Aerial Tramway
Park · Palm Springs, CA
About
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is perfect for travelers who want dramatic views without a strenuous hike. Its rotating tramcars provide 360-degree panoramas of the Coachella Valley as you ascend over 8,000 feet in ten minutes. The Mountain Station features a cocktail lounge, restaurants, and a Natural History Museum. It's a known engineering feat: construction in 1963 used helicopters for 23,000 missions without any mishap.
Bring a jacket; the temperature at the top can be 40 degrees cooler than on the valley floor. Regulars know that a light jacket is essential even in summer. If you're feeling adventurous, you can hike down through Mount San Jacinto State Park. For more local culture, consider visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum downtown.
Features
- ✓Rotating tramcars for 360-degree views
- ✓40-degree cooler temperature at the summit
- ✓Natural History Museum plus two restaurants
Good for
Practical
What people say
Rated from 1,856 reviews. 27 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“AERIAL TRAMWAY...”
When in Palm Springs, going up the mountainside via the tramway is a must. The view is amazing—a perfect spot for meditation. Bring a light jacket because it's quite cold up there. I felt a bit light-headed, which is normal due to the altitude. You can also hike down if you want, but I definitely didn't (I'm terrified of snakes, so I rode back down). There's also a snack bar if you're hungry. It's a great way to spend the day; you won't be disappointed.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Nervous the Whole Time!”
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway uses rotating cars that offer 360-degree views on the way up and down the mountain. The temperature at the top can be 40 degrees cooler than the valley floor, so a jacket is advisable. The views of the Coachella Valley are stunning. But I was nervous: a few years ago, a tramcar got stuck halfway up, and passengers were suspended for hours until a staff member who was also a passenger freed the cable. I have a fear of heights, so that would have been upsetting. My trip went fine and the views were great, but I'm not sure I'd ride it again.
A guest · Over a year ago
“A wonderful scenic trip”
This is a wonderful scenic experience for anyone. It's close to Palm Springs but goes straight up. It's windy and cold, so bring a jacket even in summer. You get great views of the entire valley.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“Good View”
I'm not sure why I did this because I'm scared of heights, so I was pretty frightened. The view at the top was good. When I rode down, I kept my eyes shut.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours of operation? +
The tramway is open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-8pm according to Yelp.
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