I need HELP with the GRAND CANYON

[Eddyline]

Originally Posted by kdog

That is a gross misrepresentation. The only "Vegas" money in the park is from one developer who helped finance the Skywalk Plus the ten+ Vegas companies that offer helicopter flights over the sacred Hualapai landswhich is a new attraction at the west rim and has its own separate fee. The rest of the park is entirely owned by the Hualapai native American tribe and 100% of the admission fee goes to the tribe. The reason it costs more is because it's not government financed, like the national parks. The relatively steep entrance fee does cover about a half-day worth of activities including shuttle buses to various attractions like native villages, a recreated western town, various viewpoints and included bbq lunch. So you can't base value on entrance fees alone. They are entirely different experiences. To be sure, the south rim has better views. On the other hand, you will learn a lot about native American life at the west rim.

Last I read it was $75/person to walk on the skywalk and you can not take pictures, but for another $20-30 you can buy pictures of your experience.

As far as getting permission goes, I would think you'd have better luck asking an indian who would probably just shrug his shoulders than asking a government park ranger. But that's just me. Honestly, either way I think this is one of those cases where it's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Agree with it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission

Comments in Red

I've spent a couple hundred days at the bottom of the Grand Canyon over the last 20 years and the helicopter flights over the Hualapia lands has increased from zero to hundreds per day. The casinos realized that people were taking the trip of a lifetime to Vegas then "wasting" two or three days going to the South Rim. By flying them right from the strip and back they are only gone from the tables for a couple hours.

And the Vegas developer of the skywalk specifically included no lodging at the west rim because they wanted people back at the gaming tables. And the Vegas developer and the Hualapia tribe have been in court almost since the skywalk opened.

[Eddyline]

OP,

Sorry about your loss. Agree that flying to Phoenix and renting a car to drive to the South Rim would be a better experience than a tourist bus from Vegas. The South Rim has several historical hotels and this time of year it is relatively quiet and still good weather. Before snow hits it is possible to walk down into the canyon
and find all the privacy you would want for this purpose. Do you have photos of your relative at the Grand Canyon? Might be possible to find a specific spot that he liked to scatter the ashes. I don't have a last will and testment, but my whole family knows my ashes go in the Colorado River at Lava Falls.

[azdr0710]

your relative almost certainly was at the South Rim, not the West (Indian) area, so plan to go there....I would NOT scatter the cremains from the Skywalk or anywhere on Indian land!!!.....go to the National Park Service South Rim area, go for a walk away from the buildings and do your duty....or, better, if you have time, take the free shuttle out Hermits Road, get off at one of the viewpoints (you may have it all to yourself!!), and enjoy the view as you scatter the cremains off the rim....sit for a while and think about it all....the shuttle comes by about every 30 minutes or less (check on that)....

Phoenix is about four hours from the South Rim and Las Vegas is about the same....if you can rent a car and drive yourself, I also recommend the Phoenix method.....but you did say fares are cheaper via Las Vegas.....you may also not want to bother with driving at all....if you do the bus thing, make sure you have time to do the scattering before the bus leaves!!!!....there will be lots of people in the "village" area, so you may need time to find a more private spot......

confirm all the travel details in Las Vegas if you do the bus thing...if it's a one-day thing, that will be a long day.....

again, I highly recommend you totally skip the West Canyon for purposes of this journey

[WmMeeker]

Originally Posted by Eddyline

Go to the South Rim, much better and many places along the South Rim trail to scatter ashes.
Take the Hermits Rest shuttle bus out to any view point and you will find a private space to honor your relative. Both sunrise and sunset are beautiful, quiet times on the South Rim.

If the Grand Canyon is your relatives favorite place, I can guarantee you it was NOT the west rim.
The west rim is a rip off tourist attraction financed by Vegas money on tribal lands to exploit the both the tribes and the tourists. My guess is anyone that has been to both, will recommend the South Rim.

Where was your relatives favorite spot in the Canyon?

My relative is actually an uncle in law. I did not know him closely. He was a nice man and all the few holidays and birthdays I was around him but he was not close to me. I am doing this more as a favor to her side of the family. But I do thank you for the help and I will go to the South Rim because everybody says it is the better of the 2. I have plenty of time because I am going to stay in Las Vegas, Nevada for 3 days and I want to do something besides just gamble anyway. I am going to see the dam too.

[ironlady]

Originally Posted by WmMeeker

Oh really?? I just booked there because it is cheap and they have no smoking rooms available. If it is dirty, I will stay only the 1st night and look elsewhere. I don't care about the hotel so much as my room. I want it clean, decent and quiet.

WmMeeker, I just hiked the Grand Canyon North Rim to South Rim, and I echo with all that's been said about the South Rim. It is a much more ... grandiose than other areas of the canyon--and easier to access different, isolated places.

As for rooms, I too flew into Vegas to reach the North Rim. I booked a hotel by bidding for it on a travel website (are specific website mentions allowed?) and got Planet Hollywood for $60. Very clean, very nice. If you don't have to stay on the Strip, go to the bidding website (just google "Bid hotel rooms"--it's the first option) and select the area "Las Vegas Airport" (area 5). This area has a lot of good hotels, and you can get a really great deal because they're near airports and they have to compete with the Strip. Plus, you don't have to worry about smoking in these hotels. Most of them have complimentary shuttles to the Strip in case you have time and desire to sightsee.

[teddyearp]

Originally Posted by WmMeeker

My relative is actually an uncle in law. I did not know him closely. He was a nice man and all the few holidays and birthdays I was around him but he was not close to me. I am doing this more as a favor to her side of the family. But I do thank you for the help and I will go to the South Rim because everybody says it is the better of the 2. I have plenty of time because I am going to stay in Las Vegas, Nevada for 3 days and I want to do something besides just gamble anyway. I am going to see the dam too.

Then rent a car in Vegas that way while you travel to the canyon, you can see the dam as well, not to be missed.

[chaparrito]

Watch out for the updrafts off the edge of the canyon. You might get a face-full of uncle in law.

[WmMeeker]

Well I went and I did it. The south rim was beautiful and I had a good 2 days in Las Vegas too except it was rather damp for it being a desert.