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What's UP at the Grand Canyon?
A Glass Walkway Gives a Sky-High View

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Place your cursor over the slideshow for captions.
cared of heights? Then you probably won't want to step out on the Grand Canyon's new Skywalk. The glass-bottomed walkway juts out 70 feet beyond the canyon's rim. It's a long look down—almost 4,000 feet!

Former U.S. astronaut Buzz Aldrin certainly isn't afraid of heights. He and leaders of the Hualapai (WALL-uh-pie) Indian tribe recently took a stroll on the Skywalk. Aldrin said it was "a magnificent first walk." He should know. In 1969, he became one of the first people to walk on the moon.

The Skywalk opens to the public on March 28. For $25, skywalkers can step out onto the horseshoe-shaped platform and look down to see the rushing Colorado River at the canyon floor. Millions of years ago, that river cut into Earth and formed the deep rocky canyon. The Skywalk is supported by steel beams and will hold up to 120 people at one time. It can also withstand winds of 100 miles per hour. The structure is equipped with shock absorbers so that it won't wobble like a diving board.

Think About It!
Some members of the Hualapai Indian tribe hope that the Skywalk will attract more tourists to the west rim and help create jobs. How and why do you think that might happen?
A businessman named David Jin came up with the idea for a skywalk. He thought it would be an exciting way for people to visit the west rim of the Grand Canyon where the Hualapai tribe's reservation is located. (Most tourists visit the south rim.) He discussed the idea with the Hualapai people. Many members of that tribe are poor and in need of jobs. They agreed to the project because they want to attract more tourists to the west rim to help create jobs. "When we have so much poverty and so much unemployment, we have to do something," Sheri Yellowhawk, a formal tribal councilwoman, told the Associated Press.

Weekly Reader Poll
Do you think the Grand Canyon Skywalk is a good idea?
But not everyone has such a positive view of the Skywalk. Some environmentalists complain that the man-made attraction spoils the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon. Even members of the Hualapai tribe have raised questions about the new Skywalk, saying that Indian reservations should be considered sacred land and should be respected. Don Havatone, a tour guide at the part told the Arizona Republic that he has come to accept the Skywalk. "We are disturbing our sacred ground ... but today I accept it as it goes up."

Skywalk Up Close
1. Construction of the Skywalk began in April 2005 and has taken about two years to complete.
2. It has a steel rail, a 3-inch glass bottom, and weighs 1.07 million pounds.
3. The cost to build the Skywalk was about $30 million.
4. Guests must wear shoe covers to prevent slipping and scratching the glass walkway.
5. A visitor can stay on the walkway for only 15 minutes.
6. The Skywalk is higher than three Empire State Buildings stacked one on top of the other.

Skywalk Comparison Chart Skywalk Comparison Chart

Links Canyon Quiz
  • Test your knowledge of the Grand Canyon and its new skywalk here!

 

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