Encompassing Grand Canyon West and adjacent territories, the Hualapai Reservation is home to the Hualapai Native American Tribe. Stretching across three northern Arizona counties, the territory itself encompasses a wide variety in geography and natural landscape, ranging from flat, scenic grasslands to rough canyons to dense forest. Elevations range from around 1,500 feet above sea level near the Colorado River to over 7,300 feet above sea level at the beautiful Aubrey Cliffs.
Hualapai Reservation History & Background
The Hualapai Indian Reservation was established by Executive Order in 1883, including approximately one million acres across 108 miles along the Grand Canyon and Colorado River. Their capital is located in Peach Springs, Arizona, and they primarily own and operate tourism industry activities through their portion of the Grand Canyon. Cattle-ranching is another major source of industry in the area, as is artisan-craftwork.
What’s at the Hualapai Reservation
There is a nice tourist center at Grand Canyon West, and the tribe operates a number of popular tours and excursions from that location, from aerial tours via plane or helicopter to motor coach tours to boat tours to horseback rides. The tribe also operates Hualapai River Runners, a rafting and touring company that offer day-long or multi-day trips along the Colorado River. River Runners is the only Native American owned and operated company of its kind in the area.
The biggest tourist attractions on the Hualapai Reservation are the vantage points from which visitors can see the Grand Canyon. Eagle and Guano Points are both excellent spots, and the Grand Canyon Skywalk is not to be missed. Don’t forget the new Zip Line The Skywalk is an all-glass viewing platform that actually extends out over the canyon’s edge – providing a fantastic view of the canyon for the brave.
The most significant landmark within the Hualapai Reservation – other than the diverse selection of tourist activities in Grand Canyon West – is the lovely Prospect Valley, a tributary of the Colorado River that meets up with the main body of water just south of Lava Falls.
The area is also ripe for big game hunting, and visitors can purchase permits from the Hualapai tribe for guided hunting excursions that target desert bighorn sheep, elk, mountain lions, and antelope.
Tips for Visiting the Hualapai Reservation
- Fun fact: the capital city of Peach Springs inspired the fictional city Radiator Springs in the Disney movie Cars.
- Helicopter tours from Las Vegas will land in a remote area of the reservation along the Colorado river and serve picnic style snacks and lunches. Check Papillon, Maverick, Sundance and Serenity tours for once in a lifetime trips.
- Papillon and Grand Canyon Coaches offer bus tours from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West.
- Papillon and Maverick offer airplane tours from Las Vegas that land at Grand Canyon West, usually as part of a combo tour with a helicopter, bus, boat or all three!
- Route 66 is the only major highway that leads into the Reservation, and it may be the most useful route for tourists because it ultimately also leads into the smaller Havasupai Reservation.
- You can’t bring any personal items onto the Skywalk – including phones or cameras – but you can pay to have your photo taken by guides for an additional fee.
- Admission to the Skywalk is only included in a package with admission to Grand Canyon West.
- The canyon at Grand Canyon West is actually not as wide or deep as it is in areas east of the Hualapai Reservation (in National Park territory), but it is still spectacular.