Don’t Look Down! Grand Canyon Swing Possibly the World’s Scariest Ride

Updated Feb 24, 2020

Some people walk a thin line 1,500 feet above the Grand Canyon, others swing 1,300 feet above the Colorado River on the Grand Canyon Swing. They all have one thing in common: they are thrill-seekers by nature.

For the adrenalin junky in search of the ultimate white-knuckle ride, the new Grand Canyon Swing Ride will get the adrenalin pumping.  Dangling 1,300 feet above the Colorado River, you are swung 112 degrees above the horizon at 50mph.

The mega-swing is the creation of park owner Steve Beckley who admits to only riding it once. The park makes sure you sign a release form stating “injuries, falls, and/or death may result from participating in this activity.”

Beckley decided that the earlier version of the ride was not “extreme” enough so the new ride, which is pneumatically powered and much faster, is for sure a bigger adrenaline rush.

Beckley gets a kick out of hearing people scream when they ride it. They are either thrilled or terrified, sometimes both, he adds.

Thrill-seekers pay $12 a head to be swung out for 60 seconds, but that’s the last thing on their mind in mid-air. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall.

It’s great fun just to watch people ride, says Beckley who thinks going on the ride once seems like enough. Can you blame him?

Oh… and did I mention that the ride is actually 500 miles from the Grand Canyon National Park? But that’s probably the last thing you think about when you see the seemingly endless drop below you.

The swing dangles 400m (1,300ft) above the Colorado River, and you are swung through the air at 50mph.

The Grand Canyon Swing Ride is located at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona. More than 5 million people book a Grand Canyon vacation each year. Some of the most popular Grand Canyon tours are helicopter and airplane rides.