Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Is The World’s Largest Rotating Tram Car

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car transporting passengers from the Sonoran Desert to the alpine wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park. The tram travels through four temperate zones which is the equivalent of traveling from Africa to Alaska.

During the ten minute ride, the cars rotate slowly making two complete revolutions providing spell-bounding views of the Coachella Valley. From the top, you may be able to see Mt Charleston in Nevada to the north, and the Salton Sea to the southeast on a clear day.

The tram’s mountain station sits at an elevation of 8,516 feet and may be up to thirty degrees cooler than the desert floor. At the top you will find two restaurants, an observation deck, a natural history museum, two theaters screening documentaries on the tram’s construction, and a gift shop.

One of the restaurants offers a fine dining experience with exceptional forest views. A full cocktail bar offering a variety of alcoholic beverages and appetizers is located on the same level as the restaurants. Besides dining above the clouds, visitors can enjoy over fifty miles of hiking trails, horseback ride, or go cross-country skiing in the winter months.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest of the three rotating aerial trams in the world (the other two can be found in South Africa and Switzerland). These rotating cars are 18 feet (5.5m) in diameter and can hold up to 80 passengers. The trip to the top is 2 1/2 miles long and takes approximately twelve minutes.

What do the views look like from the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

After soaring for two and a half miles above the cliffs of Chino Canyon you will arrive at the mountain station in the pristine wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. There is an outdoor observation deck where you can look out over the Coachella Valley and see the city of Palm Springs from above. The Salton Sea is usually plainly visible to the southeast and you may even be able to see Mt Charleston all the way over in the state of Nevada.

What are the dining options at the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

There are two restaurants at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway; one is a fine dining establishment where guests can enjoy incredible views of the Coachella Valley, and the other is a cafeteria style restaurant. Both are open for lunch and dinner. In addition, there is a full cocktail bar offering a variety of alcoholic beverages, appetizers, and a snack bar with a selection of sandwiches, chips, cookies, and coffee.

Forest View Restaurant: Naturally, the Forest View Restaurant offers forest views and a waiter service experience. Options on the menu include salmon, lamb, steak, meatloaf, and burgers. You can view the lunch menu here and their dinner menu here.

Pines Cafe: The Pines Cafe is a cafeteria style restaurant which offers menu items like pizza, sandwiches, salad, and soup. For dinner they also offer a special Ride ‘n’ Dinner combination ticket from 4 pm with dinner available from 4:30 pm. Here is the lunch menu and the ‘Ride N Dinner’ menu for the Pines Cafe.

What is there to do at the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

There are two gift stores at the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway where you can pick up souvenirs; one is located in the Valley Station and the other is at the Mountain Station. You can also have your photo taken and printed out as a souvenir.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a nature walk along a 3/4 mile long trail which is easy and suitable for all levels. During the summer you can join guided walking tours led by state park volunteers at no charge. You can pick up a schedule of tour times from the Mountain Station Natural History Museum.

There are also longer and more challenging hikes you can do while you are visiting Mt San Jacinto State Park such as hiking to San Jacinto Peak. This is a 5.5 mile one way hike which will lead you to the second highest peak in Southern California. You can view the other hiking trail options here.

In the winter, visitors can opt to go snowshoeing in the forests. Snowshoes are available to rent from the Adventure Center but you must obtain a permit from the ranger station at Long Valley first.

How much are tickets for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

Tickets for the Palm Springs Aerial Tram cost $28.95 for adults, $26.95 for seniors, and $16.95 for children between the ages of 3-10 years old. Ride N Dine prices are $36 for adults and $23.50 for children. You can purchase tickets there on the day of or buy tickets in advance here.

Do you need to pay for parking at Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

Yes you do. Parking costs $8 a day for all vehicle types.

What are the operating hours at Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is open every day of the week including all public holidays although hours of operation vary depending on the season. The cars depart approximately every thirty minutes.

Operating Hours

• Monday to Friday: 10 am – 8:00 pm
• Saturday & Saturday: 8 am – 8:00 pm *including holidays

Getting To Palm Spring Aerial Tram

You can find the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in the city of Palm Springs at: 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs is a three hour drive from both Los Angeles and San Diego.

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