Nunley
Newbie
Hi there. Has has anyone been to the Grand Canyon. My parents are taking me there in a couple of months and i think that we are going to go on the Skywalk. Is it worth it? Oh and if any of you have pictures from there i'd appreciate it 
daveleo
what?
Hi there. Has has anyone been to the Grand Canyon. My parents are taking me there in a couple of months and i think that we are going to go on the Skywalk. Is it worth it? Oh and if any of you have pictures from there i'd appreciate it
Is it worth seeing the Grand Canyon?
................
ooooops, I missed the point, didn't I ? . . . you meant is the skywalk worth seeing?
kxl
Social Documentary
The skywalk (at the west rim of the Grand Canyon) is on Hualapai Tribal land. They collect fees for the opportunity to walk onto the transparent skywalk platform to look straight down to the canyon floor. Is it worth it (not sure how much they charge these days)? IMHO, no it's not worth it, especially since you won't be allowed to linger on the skywalk itself.
If this is the first time for your parents, they would be much, much better off going to the south rim. Going there, and spending a day or two or more would definitely be worth it.
If this is the first time for your parents, they would be much, much better off going to the south rim. Going there, and spending a day or two or more would definitely be worth it.
Vics
Veteran
Look up "awesome" in the dictionary, and you'll see a picture of the Grand Canyon. (You're dinner order is NOT awesome, notwithstanding what the waiter said about it.) Take all your lenses. Maybe a hike down into the canyon. Remember that what goes down must come up. Have fun!
f16sunshine
Moderator
One of our members lives and works there.
Hopefully he will chime in with some thoughts.
Hopefully he will chime in with some thoughts.
angelopartemi
SnakeFace
I would say the Skywalk is a bit gimmicky. You cannot bring a camera on it, and you are only allowed out there for about 15min. In my opinion, it is not worth the money.
I might be bias, as I live at the south rim. But, I think your time would be much better spent coming here and hiking to Uh Ah point on the South Kaibab Trail. It's 3hrs round trip. Less than 5% of visitors to the canyon go below the rim, and you could be one of them.
If you are not into hiking, I would suggest driving out on the west rim. The road is closed to the public during peak season, but can now be is accessed by all. Hopi point is great, but is super crowded, Mohave is amazing for sunset, and at Pima you get the best views of the river. The west rim drive is nine miles one way, and probably the best views in the park.
I would also recommend renting a bike at Bright Angel Bike Shop near the Visitor's Center. A really great way to enjoy this unseasonably warm weather we have had, while getting your fitness on.
Kolb Studio is also a must. First commercial photographers at Grand Canyon. You can actually take a tour of their house, and it is breath taking!
Small fact: Scratch the bark of an orange Ponderosa Pine, and it will smell like vanilla.
I hope this helps.
I might be bias, as I live at the south rim. But, I think your time would be much better spent coming here and hiking to Uh Ah point on the South Kaibab Trail. It's 3hrs round trip. Less than 5% of visitors to the canyon go below the rim, and you could be one of them.
If you are not into hiking, I would suggest driving out on the west rim. The road is closed to the public during peak season, but can now be is accessed by all. Hopi point is great, but is super crowded, Mohave is amazing for sunset, and at Pima you get the best views of the river. The west rim drive is nine miles one way, and probably the best views in the park.
I would also recommend renting a bike at Bright Angel Bike Shop near the Visitor's Center. A really great way to enjoy this unseasonably warm weather we have had, while getting your fitness on.
Kolb Studio is also a must. First commercial photographers at Grand Canyon. You can actually take a tour of their house, and it is breath taking!
Small fact: Scratch the bark of an orange Ponderosa Pine, and it will smell like vanilla.
I hope this helps.
De_Corday
Eternal Student
Oh man... A rim to rim hike is a dream of mine. Never did the skywalk, so can't speak to that, but I did a bit of the South Kaibab Trail, to a bit past the Uh Ah point and... man, my tiny east-coast sensibilities just couldn't get over the *scale* of the place... you look allllll the way down to the bottom, only to realize that that's not the bottom at all, its the top of the next part.
Hands down one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
Hands down one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
Lss
Well-known
Grand Canyon West is worth a visit, and the views are spectacular. You need to pay a sizable entrance fee, though. Then you need to pay extra for the Skywalk if interested. It's good for a "quick visit" from Las Vegas, but the national park is significantly more enjoyable for anyone who likes being outdoors.
The Skywalk is not much of a photo opportunity, you are not allowed to take your camera there. You can have your picture taken by a "professional photographer", though. The Skywalk is okay as such, and worth it if you have never before walked on a similar see-through platform and never intend to do it elsewhere. It is pretty expensive for a short walk that takes you nowhere, and I think spending the same money to do it on a skyscraper somewhere would be better.
The Skywalk is not much of a photo opportunity, you are not allowed to take your camera there. You can have your picture taken by a "professional photographer", though. The Skywalk is okay as such, and worth it if you have never before walked on a similar see-through platform and never intend to do it elsewhere. It is pretty expensive for a short walk that takes you nowhere, and I think spending the same money to do it on a skyscraper somewhere would be better.
Nunley
Newbie
judsonzhao
Well-known
I expect some photos showing up in this thread?? plz : )
mdwsta4
Matty Westside
Of course the Grand Canyon is worth visiting, but not the glass skywalk. At least not if you want to take photos. They charge $20 more and you are required to empty out your pockets so nothing drops on the glass. This includes cameras/phones.
The logic behind this is absolutely ridiculous because if I drop my camera and the grass cracks, how am I supposed to feel confident standing on the platform with 50 other people?
That said, you can pay the lower amount and stand right next to the glass skywalk for nearly the same perspective. If you've never been to the Grand Canyon it is a must see. Just don't believe the hype of the glass skywalk.
The logic behind this is absolutely ridiculous because if I drop my camera and the grass cracks, how am I supposed to feel confident standing on the platform with 50 other people?
That said, you can pay the lower amount and stand right next to the glass skywalk for nearly the same perspective. If you've never been to the Grand Canyon it is a must see. Just don't believe the hype of the glass skywalk.
mdwsta4
Matty Westside
Here is the skywalk from November 2013
And here is the view with the skywalk just out of frame
And here is the view with the skywalk just out of frame
Paul Jenkin
Well-known
My wife and I visited the Grand Canyon during our road trip on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. We went on the train up from Williams, so we didn't see the Skywalk. Just as well as I don't really "do" heights / sheer drops and dread to think how I'd react staring down several thousand feet with nothing but plexi-glass to support my ample frame!
As for the Grand Canyon, Skywalk view or not, it is an awesome place and the statistics of it's depth length and width beggar belief. It's somewhere that I would recommend to everyone, if they have the chance to visit.
As for the Grand Canyon, Skywalk view or not, it is an awesome place and the statistics of it's depth length and width beggar belief. It's somewhere that I would recommend to everyone, if they have the chance to visit.