Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

It was a great trip overall. Loved the view and the hiking trails. I did not anticipate how the Tram would rotate but it actually moves the floor which was pretty neat. Also nice to experience the cooler temperature as you overlook the desert.

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
Beautiful views, fresh air, nature, mountains, and great hiking trails! You definitely want to bring layers or a sweater, otherwise you’ll be buying one from the gift store!
No joke, the day we went, memorial weekend (btw, avoid visiting on holiday weekends, [keep reading to find out why]), it was so at the base entrance; mid 90’s low 100’s. But when we got to the top it was around 52−68° F with a chill breeze. Which was so nice but a drastric change for just a 10 min tram ride.
We welcomed the fresh air and chilly breeze that reminded us of our lovely time spent at Humboldt State. However, My friend ended up having to buy a windbreaker/​sweater, she wanted a souvenir anyways, so she didn’t mind. It was super chill, literally.
About the visiting on holidays…
We did it cause it was a staycation and why not, but had we known we would be there all day we might’ve planed differently. We showed up at a reasonable time (or so we thought) a little before 10am, our little car survived the incline to the parking lot (I don’t remember how much parking was) … We parked in the last lot (j), they provide a shuttle to the station but had to wait for the shuttle about 15 min, by the time we got to the station and in line to buy a ticket it was almost 11am, and the waiting area was already packed. They apparently sell tickets for shuttles. That come every 10 mins but they were completely sold out for the next few hours the next time they had available wasn’t until 140pm. It was hot and crowded, there were areas to explore outside so we did while we waited.. . and waited. This is why you avoid holiday weekends, or you can order ahead, which we didn’t know about, next time.
Anywho, the trip up to the mountain station is a short 10 min trip but it is filled with blood rushing views and many chances for pictures and scaring the daylights out of people by jumping and or pretending to drop your (don’t do it.)
Once you get to the top there are even more opportunities for epic photos, a restaurant, a cafeteria and giftshops.
To get to the hiking trails you have to take a trip down a paved pathway, its pretty steep and if you plan to hike a bit i suggest saving some strength for the way back to the station, its pretty intense had to stop for a few breaks, im not in the best of shape but the way back up is much tougher then the trip down.
The trip back down to the base station is very fun, there is less wait time for the trip down the tram then there was coming up, an overall amazing trip!
I read there are also camping space you can rent and hike to, great for a weekend backpack trip.
I’ll be going back, most likely during the winter, wanna go when its snowing!

Some people may not like the mountain view but I really enjoyed this with my family. It was actually fun. Unilocal reviewers did good with their comments on what to say and what to do so I was semi prepared. Ticket prices are decent to this tourist attraction.
The address takes you to the tour center so drive up to the mountain road you see when driving up to where the parking attendant is. We only paid $ 5 for parking but there is A-​J parking sections. Good we got to park in section A since it was in front of the center. We came here late about 5p but didn’t finish till 7:30p. By the way, there is no internet service up there or wifi so be aware. We just checked in on Unilocal after and took a lot of pictures! Bring a selfie stick! I forgot ours! :-(
We came here last minute yesterday on our drive up to Palm Springs. They were open from 8am-​8p Saturday but the last ride down from the mountain was 10:30p they said, you’d have to sleep in the bathroom? This is what the guide said. Haha… No way would I stay up here. I can imagine how cold it can get at 8615 ft up the mountain?!
Up on top, there is a gift shop, restaurant, museum, small theater to watch the making of this ride. They said there is a hotel up here but didn’t see one. There are camping grounds, too. There are a few hiking trails but only did the short trail. There’s a crooked cement path going down to the dirt trail. That was the hardest part especially going back up the hill.
The tramway ride up was cool as it circles 360 degrees to see the full view of the mountain. It can get bumpy and goes down pretty fast down the hill. It’s not cool when the people that hike and camp up there for days go on our ride down with you. They stank! Good thing they leave the windows on the open on the ride down. Phew!
I recommend to come here still but wear good but old shoes, shorts in summer as its nice and cool up there compared to the 3 digit weather down the hill. In the winter I am sure it’s super cold up there. Bring a pack of food to have a picnic instead of going to the restaurant. Good for kids. Don’t wear nice shoes in case you go on the trails, your shoes will get dirty but enjoy the view!

