Grand Canyon West Rim Helicopter Tour from Las Vegas

Helicopter Over the Grand Canyon West Rim: Hoover Dam to Eagle Point in 70 Minutes

You board a state-of-the-art helicopter at Boulder City Airport and spend 70 minutes flying over the Hoover Dam, Colorado River, and Grand Canyon West Rim's Eagle Point with full wrap-around windows for unobstructed photos. An optional upgrade extends the flight to 90 minutes and includes a return pass over the Las Vegas Strip. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available. If you drive yourself, plan to arrive 45 minutes early.

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter tour over Grand Canyon West Rim

• Arrive at helicopter terminal
• Fly over Hoover Dam
• Soar above Colorado River
• View Grand Canyon West Rim and Eagle Point
• Return to air terminal
• Optional flight over Las Vegas Strip

The experience

The helicopter lifts off from Boulder City Airport and banks toward the Hoover Dam within minutes: the concrete face of it drops away beneath the wrap-around windows, and you're already over water. Lake Mead spreads out in pale blue, then the landscape shifts to rust and shadow as you cross into the canyon itself. The Colorado River threads through the bottom like a thin red line, and the walls rise up on both sides in layers of sandstone that look almost sculptural from the air, like someone carved them with intention.

The flight runs 70 minutes if you stick with the standard route, or 90 minutes if you add the Las Vegas Strip upgrade on the way back. Either way, you'll pass Eagle Point (where the Skywalk juts out over the canyon floor), and see the kind of scale that photographs never quite capture. Your guide points out the geological layers, the bends in the river, the way the light changes the color of the rock. The windows are full-wrap, so there's no bad seat, and the helicopter is built for this: stable enough that you can hold a camera steady, quiet enough that you can hear the narration.

If you choose the Vegas upgrade, the return flight takes you over the Strip itself: the hotels lit up in the afternoon, the grid of the city spreading out flat against the desert. It adds about 20 minutes to your time in the air and gives you a different kind of view: human-made geometry after an hour of natural canyon. The whole experience lands you back at the terminal by early afternoon, which means the rest of your day is still yours. You'll need to arrive 45 minutes before your flight time if you're arranging your own transport to Boulder City. Hotel pickup by shuttle is available as an add-on from select Las Vegas properties.

What’s included

• Approximately 70-minute helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon West Rim, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Colorado River.
• wrap-around windows for photography.
• optional 90-minute flight with Las Vegas Strip flyover on return.
• hotel pickup and drop-off by shuttle bus from select Las Vegas properties (if option selected).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:45

Book up to6h before

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideSpanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Papillon Helicopters

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Grand Canyon's scale and the Hoover Dam from the air without spending a full day on the road. The helicopter does the distance in under two hours, and the wrap-around windows mean you won't miss a single angle.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 72 h before the start.

How long is the helicopter flight?

The standard tour is approximately 70 minutes. If you add the Las Vegas Strip upgrade, the flight extends to 90 minutes.

What will I see on this helicopter tour?

You'll fly over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, and the Grand Canyon West Rim, including Eagle Point. The Strip upgrade adds a flyover of Las Vegas on the return.

Where does the helicopter depart from?

The tour departs from Boulder City Airport, located about 30 minutes southeast of Las Vegas.

Can I get hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off by shuttle bus is available as an option from select Las Vegas hotels.

What if I arrange my own transport?

If you don't book the hotel pickup option, you must arrange your own transport to Boulder City Airport and arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled flight time.

Can infants fly on this tour?

Yes, infants under two years old can fly if they sit on an adult's lap. Proof of age (passport or birth certificate copy) is required.

What ID do I need?

All passengers 18 and older must present a government-issued photo ID.

Are there weight restrictions?

Passengers weighing 300 lbs or more are required to purchase an additional seat. This fee is paid directly to the tour operator on the day of the tour.