Guide to Helicopter Tours from Vegas to Grand Canyon

If you have a spare day or even a spare few hours during your Las Vegas vacation, then a trip to the Grand Canyon should be the first activity on your list! Papillon operates daily helicopter tours to the Grand Canyon from our air terminal near the Las Vegas Strip. If you've never experienced a helicopter tour, have no fear! This guide can prepare you for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and help you plan the ultimate Grand Canyon day trip.

The Grand Canyon West Rim is the nearest region of the park to Las Vegas. About 130 miles away, it is possible to drive to the West Rim, but your roundtrip travel time will be around 5 hours. Save that time for sightseeing and fly from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon on a helicopter tour, where you'll reach the West Rim in just over a half an hour! The views of the desert scenery on a Grand Canyon road trip are beautiful, but the aerial sightseeing from a helicopter is absolutely unparalleled by comparison.

Hoover Dam

The world-famous Hoover Dam is about 45 minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip and only 15 minutes from our air terminal in nearby Boulder City. Hoover Dam is one of the first aerial sights you'll see on a helicopter tour to the West Rim. You can capture incredible bird's-eye views of this piece of historic architecture as well as the Colorado River on either side of it.

Lake Mead

This manmade water reservoir contains run-off collected from Hoover Dam and is the largest manmade lake in the United States. In the summer months, Las Vegas locals flock to Lake Mead to enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, and camping. More importantly, Lake Mead supplies water to Nevada, Arizona, California, and even parts of Mexico. You'll fly over these sparkling blue waters en route to the West Rim, a true oasis in the Desert Southwest.

Famous Grand Canyon Landmarks

You'll find truly unique and stunning landscapes and rock formations on a helicopter tour to the West Rim. The most notable formation found here is called Eagle Point, a massive rock feature that almost perfectly resembles an eagle spreading its wings in flight. You'll also see Guano Point, a narrow stone peninsula extending into the canyon gorge.

Skywalk Bridge

The world-famous Skywalk Bridge is located right here at the Grand Canyon West! You can see incredible aerial views of this glass-bottomed bridge jutting out from the edge of the canyon, and some Grand Canyon helicopter tours even include entry onto the Skywalk.

There are limitless photo opportunities at the Grand Canyon West - from the incredible aerial views aboard a helicopter tour to the unique lookout points at the canyon's edge, and even from the canyon floor, you can come home with impressive professional-looking photos.

Papillon's state-of-the-art helicopters are designed specifically with sightseeing and photography in mind. The aircraft's oversized windows allow for an expansive range of vision for capturing the landscape beneath you. It is important to note that selfie sticks cannot be used within the helicopter; they must remain collapsed and stowed until landing.

If your tour includes entry into the West Rim, you can capture incredible photos of Eagle Point from across the canyon gorge and find 360-degree views atop Guano Point. Shuttle transportation is available to take you to each of these lookout points, as well. Be advised that unlike the South Rim, the West Rim's edge is completely barrier-free. Use caution when using selfie sticks near the canyon's edge.

Don't let the rugged and secluded nature of the West Rim fool you - there are plenty of activities to fill an entire Grand Canyon day trip! Here are our suggestions for the top must-see and must-do Grand Canyon West activities.

Land on the Bottom of the Grand Canyon

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the West Rim is that this is the only region of the Grand Canyon where a helicopter can land all the way on the very bottom! You can experience a helicopter landing on the Grand Canyon floor and even enjoy a Colorado River boat tour between the canyon walls. Some Grand Canyon helicopter tours also include a flight over the Las Vegas Strip!

Skywalk

The Skywalk is a world-famous piece of architecture that features a glass-bottomed U-shaped bridge that extends over 70 feet past the edge of the Grand Canyon. You can experience the feeling of floating midair when you look between your feet and see the bottom of the canyon 4,000 feet below you! Don't let the glass make you hesitate - the Skywalk is strong enough to support the weight of seventy 747 jets!

Tickets to enter the Skywalk range from $68-$92. If you plan to take a helicopter tour at the West Rim, make sure to check for flights that include entry onto the Skywalk!

Hualapai Point

Named for the local Native American tribe that owns this area of the Grand Canyon, Hualapai Point offers an immersive experience into the culture and history of the Hualapai people. Meet Native ambassadors who can share information and education about their tribe, shop for authentic crafts and handmade souvenirs, or enjoy a Haualapi fusion meal at the nearby restaurant. You can also test your talent at the shooting range, hike some local trails, or ride the zipline!

A free shuttle can transport visitors between Hualapai Point, Guano Point, and Eagle Point.

Guano Point

One of the most thrilling lookout points at the Grand Canyon West Rim is called Guano Point. This rock peninsula offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding canyon scenery. You can even climb the small summit at the end for an even higher view! You can also explore the nearby remnants of an abandoned tramway used by miners in the 1950s.

Eagle Point

Visitors to the West Rim will know immediately why this Grand Canyon lookout point is called Eagle Point. Located across the canyon from the Skywalk, this rock formation bears a near-perfect resemblance to a massive eagle spreading its wings in flight.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters is the world's largest and longest-running air tour operator. Our helicopters are designed with sightseeing in mind, with oversized stadium-style seating so every passenger has a great view. The wraparound windows offer 180-degree sightseeing and photography opportunities of the incredible desert sights beneath you. Passengers also have individual noise-cancelling headsets that allow them to communicate with one another and the pilot.

Safety will always be Papillon's top priority in all of our operations. As members of the Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS), our company is held to an even higher standard and set of protocols than what's required by the FAA. Each year, we fly over 300,000 passengers from around the world to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas as well as other destinations including Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and beyond.

No matter how much spare time you have during your Las Vegas vacation, a trip to the Grand Canyon is possible! Papillon offers short helicopter flights, full length day trips, and everything in between to ensure that you can experience the West Rim. Choose between helicopter landings on the very bottom, boating excursions on the Colorado River, Skywalk Bridge access, and more to create the ultimate Grand Canyon adventure.