I’ve been going to Coachella Valley for years… and finally did the tram. If you visit the area, I highly recommend it… even on a rainy day!
Unfortunately the day we went, it was raining. It would have been neat to see blue skies. However, it was still gorgeous!
The tram ride up the mountain is neat. The views are awesome, and kind of scary! You look down and see the side of the mountain. It was extra eerie because it was raining and foggy so you couldn’t really see what was coming.
Once we were up top, we went and hiked for a bit! So pretty.
Definitely recommend!

A real gem in Palm Springs. I found this by chance. I’m a beginner backpacker so imagine my excitement when I found out there was back country camping allowed here.
Pros:
–Really neat ride up and super fast!
–The difference in temperature was awesome too. Palm Springs can get really hot so 1 minute you’re in 90 degree weather at the bottom of the tram. then you’re up in cool mtn air in less than 10 minutes for the ride up!
–Plenty to do. Great when there’s snow to have family fun time = sledding and snow fights.
–A lot of hiking trails. The main one leads up to San Jacinto Peak! Must have a permit to hike in the back country, even if you’re a day user.
Cons:
–This was a con for me but they stopped selling 8am time slot tickets on their website (8am is their earliest time slot). I like to start really early when I hike so not having a ticket to assure me that I can be up the mtn by at least 830am is nerve-​wrecking and affects the trip.
–PS Tramway’s website shows a couple different campgrounds for back country hikers. One of these is Little Round Valley. Their website says there are 28 campsites available at that post when in fact, there are only 6. This was extremely misleading and it led me to apply for the wrong permit, which delayed my reservation and resulted in me getting the wrong site. I was able to fix this by calling the rangers office (who informed me that Little Round Valley only has 6 sites, not 28). I emailed PS Tramway about this and they have yet to respond or even make a change/​note on this information on their website.
Overall, would recommend this place!

We had to wait 2 hours. I guess because it was on a weekend, but it was well worth it. The views of the San Jacinto mountains are amazing. Overall it was a great experience for my kids.

Definitely a must-​do for anyone visiting the Palm Springs area. The tram rotates 360° while ascending, giving all passengers plenty of opportunities for the different views on the way up.
The ascent/​descent in the tram is amazing, you travel 2 ½ miles, ~6000 ft in about 10 minutes and it’s definitely breathtaking. Just a heads up, the top of Mt. San Jacinto is about 30 degrees colder than the temperature in Palm Springs, so definitely bring layers of clothing. It was pretty interesting seeing patches of snow and 40° weather while just 10 minutes prior we were baking in the desert heat.
Once you reach the mountain station, there’s plenty of area to take pictures, read about the history, flora and fauna of the area. There’s also plenty of hiking trails and rock climbing areas at the top of the mountain, but we were ill-​equipped so we stayed in the main area.
I would definitely do this again if I’m in the area.
⁵⁄₅ stars, highly recommended!

The aerial tram is a great family activity! Something for everyone. The trip up gives you stunning, 360 degree views along with a recorded narration of a bit of the history of the tram. Once at the top, your group can opt to hang in the lodge, take a short hike on some trails surrounding the lodge, or venture into the Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness area for a longer hike on the 52 miles of trails in the mountain.
The temperature is about 30 — 35 degrees cooler at the top, a nice reward after baking in the desert.

The tram from Palm Springs to the top of San Jacinto mountain is incredible both for the engineering as well as the drastic change from the desert to the alpine feel of the mountain. The temperature can change by nearly 40 degrees from the base station to the top. The tram itself is huge and is especially interesting as it rotates 360 degrees several times on the ascent and descent, giving full views around to everyone. The peak is beautiful with several hiking trails and a short walking loop. There is also a short hike to several scenic overlooks down to the desert and valley. It is also shockingly quiet compared to the loud valley and quite scenic on the trails.

First and last time. Yes, views are amazing, but was it really worth $ 25 per person? I think not. On our way up, there are 4 towers. At each tower there is a ‘slight’ swing. This will startle you. Or scare the crap out of you.
If you decide to come up here, please do yourself a favor and bring your own food. The food was of course nothing spectacular but also the people serving look they clearly don’t want to be there.
But it was nice to take a nature walk and find a quiet spot overlooking the amazing view.
Oh, and on the way down you will feel the ‘slight’ swing again. Have fun! :)

$ 25 a person for the tram up and $ 5 for parking. The line for parking takes a while as its a single lane. The views are amazing but be weary that it gets quite cold. Bring a jacket. There’s snow on top and appears as if some kids will sled around. You can also hike to the top (if you’re feeling active) and tram on the way down for $ 12.
The little theatre is cute and the view is great. They also have a tiny little museum showing the mammals and critters that live on the mountain.

