Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

This is the one everyone talks about. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries you two and a half miles up the cliffs of Chino Canyon in about ten minutes. The car slowly rotates on the way up, so everyone gets the view.

At the top you’re standing at 8,516 feet in Mount San Jacinto State Park. It’s usually about 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor, and in winter there’s often snow. There are two restaurants, observation decks, a small museum and more than 50 miles of hiking trails.

Good to know

• Drive from our stays: about 35 minutes
• Bring a jacket. Even in summer it can be chilly up top.
• Go early on weekends and holidays. Lines build by late morning.
• Dogs: leave them home for this one. Only service animals ride the tram.
• The tram closes for a few weeks of maintenance each fall, so check the schedule before you go.

Our tip: ride up in the late afternoon, watch the sunset over the valley, then grab dinner on El Paseo on the way home.

Stay nearby: Our midcentury house and retro condos are dog friendly, and booking direct skips the Airbnb fees.