Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Round-Trip Tickets

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and its rotating cars

Opened in 1963, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of the great engineering feats of California. Its towers were built on steep granite slopes with the help of helicopters, and since 2000 the line has used rotating tram cars, among the largest in the world. As the car climbs about 4 km up Chino Canyon, the floor turns slowly, so you see the cliffs, the canyon and the valley without changing places.

The ride starts at Valley Station, at about 800 metres, and ends at Mountain Station, at about 2,600 metres, crossing five different life zones, from desert to alpine forest, in just 10 minutes. Stand near the windows on the way up for the steepest sections, where the car seems to brush the rock face. Is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway worth visiting? For views and a sudden change of climate, it is the highlight of the area.

Mountain Station and the observation decks

At the top, Mountain Station offers several observation decks with sweeping views of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and, on clear days, the distant mountains and desert lakes far to the south-east. Inside the station there are restaurants, a café, small natural history displays and short documentary films about the construction of the tramway, so you can learn about the project while you warm up or cool down.

Sunset is a magical moment here, when the valley lights come on below and the sky turns orange over the desert. Many visitors take a late-afternoon tram up, walk for an hour, have a meal and come down after dark. Plan at least two hours at the top, or up to four if you want to hike. Remember that the air is thinner at this height, so walk slowly at first.

Mount San Jacinto State Park trails and seasons

From Mountain Station, a paved path leads down into Long Valley and the forests of Mount San Jacinto State Park. The easy Desert View Trail, about 2.4 km long, loops through pines with several viewpoints over the valley, while the nature trail is ideal for families with young children. Experienced hikers can continue towards San Jacinto Peak, one of the highest summits in Southern California, with a free wilderness permit.

The temperature at the top is usually about 15 to 20 degrees Celsius cooler than in Palm Springs, which makes the tramway a favourite escape in summer. From December to March the forest is often covered in snow, and snowshoeing is possible when conditions allow. The best time to visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is in spring and autumn, when the weather is mild at both stations and the views are clear.

How to get to Valley Station: opening hours and tips

Valley Station is at 1 Tram Way, at the end of a 6 km road that climbs from Highway 111 at the northern entrance to Palm Springs. It takes about 10 minutes by car from downtown Palm Springs, and there is paid parking along the access road, with a shuttle in busy periods. Taxis and ride-hailing cars can drop you off at the station entrance.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway opening hours usually run from about 10:00, with earlier cars at weekends and holidays, until the last car up in the evening, with cars departing every half hour. The tramway closes for annual maintenance for about two weeks, usually in September, and it may stop briefly in strong winds. Bring a warm layer even in summer, water and sunscreen.