My wife and I went to grab coffee while we were in Palm Springs and I suddenly recalled a faint memory of there being some sort of aerial tram in the area. From downtown Palm Springs, the drive to the aerial tram is about 15 minutes. Be sure to get there early because there’s a parking officer there that solicits tickets to park, and it takes a while to get to the front.
Each ticket per passenger costs about $ 23.00 and for that, you will get a 10 minute aerial tram ride to the top of the mountains in Palm Springs. You begin at an elevation of 2,643 ft and end at an elevation of 8,516 ft (Mountain Station). The car you ride in rotates the entire way up and down and offers stunning views of Palm Springs, The Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and the surroundings.
Once we made it to the top, I was able to sneak in some pictures throughout the ride. At the top, you can dine, have a snack and hike down the trails if you so choose. There are reportedly 57 miles of hiking trails in the San Jacinto State Park. All trails are accessed by exiting the Mountain Station and descending concrete pathways less than a mile into the valley.
Since I went during the winter, there was snow everywhere. I’m really glad I got the chance to enjoy the hikes through the snow with my wife as well as the views available around the observatory deck. The temperature drops pretty dramatically once you’re at the top (30 degree difference), so I would suggest bringing a thick jacket, another layer, boots, gloves, and a beanie if you have one.
I highly suggest that if you are in the Palm Springs/​Coachella Valley area that you take a trip on the aerial tram.

Exciting and worth the ticket! Ok, $ 25 each is a bit pricy if you are paying for a large group, but if you think about how easy it is to spend that money on drinks, food, and the many casinos in the area, it’s a good investment to save some money and treat yourself to experience what they call the «eighth wonder of the world».
It’s a bit crowded, so get there early. However, tickets are timed and the tram rotates slowly twice 360, so you are almost always guaranteed a great view. (Me? I ran in to grab a spot around the outer edge so I could look down!) It would be problematic for people who are scared of heights though. The ride itself is fun and the view incredible.
Once you are at the top, you realize that they weren’t kidding when they said there is a 30 degree difference. I brought jeans, layered clothes, a fuzzy jacket, a scarf, and a hat to cover my ears… And I was still cold! The wind gets you up there and goes right through your jeans. If you wanted to know where CA was hiding it’s snow… It’s at the top of the tramway! Get ready for a winter wonderland with sledding, snowmen, nature, and amazing views. Note: there’s a bar too where you can get warmed up. Totally worth it and super fun to see and play in the snow… Without the trouble of driving to it.

Book your tickets ahead of time, otherwise you’ll wait forever!
Be sure to bring layers. It might be 100 degrees in town, but will probably be much cooler up here (at least 30 – 40 degrees cooler). Bring a pair of good walking shoes as there is a cool trail that’ll take you right into the woods like you were just transported to a totally different place in comparison to what is down in Palm Springs.
I recommend eating beforehand or bringing your own food. I did book a table at one of the restaurants (Peaks) but the food was at best mediocre. Prices aren’t too bad as they are what you’d expect to pay at any other spot back in town but the taste was mediocre at best.
Try to score a window view as they literally cram in the entire tram so you’ll have a wave of heads left and right. The tram does turn in circles and you get a good 360 degree view of the entire 10 minute ride so as long as you score a spot by the window, you won’t miss any of the gorgeous backdrops.
Be sure to keep your phone charged, otherwise it never happened if it doesn’t go onto FB or IG!

The tram was the first sightseeing trip I did in Palm Springs and was I blown away.
In a matter of 11 minutes you are whisked from a desert to the top of a snowcapped mountain 10,000 ft above sea level.
The tram turns 360 degrees so you are able to enjoy the view from all angles. The wait is around 15 minutes as the trams come quite frequently. I would recommend going earlier in the day, say around 9 am, if you want to avoid the crowd. Make sure to dress warmly as well! The Canadian inside of me told me that I could brave the Californian mountain with just a thin long sleeves, but boy was I wrong. Sad to announce that the Californian sub-​zero celsius is still sub-​zero celsius and freezing. If you want to do hiking be sure to wear proper shoes as well. The ice and snow makes some trails really slippery.
For those who are more athletics-​inclined, there is also a back route you can hike to reach the top of the mountain, but the view from the tram is definitely one of a kind.
Had a really great time here though I came to California to escape the Toronto snow.

