Palm Springs Tramway adventure: Up, up and away for a cooling, bird's eye view at the top

At Palm Springs Tram, the Coachella Valley spreads out in the distance from the mountain-top vista. Far below is the city of Palm Springs, where temperatures can reach 120. It 35-40 degrees cooler at the top, a relief in summer.

TRAM RIDE YIELDS GORGEOUS VIEWING, COOL TEMPERATURES, HIGH ABOVE PALM SPRINGS

Layers are appropriate for Bruce Keller & Christene "Cookie"Meyers in late spring. By early May, the park is warming and you won't need more than a sweater. But you will experience a temperature change of 35-40 degrees from Palm Springs below the tram at 2,400 feet above sea level. You'll climb to over 8,000 feet to the top of Mount San Jacinto. 

 STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

"The Carpe Diem Kids"

Editor's Note: This piece was reviewed and updated in July of 2026.

HIGH ABOVE the heat of the desert floor,  magical mountains await with cooling breezes. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway whisks viewers on a breathtaking ride to almost 9,000 feet above sea level.  There, a world of hiking trails, wildflowers, birds, squirrels and sometimes snow awaits.

WHEN IT COMES to heights, I'm a scaredy cat.  But I felt comfortable, even with the gentle pre-announced "bumps" as the tram passes various stations.  I truly enjoy the rotating tram with wonderful views for everyone.  No bad seats and we were totally safe. Its workings are carefully inspected. In fact, the operation is closed for several weeks each year for maintenance and thorough inspection.  It purrs like a kitten and is tended with meticulous care.

Cookie and Keller enjoy snow at the top of the ride near the boarding area, in late February. It's cool even in the heat of summer -- 70 degrees when it's 110 in Palm Springs. It's a great place to cool off.

THE TRAM is a major California tourist attraction, drawing many to stay a day or two in Palm Springs. The area attracts golfers, sun seekers, bird watchers, nature lovers and those just wanting to relax or escape colder climes. As the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world, the tram opened with great fanfare in September 1963 whisking folks from the floor of the Coachella Valley to near the top of San Jacinto Peak. Constructing it in rugged Chino Canyon was an engineering marvel. Helicopters delivered tons of building material and equipment. The tram was the dream of a young electrical engineer named Francis Crocker.

IN 1935, while on a trip to Banning, California, with  newspaper publisher Carl Barkow, Crocker was nearly overcome by the heat. Mopping his brow in the sultry desert warmth, he gazed at the still snow-capped peak of Mount San Jacinto -- 10,834 feet elevation. He longed to “go up there where it’s nice and cool.” And so “Crocker’s Folly,” as it was soon dubbed by one newspaper woman, was born -- a tramway up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon for stunning views of Mt. San Jacinto.

 WE BOARDED the tram for our first ride many years ago. It's a  thrilling 10-minute transit over 2.5 miles and 6,000 feet in elevation.

With snow still on the mountains, the tram offers a chance to play in snow at the top.  Palm Springs residents take their kids up with sleds and toys. 

Passengers have spectacular views of the rugged canyon and the rocky pathway the tram takes to the summit.

AS WE SOARED above the desert wilderness to the breath-taking landscape of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. A few weeks ago, we enjoyed the stunning scenic vista, while families played in the snow. Then we hiked a well constructed trail from the Mountain Station.

The rotating tram made news when it was introduced in the late 1990s, the largest ratating tram in the world

With your Palm Springs Tramway Adventure underway, cars inch up the mountain, they slowly rotate for guests to take in a full panoramic view of the rugged canyon below. Once to the top, guests can take it all in from observation decks, check out the natural history museum and two historical documentary theaters. Outside, enjoy more than 50 miles of hiking trails for the true outdoor enthusiasts. Docents are on hand both inside and outside to answer questions. There's a pleasant cafe with grab-and-go snacks for a picnic lunch or early supper. Peaks Restaurant is more formal, with lovely views and a pleasant ambiance offering a more relaxing dining experience. We enjoyed the restaurant with our friends from England.

• If you're planning to hike on your own, there are five trail options to choose from. They range in length and difficulty. For those looking for a  leisurely nature stroll, our amiable docent recommended the “Long Valley Discovery Trail.” It's less than a mile and clearly marked for an easy loop. We saw many birds and found a clean restroom.  For more experienced hikers, the 11-mile  round trip  hike to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto takes braver hikers to the second highest point in the state.  My eagle-eye husband could see all the way to Catalina Island.

• Because it is such a spectacular feat of engineering, the tram was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Be sure to spend time in the "photo hall" where you'll see pictures of the difficult construction and helicopters used for much of the building process. The tram had its inaugural ride in 1963 and in the late 1990s a modern face-lift introduced the rotating tram cars.

• When planning your tram trip, we advise checking arrival and departure times carefully.  Many people enjoy an afternoon trip up and the evening trip down, beneath the stars with the lights of the city below.  The more formal restaurant is popular for celebrations and special events. And sunsets are spectacular at the top. Don't miss the last tram down, though.  Tickets range from $20 to $36, but if you plan more than a couple visits, the summer pass and annual pass are a bargain with substantial savings. We met several local hikers who love them and come up weekly during the hottest months.   

  
  

• For tickets or more information: pstramway.com

Wildlife displays at the top of the tramway ride show the creatures in the mountains, here a bobcat. Two theaters show interesting nature films, there's a nice restaurant and beautiful hiking trails for a fun family adventure.

UP NEXT: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." I'm listening to Patti LuPone sing that memorable song from the Tony winning Broadway musical, "Evita." Next week, we visit a fascinating museum in Buenos Aires dedicated to the life, rise to fame and accomplishments of a young actress from the country who became a famous and beloved first lady, "Evita." Eva Peron's Buenos Aires museum in her memory is our next feature. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, the arts, nature, family and more. Please share the link: www.whereiscookie.com