Do NOT Visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk

I have visited the grand canyons (south rim) several times, and decided to visit Grand Canyon West this time during labor day in sep 2007 due to all the recent hype. We drove down from Las Vegas to Hualapai land, it takes about 2.5 hours.

Here are some notes from our experience -

1. We drove to Grand Canyon West, the final 14 miles drive on diamond bar road is really horrible. We were in a smaller car (not an SUV) and at times we thought the car would break down. We actually had some trouble starting the car later in the day. Definitely don't drive there in your nice car, rent an SUV if you must. Your rental contract may prevent you from driving to the Grand Canyon West, so check with the rental company.
   

2. We did not find the Hualapai folks friendly toward visitors. The attitude was more like "we want your money, but we do not want to be courteous to you". Thankfully, they employ enough non-Hualapai tribes people who are friendly enough to answer common visitor questions, and point out directions.

3. We just wanted to walk on the Skywalk (we drank the cool aid), but were forced to take other "tour packages". The skywalk is supposed to be $25, but the package ends up costing you $86 (including taxes). Definitely NOT worth it.

4. It seems they are trying to create a theme park out of Grand Canyon (like universal studios and disneyland) than actually preserving the natural beauty and sanctity of these lands. They also plan to build a restaurant and may be a casino in the future. I think the National Parks is doing a much better job of protecting their land than they are.
   

5. The food was a disappointment at Guana point as well as at the ranch. And they do NOT have vegetarian options. The level of hygine seems exceptionally low.
   

6. The old village on the ranch is more of a wild western town and does not really fit in with the Grand Canyon theme. Also, it is just a mock set. You would have seen better ones at Universal studios.
   

7. If you really want to see the Grand Canyon, go to Grand Canyon South. Grand Canyon west neither has the colors, nor the grandoise of the real grand canyons.

8. This is definitely not worth the money ($86). If I had to pay just $25 to walk the skywalk, may be I would not have minded that. I wish there was some way to get a refund.
   

9. Most of the fellow travellers on the trip were asians. It seems to me that some tour companies are forcing them to take this option. Tour companies could easily bundle this into other packages and con non-suspecting tourists.
   

10. The "dancing" wasn't really dancing - unless you think moving around in a circle saying the same thing over and over again is dancing
11. There is too much of dust, temperatures are too high and the infrastructure is not good enough to hold the tourists.
    
12. You don't learn much about the Indian culture, nor there is any reasonable interaction with them.
    

This is the package we ended up taking, this seems to be the cheapest package that you can take if you want to walk on the skywalk -

Sky Package

Hualapai Visitation Permit and Certificate - (The $50 is for this)

Rim top narrated transfers (the microphone in all the buses are broken, so you can hardly hear any bus driver talk. there is also very limited stuff to be said)

Photo Opportunities with Hualapai Members (we got one decent photo with the only Indian we saw in tribal outfit)

Points of Interest
Eagle Point

Explore the Indian Village - (there is not much of a village at all. just two tents and a hualapai guy walking in circles)

Walk on the Skywalk (this would be worth the $25, if you could only take this and not pay the other $50 to enter their land. Also they do not allow cameras)

Native American cultural performance (not much of cultural performance at all. in fact after the trip, we were left wondering, if these guys actually had any culture at all).

Guano Point

Panoramic Colorado River viewpoint (this is really the 2nd best part of the whole trip. may be worth $5)

Site of the Historical Guano Mine & Tram remnants (nothing much to see here)

High point Hike (nothing much to hike in 115 degrees)

Hualapai Market (hardy a market)

Hualapai Ranch

Cowboy games and demonstrations (this is at least entertaining. though if I wanted to see performances I would see a show in Vegas or go to Universal studios)

Horse drawn wagon ride (just hyped)

Petting zoo (couple of farm animals, thats it)

Meal at destination of choice:
- All-you-can-eat Hualapai Buffet at Guano Point (this seemed pretty sad)
-- OR --
- All-you-can-eat Western Town Cowboy cookin' (had a couple of options. quality bad. hygine low.)

I think overall the trip is worth $30 at most. Though considering the time taken to drive there, the nasty 14 miles from hell of unpaved roads and the unfriendly hualapai people, I think the trip is disappointing and not worth the money. Visit the real Grand Canyon (South Rim) to see Grand Canyons, and if you wanna see some wild west scenes, go to Universal Studios in Los Angeles. The hualapai people do not come across as friendly people, and some of them seem to be frustrated with this whole theme park. The walk on the skywalk is exciting (just like any ride in a theme park would be), this is worth only 25$ at most. Given the 86$ package fee and the awful 14 mile drive, this is definitely not a trip worth making.

Your mileage may vary, feel free to add your comments below.