A few years ago, I visited Las Vegas with some colleagues and was presented with an opportunity to take a day’s trip bus tour to the Grand Canyon. I had a day to spare and a willing partner, my fellow geoscientist Aisha, so I jumped at the chance to experience something new.
The tour we finally picked was the Grand Canyon West Rim Tour. With a complimentary hotel pick up and return, we traveled in a nice motor coach with 3-4 hours to explore the West Rim including Eagle Point, Guano Point, and the Hualapai Ranch. This trip costs about $95.00 (USD) with an optional additional fee to go on the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a natural formation distinguished by layered bands of red rock, revealing millions of years of geological history in cross-section. Vast in scale, the canyon averages 10 miles across and a mile deep along its 277-mile length. Much of the area is a national park, with Colorado River white-water rapids and sweeping vistas.
The bus was comfortable with restrooms, television monitors, foot rests and reclining seats. We were provided with bottles of water and the package included some breakfast snacks and a full lunch.
We traveled over the newly built Hoover Dam by-pass bridge and made a stop there.
Hoover Dam is a testimony to a country’s ability to construct monolithic projects in the midst of adverse conditions. Built during the Depression; thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It took less than five years, in a harsh and barren land, to build the largest dam of its time. Now, years later, Hoover Dam still stands as a world-renowned structure. The Dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.
We also made a quick stop at the Joshua Tree National Park and took a few photos.
Years ago the Joshua tree was recognized by American Indians for its useful properties: tough leaves were worked into baskets and sandals, and flower buds and raw or roasted seeds made a healthy addition to the diet. The local Cahuilla have long referred to the tree as “hunuvat chiy’a” or “humwichawa;” both names are used by a few elders fluent in the language.
Eagle Point is a popular stop in Grand Canyon West and the site of a Native American village, amphitheater, and the famous Grand Canyon Skywalk—a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that extends 70 feet (21 meters) over the canyon for views of the Colorado River 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) below.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge with a glass walkway at Eagle Point in Arizona near the Colorado River on the edge of a side canyon in the Grand Canyon West area of the main canyon.
Since this was optional and had very long queues, we decided to let it pass.
Amazingly preserved historical sights of the Hualapai Indian lands.
The entire trip took over 11 hours as we left our hotel at 6.00 am and arrived at about 6.00 pm (Although our hotel was one of the first pick-up stops therefore we also were one of the last people to get off).
This was a fun trip and memorable trip that will always remain in my memory. If ever I visit Nevada again, I may consider taking another tour of the Grand Canyon but this time it would probably be the South Rim axis of the Canyon.
Have you also visited the Grand Canyon? Share your experience with me.
Copyright © Biyai Garricks
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Biyai Garricks, rovingbookwormng.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content
