Grand Canyon Gets New Zip Line Experience

Adrenaline junkies and thrill-seekers, rejoice. America's (unofficial) pilgrimage just got a new experience: a zip line 1,000 feet above the Grand Canyon. The zip line opened in the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, where the already infamous Skywalk dangles thousands of feet in the air. Between straddling glass floors and strapping into a harness with only the atmosphere between guests and the ground, the West Rim of the Grand Canyon is turning into a hot spot for adrenaline seekers.

The zip line at Grand Canyon West, which opened January 2, 2018, is made up of two "quad" zip lines where each is attached to large metal structures on either side. Each zip line has four steel cables running parallel to each other so that groups of up to four can ride together. The first of the two measures about 1,100 in length while the second one, which is sloped at a steeper gradient, is about 2,100 feet long; they both reach speeds of up to 50 mph. When riding, visitors enjoy views of the nearby Quartermaster Canyon are unobstructed and unlike any found from the ground; the river and rocks below can be experienced unlike anywhere else in the National Park.

“We’re taking the West Rim to a new level of excitement,” Candida Hunter, chairwoman of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation board of directors, said in a statement. “The zip line at Grand Canyon West gives our guests a unique adrenaline surge that will be one of the longest and most exciting zip lines found anywhere in the world.”

Visitors to the Grand Canyon number over 6 million every year and it's estimated that the zip line at Grand Canyon West will accommodate an estimated 350,000 visitors annually. Ticket prices are $89 per person, which gives guests access to the zip line as well as the park; there's an additional cost for those who want to walk on the Skywalk. The zip line will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 4pm.