Wyler Aerial Tramway — Attraction in El Paso

I didn't even know El Paso had a tram when I was driving from Tucson back home to Austin and needed a road break and discovered this on the TX State Parks website.

The scenery is overlooking the urban sprawl below, but I was actually disappointed in the tram ride up and the views once I got up there. I mean, I know this isn't the Rockies or Alps, but it just wasn't that impressive for the ridiculously long wait times (each of the two gondolas can only take up to 6 people, though most times it was less and they are supposed to run every 5mins or so, but there were sometimes 10-12min gaps between loads). Over 30mins for a 3min ride? The tram ride was fine, but there isn't a lot to see on the way up. Maybe I wouldn't have minded the wait f there was more than just a few walkways and a perilous "Ranger Loop Trail" at the top. "The best view in the Southwest?" Yeah, I don't think so...they must have meant the Southwest corner of El Paso, cuz there are better views from Mt Bonnell in Austin and definitely better views in several other places throughout the state of TX and the Southwest.

I was wanting to do the Geocaches here, but OMG, where they put them here was a little too "adventurous" for my taste. I did the Directissimo Trail because the line was stupid long and I thought killing 30mins on a trail was a better use of my time. But this trail was crazy! It makes you hike halfway up the mountain and I don't think the geocache was even there because after getting up to the bench where my geocache app said I was within 4ft of the damn thing it was nowhere to be found and I looked for a solid 15mins! The trail going up was bad, but going down was worse. It's a narrow trail w/things that can stab you jutting in on the trail itself, so you really have to watch your footing. But the hike down gets "fun" with all the loose rocks and tall quasi-rock steps. Did not enjoy it at all and to have done all that to come back w/out my geocache punch made it even less enjoyable. When I talked to the ranger at the box office they were just like "oh the girl who put it there said it was there last month" but had no idea if it was at "bench 1 or 2" wtf? Seriously? Then the Geocache at the top of the tram was supposedly next to this brick chalet, but when you see where the chalet is compared to where you are...it is a trek! I attempted the Ranger Loop Trail, but it was more perilous than the Directissimo as there are some pretty steep drops where you need to be super athletic and have longer legs than I did if you are going to make it down and back, so I came back after the 3rd set of chain ropes.

Needless to say, it was not worth the $8 ticket price nor the time. I think if I came back I'd check out the actual Franklin Mtn State Park and seem if it can redeem this experience.

Also, it was annoying with all the crying kids in line and moaning and groaning adults about it being cold. C'mon people...you are going up a mountain in December...figure it out or shut up. Great revenue for the gift shop at the top though, I saw several people in the line to come back down (only a 20min wait...huzzah?) that were jacket-less on the way up w/newly acquired...

Wyler Aerials tramway, was an unexpected great experience I've lived in El Paso since 1984 and I heard about this Tramway that goes all the way up to the top of the news channel 9 antennas but my God the experience was so much more than I expected to be able to see the whole mostly the whole city of El Paso from that vantage point can never be expressed through words you need to go up there and see it for yourself to believe it. I witnessed a hawk or an eagle Brown Eagle soaring above the mountains to about almost almost 2, 000 feet and the eagle was at least another 500 to 600 ft above us. My wife and my daughter were able to see from William Beaumont all the way to downtown all the way to the west side we could see you tap we could see downtown El Paso and and to Sunland Park New Mexico on a beautiful clear day. The park rangers were so knowledgeable and so hospitable I even asked one about the cougar population and he pulled up one of those trail cams where it's at its motion detector and saw the the most striking image of a cougar that they caught on this motion cam it was almost like she was or he was posing for the picture beautiful animal I still to this day can't believe that El Paso Police Department actually shot and kill one of these Majestic animals especially since the veterinarian had already hit this animal with two darts to tranquilize it oh my God what are you doing but crazy but you would have to kill such a majestic animal but back to the Tramway if you've never been up there go you will never forget it and you will enjoy every minute of being up there thank you , El Paso for such an unforgettable moment in for an...

Great place in El Paso Texas... You will love this experience! Once you are taken up the mountain, you have the option of staying and doing some sightseeing...or if you are up to it!... an awesome hike! They have access to a trail way above the desert sky... It's beautiful up here. We went early since it takes about 10-15 mins to load everyone in and take them up in groups of 6-8 depending. You could have a small picnic since the wind up there does not really allow for a full picnic. The trip up is pretty awesome! My daughter was a little scared but once we got up there, she absolutely loved it! Oh and take some money, they have a gift shop at the top. I can't believe that I grew up in El Paso and I never visited this park before. Parking is free but limited. Restrooms are clean. You do have the option to just hike for the day and I believe that it's free. You can see all of El Paso, parts of New...