The Hualapai Indian Reservation occupies one million acres in Northwest Arizona, including 108 miles along the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. The tribe's original homeland was more than seven million acres and covered all the land that now makes up Grand Canyon National Park. While the Hualapai fought fiercely to protect their lands from European settlers, in 1883 they were forced into submission by the U.S. Army and placed on their current reservation.
Once poverty stricken like most tribes, the Hualapai had strong leadership that adopted the white man's ways with regard to tourism. They have thus escaped poverty and have become one of the most prosperous tribes. Grand Canyon West is home to the now famous Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends some 70 feet over the rim of the canyon, 4000 feet above the canyon floor. (Although scheduled for completion by 2006, various construction delays resulted in a 2007 opening.) Other tourist opportunities, such as helicopter flights, river rafting and various tours are available. Many tour coaches arrive from Las Vegas each day.
Starting in Dolan Springs, a rough dirt road leads toward Grand Canyon West, crossing public lands. Once on Hualapai land, the road is nicely paved for the comfort of arriving tourists.
We took a tour that showed various forms of indigenous housing, took us by several great views of the canyon and river, and finally visited Guano Point, where a tram system was once used to recover bat guano from caves within the canyon. The guano was then processed and sold for fertilizer.
Knowing the Skywalk's history of delays, we were still disappointed that the expected 2006 opening was missed once again. All we got was a photo of the poster promising the Skywalk. We chose not to pay the price of a helicopter ride into the canyon, partly because we planned to drive to the canyon floor later on the trip.
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