Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The palm springs aerial tram is the hidden gem of Palm Springs. You can visit year round but we’re here for snow! So this is … the winter edition
The aerial tramway is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world and takes you from the floor of the Coachella Valley to Mount San Jacinto State Park, which sits at 8,516 feet of elevation.
It’s a wild experience to go from desert to forest, let alone snow, in just 10 minutes.
When traveling to the Palm Springs Aerial Tram you’ll dive to a location within Palm Springs where you pay a $12 parking fee. You’ll drive up a winding road to tiers of parking lots. The farther you drive up the hill, the closer you’ll get to the Tram Station. During our visit, we were lucky enough to park right next to the tram entrance. The rain that day seemingly deterred people.
The tram is just 2 hours from Los Angles. Here’s how to get there:
PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAM LOCATION
Address: 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
GET TICKETS IN ADVANCE
I highly recommend getting your tickets in advance, including your parking online. Although you can buy tickets upon arrive, during peak times the wait can be over an hour! Additionally, ticket times tend to sell out. So, if you’re planning a snow day, definitely get ahead of the crowds.
TICKET PRICES (As of February 2023):
Adult: $29.95
Child: $17.95
Parking: $12
When booking online you will pick a certain hour or time frame you’d like to board the tram, so also be sure to plan ahead and get there with plenty of time to park. Check traffic!
Knowing that snowfall was likely up top during our visit due to the rainstorm, we thought we’d have to fight the crowds for fresh powder, but in actuality, the place was nearly empty and they allowed us to board early.
Up, Up & Away
Once aboard, you’ll ascend two and a half miles during which you’re greeted with spectacular views of the valley
It can be a bit leery if you’re scared of heights, but the beauty of watching the mountainside transition from desert chaparral to snow-covered conifer forest is magical. And even though the tram slowly rotates to give you 365 views, we didn’t feel motion sickness at all.
Upon arrival at the top, you’ll step off the tram at the Mountain Station and enter the lobby.
You’ll find observation decks, natural history museum, and upstairs has a bar called Lookout Lound, a quick grab-and-go restaurant called The Pines Cafe, and also a fine dining spot at Peaks Restaurant that has epic views—they encourage reservations.
DINING OPTIONS
The Lookout Lounge: Bar
They had all the fixings to make you the drink you want! I started the day with a gin and tonic and ended it with an espresso martini
The Pines Cafe: Grab & Go Restaurant
Not the best selection (or price) but it still hit the spot. Me and my fiance shared a chicken salad, bowl of chili and a bowl of clam chowder. They also had nachos, sandwiches and chips.
Peaks Restaurant: Fine dining. Make Reservations
Enjoy your meal with spectacular views of the valley and expect to spend $30+ a meal.
To start the day we grabbed a bite to eat and some drinks at the bar. With the snow falling outside, we were living our best lives
There’s also a Gift Shop that has winter gear and sleds while supplies last — but if you don’t want to pay $30 a sled, bring your own! We did, and good thing we did because they were sold out.
The views of the mountain station are absolutely stunning, and seeing it snowing was just so cool. We headed downstairs to make our way outside. To get to the trails below, there is a somewhat steep path of switchbacks. With the winter weather, it was pretty icy. We wore crampons, which were a lifesaver. If you’re visiting during winter, I think bringing any form of shoe spikes is non-negotiable. I saw people slipping and sliding as they headed down, and I don’t think it’s worth the risk of a fall.
Winter Wonderland
Once we got to the bottom we were greeted to a winter wonderland. Apparently, there are 50 miles of trails (including access to the Pacific Crest Trail!), but with the snow, it was hard to tell. They do offer snow-shoeing, which would be an epic experience!
We trekked the snow to find some good hills, and felt like kids all day sledding.With minimal crowds and a storm coming in, it felt like we had the forest to ourselves.
Once it started to get dark and ominous we made our way back to the Mountain Station. Make sure you keep track of how to get back. When covered in snow it’s easy to get lost. I could see a headlamp being a very useful item to keep on hand.
By the time we made it back to the switchbacks, the storm was really rolling in and I was thankful for my crampons.
Holiday Vibes
Back up top we had some drinks to warm us up. An expresso martini felt like the move. We went on a weekend during the holidays, we were also greeted by holiday lights, a cheery vibe, and a school choir performance singing Christmas songs.
It was a great way to unwind from an epic day.
Heading Out
Departing trams back down to the bottom leaves every 15 minutes.
Be sure to check the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway website for times because they do vary depending on the day, time of year, or special events. On weekends the tram normally starts going up the mountain as early as 8:00 AM and the last tram of the day at 9:30 PM.
We headed out around 6:00 PM and took the aerial tram down the mountain in the darkness with the glow of the city below as our only guide while we descended. With the winter chill blowing in through the window along with utter silence except for the hum of Christmas music, it was just a calm, surreal end to a really fun day.
Let’s Do This Again
I can’t wait to come back during the summer for hiking and even some camping. I’d love to see the mountain lush and green.
Southern California is pretty amazing. In the morning you could be up in the mountains in the snow and by sunset, you could be on a warm sandy beach.
If you can, be sure to make it out to the Palm Springs Aerial Tram any time of the year. It’s the perfect day trip if you’re in SoCal. I hope you enjoyed this visit to the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments.
And remember, no risk. no magic
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