Audio Driving Tour: Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam Red Rock Canyon

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route(s) to match your interests and schedule. Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full or multi day itineraries. Some of the many highlights are listed below;

Perhaps the greatest feat of American engineering and certainly an icon to this day, the Hoover Dam must be seen up close to be appreciated. Take a 1/2 day sightseeing drive to Hoover Dam, or include it as a stop on your way to Grand Canyon West Rim. At the dam, park and walk onto the wall to appreciate the sheer size and magnitude of the project. You will want to take photos from different vantage points around the dam to capture many fascinating details.

A modern-day engineering feat that equals the construction of the Hoover Dam - almost! Officials recognized the US 93 route over Hoover Dam as a dangerous and congested bottleneck with both existing and projected traffic volume. Construction began in 2003 and was completed 7 years later in 2010. This arch style bridge sits 890 feet (270m) above the Colorado River, the 2nd highest in the United States.

Grand Canyon West Rim is located on the land belonging to the Hualapai Nation. The Grand Canyon West offers a mixture of amazing Grand Canyon views and traditional cultural experiences all in a single location, relatively close to Las Vegas. Included in the Legacy fee to visit the area is shuttle to access 3 distinctive areas: Eagle Point, Guano Point and the Ranch. The Glass SkyWalk is perhaps the most iconic and famous feature of exploring this part of the Grand Canyon. The U-shaped, glass-floored walkway extends out beyond the rim, so you can look through your feet to the canyon floor thousands of feet below.

This stop in Grand Canyon West offers some of the very best views of the canyon, even from the general viewing area. The remains of an old mining operation in caves in the side of the canyon walls makes the location even more interesting that "regular" canyon views! If you have the energy, you can follow a relatively easy scramble to the top of a rock mound to get an even more elevated view of the canyon, and the rim.

This natural rock formation is located on the lands of the Hualapai Reservation and can be enjoyed as part of the Grand Canyon West Rim experience. The outline of an eagle spreading its wings is obvious and you'll learn more about the legends and these sacred rocks. The setting on the edge of the rim of the Grand Canyon is spectacular.

The 13 mile loop drive explores the canyons famous red rocks, but also has many elevated viewpoints, other startling rock formations and ancient petroglyphs. Hikers have a chance to explore several canyons, or to do some fun rock-hopping trails. The Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center offers indoor interpretive displays, an outdoor plaza filled with interactive exhibits, spectacular views of the surrounding red rock and a neat gift shop.

Spring Mountain Ranch is a state park and preserved historical site with some of the oldest building in Nevada. It has had some famous celebrity owners through its history - if only the walls could talk! The ranch is beautifully preserved and offers living history and cultural programs.

Who doesn't love chocolate? Forrest Mars Sr. (yes, of the Mars candy empire) founded Ethel M Chocolates as a retirement project in 1980. Named after his mother, this little venture reached $150 million in sales within a few years.

There is a superb elevated viewpoint along the Hoover Dam access road, where we can enjoy expansive views of Lake Mead, which of course was created by the back-filling of the dam.

Developed as a base to house the 5000 workers constructing the Hoover Dam. Built in a harsh desert environment it was meticulously planned and supervised by the dam construction consortium. To help keep laborers focused on their work, alcohol and gambling was prohibited. Today you still see some of the historic buildings in downtown, mixed in with cafes, diners and art studios, but you won't find any casinos, gambling still isn't legal here.