WOW. I loved this experience. I went up here to go to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto twice in the past three months and I loved it both times. The views as well as the hike are both incredible.
TRAM RIDE
The tickets can be bought online or in person and its about $ 24 for the tram going up and down. The tram ride itself is only about 10 minutes but you can see great views of the county as you go up. The restaurant lodge up at the top is warm and cozy. The food itself is good but nothing to go crazy about. The experience and the view is the main draw.
HIKE
I went the to the peak twice, first by myself, then with a group. The hike itself is about 11 miles round trip. Its 5.5 miles from the ranger station to Mt San Jacinto. The second time I went was on black friday. It was absolutely freezing and it actually snowed the entire duration of the hike. I’ve never done a snow hike before and it was quite an experience.
The trail is marked well enough to do it without getting lost but I suggest making sure you prepare adequately. I was dumb and didn’t bring water proof gloves so towards the end of the hike, the snow melted on my hands and got them wet which made my hands go numb. Bring plenty of water, at least 2 liters, snacks, and warm clothes. Oh! Make sure to bring a camera because the views are the best in all of southern california! You can see several different counties on a clear day and its absolutely breath taking. Its worth all the trouble going up there.
In terms of the difficulty of the hike, its on the difficult side mostly because of the distance and the constant elevation gain. I believe the elevation gain is about 2000 feet over the course of the 5.5 miles. I’m an experienced and avid hiker and I go hiking every week so it wasn’t too hard but for someone who is not that active and only goes once in a while, you’ll need to bring plenty of water as well as take lots of breaks.
One cool part of the hike which we all enjoyed was the hut near the top of the hike. Its about 10 minutes or .1 mile from the summit and its a great place to rest up and relax. There are a few beds, some emergency supplies, and other items there that people have left in case of emergency. Once you see it, you know you’re almost at the top!
A couple of tips is to be well prepared… bring 3 liters of water, snacks, warm clothing, whistle, flash light, etc… basically the 10 essentials You should have a turn around time. In the winter months, it gets dark early so if you’re hiking slow and don’t hit the peak by 2pm, you should probably start heading back down.
Also, you’ll need to fill out a permit at the ranger station before you head out on the hike just in case you get lost and they need info in an emergency situation.
Aside from that, its a well marked hike with clear trails and hands down is one of the best hikes in southern california with some of the best views. In the future, I’ll be looking forward to doing the cactus to clouds trail which is from 0 elevation to the peak. Grueling, brutal, and intense, which is what I’m all about!

If you want a special experience in Palm Springs, do this. Just do it. Tip: Go and do the twilight ride (after 4:30 PM) for a discounted price. You are basically loaded onto a tram that makes its way up the mountain (over 8000 feet up), and it will rotate as it goes up, allowing you to get all the good views.
When you get to the top, I highly recommend going on a quick hike outside and acquainting yourself with the forest below. It is full of beautiful Jeffrey pines, along with lots of wildlife to check out. After the hike, be sure to go stand by the rail outside the tram station, and take photos of the city below. If you stay there long enough, you can get photos during the day, and the night (hence why I said do the twilight ride).
Definitely bring some layers, as it can get nippy up there! It is so worth the price, and I would happily do it again anytime!

