I was about 26 when I first visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I’d flown out from England for a Las Vegas business trip and had craftily tacked on a couple of days for some R&R with a friend. The next thing I know, I’m flying in a helicopter over one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and enjoying a champagne brunch on the Grand Canyon floor. (Ah, what it was to be a young adult with a disposable income). Needless to say, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. However, thanks to kids, I’ve come to discover that there are many other ways to experience the Grand Canyon. And, fortunately, most of them are a lot more budget-friendly.
The tricky part is figuring out which way works best for your family. The Grand Canyon itself is massive. It stretches more than 277 miles, and spans a whopping 1,904 square miles. It also sits across two pieces of land – the Grand Canyon National Park and land managed by the Hualapai Indian Tribe. In addition, there are three points of entry. (Or four, if you count tribal land owned by the Havasupai Indian Tribe, which requires a permit).
Each way into the Grand Canyon offers a different experience, and can be parlayed into a bigger family vacation. For instance, if you enter by the North Rim, you are within striking distance of Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend. Not to mention two of Utah’s famous national parks: Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. If you enter by the west entrance, you are close to Las Vegas, Nevada. And, if you enter by the South Rim, you are close to Flagstaff, Arizona.
In this post, I’m going to talk about some of the ways your children can experience the Grand Canyon from the west and south entrances.
The Skywalk, Grand Canyon West
Grand Canyon West is located 17 miles from where the Grand Canyon abruptly ends. It is a privately run attraction, owned and operated by the Hualapai Indian Tribe. The crowning jewel is the Skywalk; a horseshoe-shaped glass platform that opened to the public in 2007.
Like the glass floor inserted into the first level of the Eiffel Tower, the $30 million Skywalk offers a very unique vantage point. Even though the view below is of a side canyon, versus the main canyon, you get a real sense of scale. And you certainly feel every foot of the 4,000 feet that is below you. Imagining another 2,000 feet (which is how deep the Grand Canyon gets), is nothing short of mind blowing.
The only downside to a walk that makes you feel like you are floating mid-air, is that you can’t take any personal belongings with you. That includes cameras and phones. Instead, you have to store them in a locker inside and pay to have your photograph taken professionally. The Skywalk will also cost you an extra $20 on top of General Admission.
Pint Sized Tip:
Beat the crowds and have a more exclusive experience by catching the first park and ride shuttle of the day. Then, ditch the designated photo op areas as you get off the bus, and head straight to the entrance. You can always take personal photographs afterward.
The Zip Line, Grand Canyon West
Another way for your kids to experience Grand Canyon West, is to race family members on a rather unique zip line. The office is located just down the road from Grand Canyon West’s visitor entrance, at Hualapai Ranch. An attraction in and of itself, Hualapai Ranch features a main street designed to look like an old western town. Situated next to the “Assay Office” and across the street from the “Shootin Gallery,” behind a muted orange façade, you will find the Zipline building. Once you have checked in, you will be taken to a small shuttle bus. From there it is about a mile, along a dirt track, until you reach the first Zipline run.
The zip line itself consists of four cables strung between two high wooden towers, located on either side of a side canyon. To get to the launch platform you have to climb several flights of stairs. But the ride is worth it.
What makes Zipline unusual is, unlike the zip lines at aerial adventure parks, your harness is actually a padded seat. And the way the harness attaches to the cable is via a handle bar system. The end result is a comfy seated ride. Something that I’m sure makes nervous riders feel a lot more secure than the typical harness and carabiner system. And, while not over the Grand Canyon itself, you are still 500 feet above a canyon floor, and the canyon views are spectacular. Best of all, when you are left wanting more, you get transported to a second run.
Pint Sized Tip:
This ride is not for littles as it requires a minimum weight of 90 lbs. Children should also be at least 4 feet tall. However, even with these rules in place, it is possible for smaller kids to slow down considerably during their ride, especially when there is a headwind in play. If you have a child on the smaller size, coach them in advance to keep their legs and ankles together as it will help make them more aerodynamic.
