South and North Rims of GC...what about West??
Sep 9th, 2006, 10:59 AM
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South and North Rims of GC...what about West??
Looking at info re: air tour of Grand Canyon. Lands on Western Rim with short bus tour of the area. Anyone done this or know anything about the west rim??
Sep 9th, 2006, 11:09 AM
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The national park acess is at the South and North rims (with lodging, restaurants, etc.)
The west rim is only accessible via tribal land. I don't know that bus tours are available. Access via the west rim is restricted.
The west rim is only accessible via tribal land. I don't know that bus tours are available. Access via the west rim is restricted.
Sep 9th, 2006, 11:23 AM
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I have been googling in the last few minutes and have read that "Grand Canyon West Rim is located in the remote wilderness area of Northwestern Arizona on the Hualapai Indian Nation Reserve. There are no guard rails or buildings to obstruct your view or deter from the natural surroundings of the canyon"
I imagine the vista will be wonderful. Personally, I don't mind the guard rails for safety reasons
http://www.kingmantourism.org/to-do-...n-west-rim.php
The "Over the Rim" tour offers a helicopter ride AND a pontoon boat trip. Very interesting!
I'm looking forward to more answers to your post.
I imagine the vista will be wonderful. Personally, I don't mind the guard rails for safety reasons
http://www.kingmantourism.org/to-do-...n-west-rim.php
The "Over the Rim" tour offers a helicopter ride AND a pontoon boat trip. Very interesting!
I'm looking forward to more answers to your post.
Sep 9th, 2006, 11:34 AM
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Wow! This day trip includes an airplane trip from Las Vegas, over Hoover Dam to West Rim, a bbq, bus ride, helicopter ride down to the canyon floor, pontoon boat ride and back up to rim via helicopter. "Only" $344!
Sep 9th, 2006, 11:55 AM
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"Just wondering if anyone can compare the vistas... "
No comparison. The only reasons the W. Rim receives as many visitors as it does is because it's so close to Las Vegas, helicopters flights can actually land on the canyon floor because it's on reservation land, and the tours are marketed quite well. It's not the same as the S. or N. rim.
No comparison. The only reasons the W. Rim receives as many visitors as it does is because it's so close to Las Vegas, helicopters flights can actually land on the canyon floor because it's on reservation land, and the tours are marketed quite well. It's not the same as the S. or N. rim.
Sep 9th, 2006, 12:21 PM
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The tour I found, starrsville, is $174 for plane, bus and lunch. I don't think I could handle much more than that. I'm with you re: guard rails, but I managed the Cliffs of Mohr so, maybe....
Hey, Weasel, what do you mean "not the same"?
Hey, Weasel, what do you mean "not the same"?
Sep 9th, 2006, 01:07 PM
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The West Rim does not offer the wide-open vistas of the S./N. rims. The canyon is much narrower (2-3 miles wide) here, as opposed to 10-15 miles wide at the S. Rim. It's not as far from the rim to the river at the W. Rim, but because that distance is compressed due to the narrowness of the canyon, it's a much more vertical view than you get at the S. Rim.
So, if you go to the West Rim, what you see will look somewhat like the classic photos of the S. Rim, only not as grand and sweeping. I think alot of people that go for the West Rim tours do so because of the reasons I listed in my previous post, and because they simply don't realize what they're missing in terms of the view. With nothing to compare it to, how could they?
I had to laugh at the description starrsville quoted about the lack or guardrails and buildings to obstruct the view: that's a perfect example of clever marketing by the tour companies, because it implies that somehow the view is better at the West Rim, and that the S. Rim view is obstructed by guardrails and buildings. Yes, there are a few guardrails in select locations, and of course some buildings at the S. Rim, but it's so incredibly easy to get away from them that it's borderline ridiculous to tout the absence of guardrails/buildings as an advantage. I applaud them for being inventive in trying to make a buck, I just wish people would know what they're getting and what they're missing.
I could go on and on, but I'll stop before I get going on the BBQ (!), slow water pontoon ride (20 minutes?!) and guided tour by a Hualapai (how does that compare to a ranger talk?).
So, if you go to the West Rim, what you see will look somewhat like the classic photos of the S. Rim, only not as grand and sweeping. I think alot of people that go for the West Rim tours do so because of the reasons I listed in my previous post, and because they simply don't realize what they're missing in terms of the view. With nothing to compare it to, how could they?
