, as some feel it desecrates what is considered sacred ground. However supporters of the bridge feel it allows tourists to get an even more spectacular view of the canyon and helps support the positive economic development of the Hualapai tribe. If you're going to be in the area, a visit to the Grand Canyon walkway is definitely recommended.

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