Hike the Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park
If you are looking for an iconic way to see the Grand Canyon, then there is no better place to go than the South Rim and the Bright Angel Trail. This trail is one of the earliest and most-used trails in the park. In fact, pictograph evidence suggests that the trail was used by both prehistoric and historic American Indians. It was also a popular route for miners in the late 1800’s.
The thing that makes the trail a great experience for kids, aside from the Grand Canyon views, is that you can tailor your hike to their ability. For instance, children around age eight will likely only be willing and able to do a three-mile loop. This leg takes you through two rock tunnels, as well as millions of years of earth’s history. In contrast, older kids can easily tackle the six-mile loop, and teenagers should be able to do the nine-mile roundtrip trek to Indian Garden. There are also three rest houses along the way where you can fill up on water and take a potty break, if needed.
To get to the Bright Angel Trailhead, go to the Hermits Rest shuttle stop and start walking toward Kolb Studio on the Rim trail. You will quickly see the sign, marking the trailhead, where you can drop into the canyon.
Pint Sized Tip:
If your child is under age eight, they can still experience the top bit of the Bright Angel Trail. The first ¼ mile is a gradual descent to a cool rock tunnel. If you can, encourage your child to pass through the tunnel, and then tell them to look up the slope to the left. They should be able to see a pictograph panel with a row of red deer painted onto the rock. Called Mallery’s Grotto, this site is estimated to be between 4,000 and 2,000 years old.
One final note: remember not to push your child past their abilities. This hike will nearly always take twice as long to come back up, as it does to go down. Also plan on bringing plenty of water, as well as a few snacks, and take rest breaks along the way.
Cruise the Rim, Grand Canyon National Park
Seeing the South Rim doesn’t have to be a strenuous activity. There is a 13-mile Rim Trail that is a great way for kids to experience the Grand Canyon. It takes you from Hermits Rest all the way to Mather Point and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Not only is the trail paved but it is also mostly flat, although there are some very gentle inclines going from west to east.
Along the way, there are plenty of benches where you can stop and rest, not to mention lots of incredible lookout points. There are also various historic sites, visitor centers and gift shops that you can explore. However, one of our favorites things to see is the Trail of Time. This is an outdoor exhibit that uses a series of rocks, along a 2-mile stretch, to track the geologic timeline of the Grand Canyon over 2 billion years.
If biking is more your speed, then there are plenty of roads and Greenway Trails that provide exploration along and near to the rim. In fact, bikes are allowed on all paved and unpaved roads. Although (arguably), the best place for cycling is along the scenic Hermit Road Greenway Trail, which gets you off the road and even along the rim in some places. Don’t have a bike? Consider renting one from Bright Angel Bicycles.
Pint Sized Tip:
If you have littles with you, take advantage of the free shuttle bus when they start to get tired. There is a bus stop every on-half to one-mile along the same 13-mile stretch of rim. If nothing else, I highly recommend taking the orange shuttle to Yaki Point. The view is incredible!
Ride A Mule, Grand Canyon National Park
Unfortunately, experiencing a mule ride in the Grand Canyon was one thing that my kids weren’t able to do on our last trip. This is because my eldest had a broken leg and you have to be in good physical condition to participate. However, taking a mule ride down into the Grand Canyon remains on our to-do list. And for good reason. Mules have been carrying Grand Canyon visitors since the late 1800’s.
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges offers a 3-hour ride on the East Rim Trail. Along the way, wranglers are said to provide information about geologic formations, as well as the history for the area.
The only catch is that kids need to be at least 9 years old to ride, and must be accompanied by an adult. They must also be at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
Pint Sized Tip:
If a mule ride is of interest, make sure you book well in advance. By this, I mean at least two months ahead of your trip. These spots go very quickly.
Happy Travels!
