The West Rim generally refers to the Hualapai Indian Reservations tribal land along the western portion of the Grand Canyon's Southern Rim. This is where the Grand Canyon Skywalk and other attraction are located, including the Grand Canyon West Airport. The increasing popularity of the Skywalk brings a wealth of visitors to the Hualapai whose main source of income is tourism.
To get to the West Rim visitors need to fly via plane or helicopter, or make the bumpy drive down Diamond Bar Road. The closest town to Grand Canyon West is Meadview, AZ which has some lodging and facilites, as well as access to Lake Mead NRA.
The geology and landscape of the West Rim is dramatically different from that of the North and South Rims. The Rim itself has little or no forest, and the views although beautiful do not compare to those inside Grand Canyon National Park. The West Rim is closer to Las Vegas than Grand Canyon Village, and a solid 20 miles of the road to get there is dirt. When traffic levels are are not so high it looks like you're in a dust storm, a portion of the drive goes through a beautiful Joshua Tree Forest. This drive is an an isolated are of sage brush and high desert giving you a wild west type vibe. Your trip to the RIm will be fairly uneventful except for a modern day dude ranch you'll pass on the way. Once you reach Grand Canyon West there is an entry fee you'll need to pay along with the fee to visit the Skywalk or other activities.
Due to its lower elevation the West Rim is warmer than other parts of the Canyon, and has great weather in the cooler seasons. The summer on the other hand can be hot dusty and unbearable. Besides the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the West Rim offers several other activities for tourists. There is a Dude Ranch, Colorado River boat rides, Hummer Rides, an Indian Village Replica, Cowboy and Indian shows, and various other viewpoints. The Tribe is also working on a restaurant along side the Skywalk, but for now there are just snack and drinks available in their souvenir shop. If you've been to the North and South Rim's and have the time Grand Canyon West is a great place to check off your to do list, but it shouldn't be your top choice for a visit to the Canyon.
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