I had to laugh at the description starrsville quoted about the lack or guardrails and buildings to obstruct the view: that's a perfect example of clever marketing by the tour companies, because it implies that somehow the view is better at the West Rim, and that the S. Rim view is obstructed by guardrails and buildings. Yes, there are a few guardrails in select locations, and of course some buildings at the S. Rim, but it's so incredibly easy to get away from them that it's borderline ridiculous to tout the absence of guardrails/buildings as an advantage. I applaud them for being inventive in trying to make a buck, I just wish people would know what they're getting and what they're missing.
I could go on and on, but I'll stop before I get going on the BBQ (!), slow water pontoon ride (20 minutes?!) and guided tour by a Hualapai (how does that compare to a ranger talk?).
Sep 9th, 2006, 01:16 PM
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Well, Weasal, how much time does one HAVE on a pontoon boat when you pack all that in in just one day!
I don't need convincing. I like the South Rim and I feel in love with the North Rim this summer. The North Rim is exactly what a national park should be and what a national park experience should be!
I don't need convincing. I like the South Rim and I feel in love with the North Rim this summer. The North Rim is exactly what a national park should be and what a national park experience should be!
Nov 26th, 2006, 06:35 AM
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I am late to this but Sallyjane3 can you let me know what you found. We are planning a trip to LV and would like to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. We thought about the west rim tour but still not sure.
Dec 5th, 2006, 07:19 PM
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Hi there, jean. I ended up taking one of the tours to the South rim...scores of companies offering such trips. Had a grand time. Just plan on the trip taking longer than the website says...we left at 7Am, got back to hotel around 10PM. Totally worth it. My daughters and friends are speechless when they view my pictures.
Dec 6th, 2006, 02:55 PM
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Jeanrn, I went to the west rim in 10/05 on a tour from LV with a bunch of guys and the only reason I wasn't disappointed was becuz I'd already been to the south rim a number of times and seen its grandeur; the other guys, who hadn't been to the south rim, thought the west rim was great. I encouraged them to check out the south rim some day...... Then they'll realize there's absolutely NO comparison.
Bottom line, the south rim (as well as the north) is one of the greatest "wows" on the planet. If you haven't seen it, I urge you to take a trip there and to pass on the west rim. Dave
Bottom line, the south rim (as well as the north) is one of the greatest "wows" on the planet. If you haven't seen it, I urge you to take a trip there and to pass on the west rim. Dave
Dec 7th, 2006, 04:54 AM
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jeanrn62226: Several years ago my husband and I did the west rim tour while on a quick getaway to Vegas.
Of course, we knew that the Grand Canyon's grandest viewing spots were the south and north rims, and some day we plan on going there when we can spend more time than just a few hours.
We loved our visit to the west rim. Maybe it isn't as fantastic as the south rim, but it is still amazing. But the real reason we chose the west rim is because we found a tour that took you to the top AND the bottom. There is a road on the Hualapai Reservation that actually goes all the way to the river. So in one day we viewed the canyon from both ends! It was breathtaking!
There is no chance in the world that I (personally) would ever ride a donkey or hike down into the canyon. But I wanted to see the bottom, and the west rim was the way to do it.
We lucked out and were the only people booked for the tour, so we had out own personal tour guide. He picked us up at the hotel around 7:00 a.m. and we were back in Vegas in time to shower, have dinner and go out for the night.
The company we used was Action Tours....but I just went to their website to get the tour number for you, and they don't do the rim/river tour anymore! I'm sure there are other companies that do.
I hope this helps. Have fun no matter what you decide!
I recommended this tour to two other couples, and they both took it while visiting Las Vegas and raved about it when they returned.
Of course, we knew that the Grand Canyon's grandest viewing spots were the south and north rims, and some day we plan on going there when we can spend more time than just a few hours.
We loved our visit to the west rim. Maybe it isn't as fantastic as the south rim, but it is still amazing. But the real reason we chose the west rim is because we found a tour that took you to the top AND the bottom. There is a road on the Hualapai Reservation that actually goes all the way to the river. So in one day we viewed the canyon from both ends! It was breathtaking!
There is no chance in the world that I (personally) would ever ride a donkey or hike down into the canyon. But I wanted to see the bottom, and the west rim was the way to do it.
We lucked out and were the only people booked for the tour, so we had out own personal tour guide. He picked us up at the hotel around 7:00 a.m. and we were back in Vegas in time to shower, have dinner and go out for the night.
The company we used was Action Tours....but I just went to their website to get the tour number for you, and they don't do the rim/river tour anymore! I'm sure there are other companies that do.
I hope this helps. Have fun no matter what you decide!
I recommended this tour to two other couples, and they both took it while visiting Las Vegas and raved about it when they returned.
