Grand Canyon West Rim With Kids

The Grand Canyon has been on my list of must-do experiences for years, but I’d just never made the trip happen. It’s amazing what you’ll make a priority once kids are involved. I knew I didn’t want them getting all the way to adulthood without experiencing one of the most magnificent wonders of the world, so on our recent trip to Las Vegas I knew it would be the perfect one day add-on.

We’ve all seen the pictures of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, but did you know about the Grand Canyon West Rim? I surely didn’t until I began researching excursions for our recent trip to Las Vegas. I was pleasantly surprised to find that we could experience the beauty and wonder of the “Big Hole In The Ground” in less than a 3 hour drive.

We’re a big family, so renting a car was a much better option for us than booking one of the many tour buses available from the strip. We were able to take our time, sing annoying road trip songs, and make a cool stop at the Hoover Dam for a short history lesson and some photo snapping.

After leaving the Hoover Dam, It was a 1 1/2 hour drive until we arrived at the Hualapai Reservation. Fun fact, unlike the other Rims of the Canyon, the West Rim is not located inside Grand Canyon National Park. Instead, it’s on an Indian Reservation, which means all access fees and other shopping goes to the Reservation. That was an added perk for me.

Once you arrive, you’ll be shown to the parking lot, where you can unload from your car and board a bus. The bus makes two stops – Eagle Point and Guano Point. Visitors can hop off and stay as long as they want, and just hop back on the next bus when ready.

Eagle Point – The first stop on the bus route. This is also the stop that houses the Sky Walk. We opted not to do the Sky Walk because the reviews are pretty mixed AND no cameras are allowed. I honestly don’t regret it. Eagle point was breath taking on it’s own. It was our first glance at the Canyon and we were immediately in awe. I’m not sure I even have the words to describe it. It’s vast and the beauty goes on and on. The wind was whipping around us, which somehow contributed to the majesty of it all.

There are some picnic tables at Eagle point, so we unpacked our lunch and ate while the Grand Canyon and clear blue sky served as our backdrop. Afterward, the kids ran around and found a traditional teepee (did someone say photoshoot), and then we walked along the edge (not too closely) of the Canyon and took it all in.

We spent about an hour exploring Eagle Point, before we jumped back on the bus and headed to Guano Point. And, just when we thought it couldn’t get more beautiful, Guano Point took the Canyon to the next level. The rock formations, the depth of the Canyon, the wind, the red dirt, all of it was more vibrant and beautiful at Guano Point. There were so many angles to see and so many photos to take. I loved every single second of it.

After a couple of hours hiking around Guano Point, we hopped the bus back to the original starting point. There you’ll find a cafe and souvenir shop. We purchased a few items and had the opportunity to speak with one of the women from the Hualapai Tribe. She indulged my kids while they asked a million questions. It was a great real-life lesson for my babies.

I’m so glad we decided to go to the Grand Canyon West. It doesn’t get enough shine, but this location is absolutely worth the drive from Las Vegas. If you’re heading to Vegas, make sure to add this to your list.

Bonus…on the drive back down from the Canyon, make sure you stop at the Joshua Tree Preserve. I love the uniqueness of those trees so much. I have a dream of doing a photo shoot in a long fancy dress at Joshua Tree National Park. Until then, this preserve was a wonderful replacement. The kids literally ran around the whole place and laughed into the wind. It was glorious! Build in some time to enjoy this little gem as well.

Happy Travels!