The majestic Grand Canyon is widely hailed as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, and every year visitors from across the planet make the trek to Arizona to experience its tremendous beauty, awe-inspiring vistas, and fascinating rock formations for themselves. While there are many ways to explore the Grand Canyon firsthand, the majority of visitors head straight for Grand Canyon National Park and its world-famous South Rim. Many of those same visitors, wishing to see the Grand Canyon in unforgettable fashion, opt for a helicopter tour of the attraction, with Maverick Helicopters’ Canyon Dancer Tour being a popular choice.
Canyon Dancer Tour Details
Maverick Helicopters’ Canyon Dancer Tour departs from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, which is conveniently situated only a mile from the South Rim entrance to the Grand Canyon. The Canyon Dancer Tour consists of a 25-minute outing that provides guests breathtaking views of major landmarks like Kaibab National Forest, the Dragon Corridor, the Tower of Ra, and a whole lot more. You’ll fly above the Colorado River through one of the widest and deepest stretches of the Grand Canyon, skirting the edge of the North Rim, all while sitting safely and comfortably within one of Maverick’s acclaimed Airbus 130 helicopters.
The Canyon Dancer Tour usually has a list price starting at about $370 per person, but depending on when you plan on joining the excursion (time of day, day of the week, month of the year), you should expect to pay more: individual tickets during peak season often run over $400. All passengers over the age of 18 years old will need to show a valid photo ID to join the tour. Maverick Helicopters offers guests the opportunity to cancel their reservations free of charge so long as they do so at least 72 hours before their tour’s scheduled time of departure.
Canyon Dancer Tour Highlights
Kaibab National Forest: This 1.6-million-acre expanse is managed by the United States Forest Service. Consisting of three distinct sections, Kaibab National Forest covers extensive portions of the Grand Canyon’s North and South Rims. It’s home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.
Dragon Corridor: One of the widest and deepest segments of the entire Grand Canyon, Dragon Corridor is an especially memorable stretch of terrain. As you fly above (and through) it on your Canyon Dancer Tour, you’ll want to take care to note its stunning red rock features—and of course, have your camera ready!
Tower of Ra: This approximately 700-foot-tall rock pillar stands at an elevation of nearly 6,200 feet some five miles north of the famous Pima Point overlook along the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. It’s yet-another postcard-ready sight you’ll see up close and personal from the air during your Canyon Dancer Tour.
Is the Canyon Dancer Tour for You?
The Canyon Dancer Tour is a quality option for those visitors to Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim who want to experience this natural wonder of the world from the sky, but don’t necessarily have too much time available in their schedule for an extended helicopter tour of the area. At approximately 25 minutes long, the Canyon Dancer Tour gives you a taste of the Grand Canyon from above, without requiring you to budget into your itinerary an entire afternoon or morning for a guided tour. And speaking of budgets, in terms of individual ticket price, the Canyon Dancer Tour sits comfortably at the low end of the marketplace: most other South Rim helicopter tours are going to cost you more. If you wanted the upgrade, check out the Canyon Spirit tour by Maverick Helicopters. Its about $70 more but you see at least twice as much of the Grand Canyon.
