The Contrast of Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon West

Looking for an amazing day trip from Las Vegas?

The 122-mile journey takes about 3 hours to drive and is well worth the day trip

Drive through the vast, arid landscape of Nevada and Arizona to Grand Canyon West, a natural reserve of the Hualapai Nation tribe. Along the way, stop at Hoover Dam and Lake Mead to check out these engineering marvels. Continue along Highway 93 South to Dolan Springs, Arizona. From here, you’ll take a slow 50-mile trek to Grand Canyon West. The desert filled with Joshua trees and drought-resistant shrubs is of another world.

Lake Mead: Nevada and Arizona are separated by this reservoir along the Colorado River

Hoover Dam: the road leads across the bridge from Nevada into Arizona

Hoover Dam: the enormous concrete mass nestled into the canyon walls

Hoover Dam Bridge: opened in 2010, truly an engineering wonder, the bridge provides a bypass of the dam from Nevada into Arizona

Joshua trees are abundant in the arid Arizona landscape. Rolling hills of Peach Springs lead to jagged mesas, projecting to form a backdrop to the flat land. A rugged dirt road continues up through the backcountry to the airport at Grand Canyon West. From here, the tribe shuttles transport tourists to overlook points.

Watch your step… cracks in the rock reveal a dramatic vertical drop

Find the eagle with outstretched wings in the rocks

The Colorado River meanders through the canyon below

The red earth of the rugged mesas overlooks breathtaking views

As the day wanes, the Colorado River glistens in the late-day sunbeams

A few examples of native American dwellings seen at the first stop on the tour:

Navajo hogan: dome-shaped ceremonial dwelling constructed of log framework covered in mud; the entrance faces the rising sun to the east

Plains Tipi — wooden poles covered in canvas (or traditionally bison hide)

Ceremonial performances provide a look into the traditions of the Hualapai people, meaning “People of the Tall Pines.” The reservation of land on which they live and protect consists of nearly one million acres on the southwest rim of the Grand Canyon.

“Our land is one of rolling hills, rugged mesas, breathtaking cliffs, seeps and springs, ponderosa pine forests, deep gorges, and an abundance of wildlife.” ~Hualapai Department of Natural Resources

The Hualapai People hold sacred mother earth and everything that is required for survival. They are committed to educating their youth about the conservation and protection of land.

We are the Land and the Land is Us. We are one and the same.
Hualapai Tribe

The challenge for us, humankind, in preserving our place here on Earth and sharing it with other species, is to find a balance. Providing our human needs and all that is required to sustain us must find alignment with all that is nature. As wonderful as our technology is, we must work to promote cooperation with the environment, not just seek to control it.

The ecosystem is complex beyond our comprehension. In attempting to control nature, the potential results can prove counterproductive to our whole. Careful consideration is essential.

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