The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in California is a Tourist Must-Do

Located in the town of Palm Springs, California, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. Designed to carry passengers from the floor of the Coachella Valley to an area near the top of San Jacinto Peak, this tramway is the premiere tourist attraction in Palm Springs.

First proposed in 1935 by electrical engineer Francis Crocker during a trip to nearby Banning, California, the tram did not become a reality until 1963, three years after governor Earl Warren agreed to let Crocker resume his plans.

Prior to the building of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the only way to reach the top of snow-covered San Jacinto Peak was via a very vigorous, multi-hour hike from Idyllwild. The tram reduced the trip to just eight-and-a-half minutes. Many believed Crocker's plans to be a folly, but the tram has climbed from Valley Station at 2,643 feet above sea level to Mountain Station at 8,516 feet for more than 45 years with only a few minor mishaps and one fatality, caused when a bolt from a shock absorber snapped, prompting a 30-pound piece of metal to crash through a Plexiglas window along the car's roof.

In all, the tramway travels a total of 2.5 miles in each direction and ascends at an average grade of 26 degrees. Five intermediate towers are located between the two stations. The original cars were stationary and can be viewed at the Valley Station. However, the current cars, designed and manufactured by Doppelmayr Tramways of Thun, Switzerland and installed in 2001, rotate approximately two to three times on their way up or down the face of Chino Canyon providing a panoramic view. About 18 feet in diameter and eight feet high, they hold a maximum of 80 passengers per journey.

When passengers reach the top of the mountain, there is plenty for them to see and do. The view is spectacular, on clear days reaching all the way to Mount Charleston near Las Vegas and the Salton Sea. Two restaurants are available atop the mountain, one offering fine dining with a California contemporary cuisine menu, requiring reservations at most times. The other, a more casual caf,, serves cafeteria style lunches and dinners. There's also a lounge that offers alcoholic beverages and appetizers.

Recreational opportunities abound for passengers at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. During the winter, guests can enjoy cross country skiing and other snow-related fun including snowshoeing. Equipment is available for rent. In the summertime, guided nature walks help visitors learn about the unique ecosystem atop the mountain. There is no fee for the guided walks, conducted by volunteers. Also located in the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness are 54 miles of hiking trails, including one that leads directly to the summit of the peak.

Also at the top, Mountain Gifts offers all sorts of tram-related gift items and souvenirs as well as books, DVDs, and other media related to the history of the area and the unique ecosystems that guests travel through as they ascend the mountain.

Tickets can be purchased at Valley Station or may be purchased online prior to arrival. Ride and Dine tickets include the fare for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway as well as lunch or dinner at the Pines Caf,.