Palm Springs Aerial Tramway — Attraction in Palm Springs

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is an exhilarating adventure that promises breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience as you ascend the stunning San Jacinto Mountains. From the moment you step into the tram car, you can feel the excitement (and a hint of trepidation) in the air. As the tram begins its ascent, you are immediately greeted by a sweeping panorama of the desert below, and the anticipation builds as you rise higher and higher.

For those who may not be fond of heights, the experience can be downright terrifying! The sensation of being suspended hundreds of feet above the ground, with only the tram's cables holding you aloft, can certainly induce a rush of adrenaline. As the tram rotates during the climb, you get a 360-degree view of the landscape, which is both awe-inspiring and a little unnerving. The sheer drop below can make your stomach flutter, but it's all part of the thrilling experience!

Once you reach the Mountain Station, the rewards of your daring ride become evident. The views from the observation deck are absolutely breathtaking, with panoramic vistas of the Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. The contrast between the lush pine trees at the top and the arid desert below is truly remarkable, making it feel like you’ve stepped into a different world.

The Mountain Station itself is a delightful place to explore. With various hiking trails and educational exhibits about the region's ecology, there's plenty to keep you engaged. You can also grab a bite to eat at the café while soaking in the stunning views. If you’re feeling adventurous, several trails lead deeper into the wilderness, offering opportunities for exploration and a chance to experience the tranquility of the mountain landscape.

If you’re brave enough to face the ride back down, you’ll find that the descent is just as thrilling as the ascent. The sensation of swinging gently as you glide down, paired with the rotating views, makes for another unforgettable experience. You’ll likely find yourself laughing nervously while also marveling at the breathtaking scenery.

In summary, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a must-visit for anyone looking to combine a thrill-seeking adventure with stunning natural beauty. The experience of being suspended high above the ground, swinging and rotating while taking in the incredible views, is both terrifying and exhilarating. Whether you’re a fan of heights or not, this tramway ride is sure to leave you with lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for the stunning landscapes of Palm Springs. Just don’t forget to hold on tight and...

Last visited here almost 20 years ago. Since then I've been telling everyone I know who is visiting Southern California, "don't miss the Aerial Tramway outside of Palm Springs". I decided on my last visit to SC I would take my own advise and it was eye opening.

Driving up the road to get to the parking lots we hit about a 1/2 hour traffic jam. I assumed it was because they were still fixing the road which had washed out earlier in the week. Nope, road was fine, traffic jam was created by everyone waiting in line to pay the $15 parking fee.

After being shuttled by bus from the parking lot to the base station we waited in another line for about 45 minutes to purchase a tickets to the top. Unlike our last visit were were not able to add a meal option to our ride. Apparently they only do that now for the last cars leaving the station late in the day.

After purchasing our ticket for $31/person we had about a 2 hour wait to catch our tram. While we waited we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful day on their spacious patio. We also spent time in the museum learning about the construction of the tramway. That was well done.

When it was our time to board, people rushed the tram and by the time we got on everyone had lined up around the windows so we didn't see too much on the way up. I was surprised that they fill each car with more people than can reasonably line up around the windows of the tram. Very disappointing.

Obviously, the view at the top is outstanding. What's not outstanding is the prices of the food at the top. $40 for an 8-slice pizza seem as much of a money grab the $15 parking fee.

Luckily on the way back down to the base station we learned our lesson from the way up and tried to get to the front of the line while boarding so we would insure we had a window view. My wife was at least able to appreciate what she missed on the way up. Other's on our return tram were not as lucky.

Overall, the experience has significantly diminished since our first experience. Like many tourist attractions these days, it just feels like a money grift. Sadly I will no longer be recommending this as a "must do" for people traveling to Southern Calif.

Instead I would recommend a trip down to Torrey Pines and watch the paragliders sail along the cliffs. Nice little outdoor restaurant there with reasonable prices and good service. No admission fee and free parking. If you're adventurous and in reasonable shape, you can hike down to the famous Black Sands beach. It's a great workout, both up and down a well established hiking trail and that won't...

The views are expectedly good, as most trams are. The experience, overall, is quite unpleasant and tone deaf by the management.

First of all, they sell very few of their total tickets online. Instead, they make you go and wait there. First in traffic (creating pollution in the canyon) as everyone waits in a long line to pay parking. We waited roughly 40 minutes at the parking toll gate on a weekday.

Next, the staff are frequently very rude. We asked the lady collecting the $15 parking fee if the wait time showing 90 minutes (once tickets were purchased) was accurate. She rudely said it was in the most annoyed tone as she rolled her eyes. Our wait time was actually another hour beyond the 90 minutes for the record. The staff member scanning our tickets was on a power trip and was very unnecessarily making rude comments to visitors in line, including my wife.

In an age where most things are purchased and made more smooth by online reservations, their refusal to streamline the experience seems deliberate. In the waiting area, they sell high priced food, alcohol, and plastic bottled drinks (appears to be sponsored by Pepsi). The restrooms and indoor area are shoulder to shoulder masses of people. About half of the men’s restroom sinks were out of service. The whole area is not designed for the masses it attracts. Again, this could be easily remedied by selling a larger percentage of tickets online so that people could arrive for their slot.

When you do finally board the tram, which was over 3 hours of waiting for us when counting prior to the parking gate, they designed a series of narrow “cattle chute” passages to get you into a photo booth on the way to the tram. Pardon my lack of enthusiasm for not wanting to partake in yet another one of their schemes to boost revenue.

They also pack each tram to the brim, a notably bad idea since the floor rotates. The overfilling of the car, combined with the novelty of the rotating floor, makes people constantly step on top of each other.

Overall, the degree of incompetence in the management and customer experience at this attraction is baffling. I’ve been on many trams around the world and this is the only one I’ve been to where they tried to monetize it to this degree, siphoning every last bit of enjoyment from the experience. I’ve enjoyed this tram many years ago but I would never recommend it under the current vision in...