Guano Point ~ Hualapai Grand Canyon West

​The Grand Canyon region has been the home of the Hualapai for a long time. Hualapai Nation Tourism has become popular in recent years, because they have invited visitors to experience the mysterious western end of the Grand Canyon in a big way. The modern Hualipai facilies include, an airport, shuttle service and several interesting destinations along the canyon rim. The Skywalk glass bridge over the canyon is the main attraction and admission is included in the ticket price. Offering plenty to do sure does motivate visitors, but there is another reason why Hualapai Grand Canyon West has become a prime time destination. The neighboring Grand Canyon National Park is subject to severe overcrowding problems and Grand Canyon West still offers plenty of breathing room!   

The design of Grand Canyon West says it all. Tourists have to park their cars and ride eco-friendly shuttle buses to the scenic overlooks and attractions along the canyon rim. Trails are carved in the landscape, so the footprint on the natural surroundings is reduced. Maintaining the highest respect for this pristine environment is necessary, because the Hualapai have always revered the Grand Canyon as a sacred spiritual place. It is only right that visitors do the same and this frame of mind becomes part of the experience.

Guano Point is about a 10 minute shuttle bus ride west of Eagle Point. Guano Point is the western most point of interest at Grand Canyon West. This area is where the Colorado River runs through end of the Grand Canyon and eventually tapers off into the Lake Mead Basin. The eastern shoreline of Lake Mead actually is not far away, yet one would never guess just by looking at the intimidating landscape. 

The views of the Grand Canyon extends for many miles in every direction at Guano Point. Guano Point is a branching arm of a mesa that extends far into the Grand Canyon. A conical shaped hill with a central peak is located at the end of the trail and the unobstructed views are spectacular from the top!

Guano Point got its name from a guano mining operation at the nearby Bat Cave Mine. The giant cave was estimated to contain high tonnage numbers of both ancient fossilized guano and fresh bat guano. Bat guano is the ultimate natural plant fertilizer, so the mining venture got underway. After a short time, the geologists discovered that the amount of bat guano was far less than expected, so the guano mining operation at Bat Cave came to an early end. Remnants of the old antique cable tram pulley framework and the guano loading facility can be seen at the end of Guano Point.

Guano Point offers full facilities on site. The Guano Café is nice open air restaurant and every table has a view of the Grand Canyon. I know that naming a restaurant after bat poop is not par for the course in the restaurant industry, but things are a little bit more down to earth on the Hualapai Reservation! The name Guano Café kind of has a nice ring to it and people that do not know what guano is, will surely ask questions that will draw an amusing response! 

During my visit, the bats were sleeping at Guano Point, but the desert ravens were definitely out in full force. These birds sure are smart and they seem to live for opportunities to taunt and tease unsuspecting bystanders. Desert ravens seem to find me wherever I go in the Southwest and I kind of turn the table on them when they fly by. I do a good desert raven bird call, which usually sends the ravens into retaliatory payback mode and things can quickly become amusing. It is funny how these majestic birds always seem to find a way to get the last laugh!

It is easy to spend hours wandering around at Guano Point at Hualapai Grand Canyon West, because the setting is so peaceful and picturesque! Guano Point is one of the most spectacular scenic overlooks in the entire Grand Canyon and it is the last one that can be easily accessed in the west end. The serene majestic views are unobstructed and the spectacular scenery extends for many miles into the horizon. Guano Point truly is a great place to experience what the Grand Canyon is really all about!