Enjoying Grand Canyon Helicopters From Vegas

Travel & Leisure

  • Author Luke Plunket
  • Published August 10, 2011
  • Word count 521

There many West Rim chopper tours available, with departures from Las Vegas, Nevada. Some tour companies offer hotel pick-ups and drop-offs. Besides providing breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon, many tours also fly over other well-known attractions, such as the Hoover Dam, Iceberg Canyon, Lake Mead, the Las Vegas Strip, and the Valley of Fire.

Grand Canyon National Park's western region is the only place in the entire park where helicopters can land. It is located about 120 miles east of Las Vegas. These aircraft can descend into the Inner Canyon, and land along the Colorado River. They provide outstanding views of this park's ancient strata.

The Grand Canyon's western portion features the glass walkway. Launched in 2007, this attraction is owned and operated by members from the Hualapai Native American tribe. The Sky Walk consists of a a 70-foot horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that extends out of a sheer cliff. From this viewpoint, visitors have spectacular views of the Colorado River, which happens to be located 4,000 feel below.

This section of the park also includes The Indian Village, which contains genuine dwellings built by native people. The village contains five buildings, and a 250-seat amphitheater. Also, Eagle Point, Guano Point, and Hualapai Ranch are part of this region's prime visitor destinations. The Hualapai Ranch includes cowboy cookouts, covered-wagon rides and horseback rides, and live shows showcasing professional gun-fighters.

Grand Canyon National Park is a well-known, famous national treasure. It was chosen as a preserve after a 1903 visit from United States President, Theodore Roosevelt. He was so in awe of the fascinating geological features and unique types of wildlife that he named the area as one of the country's first national parks. On November 28, 1906, it was officially designated as the Grand Canyon Game Preserve. Over the following years, the Roosevelt administration added in adjacent lands to this park. On January 11, 1908, it was re-designated as a United States National Monument.

This enormous park includes a variety of major ecosystems. It is home to a fantastic diversity of animals and plants. Of the seven life zones identified on the planet, five are contained within the park. They include the Canadian, Transition, Upper Sonoran, Lower Sonoran, and the Hudsonian. All environments from Mexico to Canada are represented. The region's various elevations feature a wide range of climates. The diverse climate-zones are the major factors that form the varied life zones. The area boasts 34 different species of mammals, 48 bird species, and 129 vegetative communities.

The park's wildlife includes Rocky Mountain Toads, red-spotted toads, coyotes, canyon tree frogs and bighorn sheep.. Also, bald eagles, beavers, antelope squirrels, pocket mice, ring-tails, bobcats, gray foxes, weasels, mountain lions, and six species of rattlesnakes call this environment home. Insect colonies include mites, moths, stoneflies, tarantula hawks, wasps, honeybees, beetles, fire ants, butterflies, mayflies and midges. Lots of scorpions and spiders also inhabit the region. They include the tarantula and black widow spider.

Grand Canyon West heli tours offer a variety of tours into this spectacular park. Many fly from Vegas, with hotel pick-up and drop-off options available. Experiencing the park by air offers the most tremendous, panoramic views of this massive national treasure.

Mr. Plunket is a travel journalist who writes about all things Grand Canyon. He recommends this site for readers interested in low-price Grand Canyon helicopter tours.

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