I had a party of 20 meet us here to meet my Wife and I for a semi-​surprise party for her. She knew I was having a little party for her, she just didn’t know where or who would be there. I drove up the street leading to the Tram, and she STILL had no idea! We approached the booth to pay for parking, and she was like «What is this? Why are there all those green light?» I said, «Must be a Border Patrol checkpoint!» She quickly put her seatbelt back on and got nervous. I pulled up to the booth. «Five dollars please.» said the guy at the booth. «Bribes are cheap here» I jokingly said to my Wife as she playfully smacked me on my arm for messing with her. Pulled into Lot A, and a few of her friends ducked down in their cars as we got out.
Walked into the place, and a few of her friends were already waiting in the back room past the gift shop. «Surprise!» they said to my Wife as we walked in. They all had their hug-​fest while I went to see about our boarding tickets.
I went to the counter to see if we could still get the group rate even though 10 people had cancelled that day. The friendly girl at the counter told me that since it was the evening, that the discount (about 4 dollars a ticket) was in effect anyway. So it didnt matter how many people were coming. Awesome. Some of our party bought some items from the helpful Gentleman in the giftshop while we waited to go up the Tram to our reservation at Peaks Restaurant.
We boarded the Tram, after taking a souvenir picture. The Tram Operator was very welcoming and friendly. We all positioned ourselves for the ride, and the Tram began to ascend. Even at night this is a great view and a pleasant ride. You get a little more «spookiness» factor out of it that way anyway. Fun ride.
We arrived at the top and departed the tram. My Wife went and bought the souvenir pic (came out great by the way) as I went ahead to check on our reservation. We had our Birthday dinner (separate review) for a little over an hour, and came back downstairs, barely missing the tram. No worries, we can hang out for a half-​hour. A few of us went outside to the observation decks just outside of the restaurant to see a MUCH better view that while riding the tram. We took in the crisp, fresh air that had a touch of that fresh pine smell. This is livin’.
As we waited in the lobby for the last ten minutes or so for the next tram, my little ones were getting restless. My Daughter (4 yrs-​old) didnt know not to go back and forth through the counter area, were the turnstile thing was, and she went through it two or three times. The Lady at the counter told my Wife that she couldnt do that, and my Wife apologized, and rounded up our Wily little girl. For some reason this Woman (middle-​aged, light brown braided-​hair was all I remember) gave us the stank eye for the rest of our wait, as if we had committed one of the Seven Deadly Sins or something. Every other employee at the tram was wonderful in every way. Good enough to still warrant a great review and a recommendation from me. This was the first of many times I plan to come back! Thanks you Guys for putting on a great experience!

Among the top 10 things to do while in PS. Such a great way to spend the day; no matter whether you are in summer or winter, the tram is fun for the family or a nice romantic get away.
You can take a snack and hike, take in the majestic views or just settle in at the bar and have yourself a high altitude cocktail.
So refreshing, so fun and so worth the trek.

For $ 22.60 you get a ton of value.
There’s the ride itself, soaring 2 ½ miles up through the Coachella Valley. It’s a ten minute adventure that climbs to an elevation of 8.500 feet. The views are crazy beautiful. You are so high in the air that the views look like something you see from an airplane window.
The tram car has a revolving floor so everyone gets an equal share of the scenery. Every time our car passed a support tower, there is a little «dip» in the ride which elicited entertaining screams from some of the foreign tourists in our group
The entry building (Valley Station) and the upper building (Mountain Station) have a ton of attractions– movies and restaurants and a really neat nature exhibit of the animals and plants that call this treacherous environment home.
Mountain View Station has all sorts of walkways and ramps so you can get a good look at the impressive scenery, or walk over to a hiking trail if that’s your thing.
At the end of our visit, we even saw a tarantula sunning himself on the Valley Station stairs.
That was pretty cool too.

Das ganze zu bewerten ist schwer. Was gibt man Landschaften für Punkte? Für den einen ist es das wert für den anderen nicht. Daher mal die Fakten: Pro Fahrt hin un retour waren USD 24 zu berappen. Naja, nicht gerade günstig. Man bekam die Fahrt in einer Doppelmayr Liftanlage, die natürlich «The Greatest in the World» ist dafür geboten. Echt noch nirgends gesehen ausser hier, speziell als Österreicher ;-) Witzig war, dass sie sich um die eigene Achse dreht. Ein Security-​Theater mit eigenen Gondelführern und Checklisten. Wir flogen nicht am Mond — nein es ging mit einer stinknormalen Seilbahn den Berg hinauf. Das war das eigentlich witzige daran. Wenn wir das im Wintertourismus einführen würden, dann würde die Arbeitslosenquote gleich deutlich zurück gehen…
Die Sicht oben ist wirklich gut und jetzt kommt es darauf an: Macht man das zu Beginn eines Urlaubs und hat in die Nationalparks und die Wüste noch vor sich, dann ist man sicherlich begeistert. Wenn man eine komplette Tour hinter sich hat und so Dinge wie Grand View Canyon, Arches Nationalpark und dgl. bereits gesehen hat, dann denkt man sich nur: «ja eh nett».
Wie gesagt, ist sehr subjektiv und eigentlich bewerte ich Landschaften nicht, aber das Theater rund um die Gondelfahrt war mir dann den Bericht Wert.