Hualapai Tribe

When you visit Grand Canyon West, you are entering the Hualapai Reservation, a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in northwestern Arizona called the “Hualapai” (pronounced Wal-lah-pie), meaning “People of the Tall Pines.” In 1883, an executive order established the Hualapai reservation, where the proud Indigenous people have lived since 1883.

People of the tall pines

Hualapai Tribe

Hualapai elder Paul Talieje narrated one account of the Pai origins.

“When time began, water flooded the earth and washed away the homes and gardens of the People. After the torrent subsided, one man remained atop a mountain called Wikahme’, or Spirit Mountain. The man grew old and believed his death was imminent until Dove brought instructions from Matavila, the Creator, to drain the ocean with the horn of a mountain sheep and then dig a hole in the ground. As the man did this the water drained away, and slowly the hills, plains, and deserts emerged into the sunlight.” *

*Shepherd, Jeffery P. We Are An Indian Nation. A History of the Hualapai People. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press 2010

Today, the Hualapai are thriving in part to the travel and tourism industry. As a sovereign Indian nation, the Hualapai Tribe does not receive federal funding. Every purchase at Grand Canyon West helps to sustain Hualapai communities.

Your Adventure Awaits

Hualapai Rules & Customs

Grand Canyon West is an enterprise of the Hualapai Tribe and is situated on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. Visitors are welcome to explore the lands while recognizing and following the rules and regulations of this sovereign nation.

  • Follow the traffic signs and posted speed limits while driving through the area, and do not enter any areas marked off-limits.
  • Be kind to the environment and dispose of all waste properly.
  • Be respectful of the Hualapai Tribe staff who work at Grand Canyon West. Do not touch their hair or their clothing.
  • You are encouraged to ask staff questions to gain a deeper understanding of the Hualapai’s culture and traditions.
Prohibited on the Hualapai Reservation
  • Alcoholic beverages and firearms.
  • Dumping of cremains or human ashes. No exceptions.
  • Removal of any animals, plants, rocks, or artifacts.
  • Defacing of rock structures or environments.
  • No campfires, charcoal, wood or gas grills to prohibit wildfires.
  • Refrain from smoking (cigarettes, pipes, vapes, etc.) unless in a designated area.
  • Stay off residential properties and land boundaries, and do not enter a home uninvited.
  • Do not throw objects into the Grand Canyon.
  • Drones are prohibited.