Grand Canyon Helicopters: The 4,000-foot Bottom-landing Tour!

It's the dream of many Las Vegas travelers: Descending nearly a mile into the craw of the Grand Canyon and triumphantly standing on the banks of the mighty Colorado River. Then reality sets in. You do an epic overnight hike or take a Grand Canyon helicopter. Considering most people are looking for a great day trip, a chopper ride is your only true option (and the best one!).

The South and West Rims are the focal points for Grand Canyon visitors. But it's only at the West Rim where you can land on the bottom (South Rim flight plans only let you fly from one side of the gorge to the other and back).

Flights typically depart from Las Vegas, or Boulder City, NV. The West Rim is only 120 miles off to the east. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes. On the way, youll see some fantastic sights like Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the New Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, an ancient Joshua Tree Forest, and parts of the Mojave Desert that look downright prehistoric.

Before you realize it, you're nearing the Grand Canyon. The West Rim is drier than the South, which is situated in the Kaibab Plateau, home of the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the nation. The other differentiator is the color of the West Rim, which is much more subdued and pale than the vibrant colors of the South Rim.

The thrills go up a notch as the helicopter leaves the West Rim behind and starts its 4,000-foot descent to the bottom. This is canyon carving at its best. From hereon, it's imposing cliffs, outrageous rock formations, and dusty buttes until your helicopter lands on a dirt helipad alongside the Colorado River.

The three main Grand Canyon helicopter tour operators (Papillon, Maverick, and Sundance) let you hop off the chopper to enjoy a Champagne Picnic before turning you loose to explore the canyon's ancient floor. Typical bottom time is about 30 minutes.

There's also non-landing West Rim helicopter tours and a host side-adventures that include Hummer tours, horseback rides, Western wagon rides, and smooth-water rafting trips. The other attraction that gets a lot of attention at this rim is the Grand Canyon Skywalk. As it should, too. Have a look at these crazy facts:

1. Lets you walk 70 feet beyond the edge.
2. Suspends you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.
3. Can withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes and 100 mph winds.
4. Can support 800 people. Only 120 people are allowed on it at one time.
5. Over 200,000 people visit it each year.
6. Each of its 46 glass panels cost $250,000!

Mentioned earlier, South Rim helicopter flights do not land. The compromise is that you get to fly through the Dragoon Corridor, the deepest part of the Canyon, before you reach the beautifully isolated North Rim. Some the cleanest, clearest air exists here, enabling you to easily attain visibility of 150 miles or more. There are no helicopter flights between the West Rim and the South Rim.

The helicopter flight back to Las Vegas is equally enjoyable. If you can squeeze it in, definitely add a flight over the Las Vegas Strip. It's the perfect way to top off seeing the Grand Canyon and getting two items off that bucket list of yours.