Las Vegas Daytrip: West Rim of the Grand Canyon

Most people come to Las Vegas for the glitter and excitement.  It is a city unlike any elsewhere in the world.  It not only has gambling of all types and monetary levels, but it has five star restaurants and eating establishment catering to any pocketbook or taste.  It has shows of every type and price, from hundreds for top-billed stars to twenty or thirty dollars for afternoon matinees.  It also has stores and shops ranging from Nieman-Marcus to J.C.Penny.  We like to say that here in Vegas you can buy a Timex for twenty dollars - - or a Rolex for twenty-thousand.  Some hotels even have car dealerships such as Rolls and Bentley at Caesar’s Palace or Ferraris and Lamborghini’s at Wynn Las Vegas.

In addition, there are numerous natural places to visit such as Death Valley, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Hoover Dam.  We have a tour boat on Lake Mead, places where you can rent houseboats, river raft trips down the Colorado River, and more.  And, everybody knows about the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon.

However, here is a daytrip to an area that visitors seldom go - The West Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The road to this location is paved most of the way.  But, there is a stretch about eighteen miles long that is, to say the least, rudimentary.  It is little more than a graded path strewn with rocks and boulders.  In good weather, it is passable by any vehicle.  It is regularly transited by trucks and tour busses.  But, when it rains or there is snow on the ground, one needs to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle and knowledge of how to traverse rough terrain.  So, before you leave, check out conditions to determine what kind of vehicle you want to take.

To get there, leave Las Vegas via Us 93/95.  You will go through Henderson and cross Railroad Pass, the site of The Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino, the oldest continually operating gaming establishment in Nevada.