Attractions · Our pick in Las Vegas
The Grand Canyon by helicopter: the back story
The back story
About The Grand Canyon by helicopter: the back story
The fastest way from the Strip to the Grand Canyon is by helicopter: about 45 minutes each way to Grand Canyon West. Here is how it works.
The flight
Maverick Helicopters’ Wind Dancer tour leaves the Strip, flies over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, and enters the canyon for more than 10 miles; it takes about 2 hours 20 minutes in all, with about 45 minutes in the air each way.
Landing in the canyon
The helicopter lands 3,500 feet below the rim on Hualapai land, at a private site about 300 feet above the Colorado River, where you have around 30 minutes for photographs and a champagne toast.
In under an hour you swap neon for 3,500 feet of canyon wall.
The Skywalk
Grand Canyon West is run by the Hualapai Tribe on its own land. Its Skywalk, a glass bridge 4,000 feet above the canyon floor, is at Eagle Point; personal items, including cameras and phones, are not allowed on the bridge. Maverick’s Skywalk Odyssey includes expedited Skywalk admission.
Before you book
The South Rim, with the national park’s classic viewpoints, is much further away: about 5½ hours by road, so most people fly or stay overnight. Papillon also flies to the canyon from Boulder City. Weather can delay flights, so keep your schedule flexible.
Our advice: book a morning flight in summer for cooler, calmer air, and wear closed-toe shoes for the landing site.
Why it's on our list
- The flight
- Landing in the canyon
- The Skywalk
- Before you book
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Grand Canyon by helicopter: the back story before you go.