Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Take a ride on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. Beginning at the Valley Station elevation 2.643 feet you travel along the cliffs of Chino Canyon to the Mountain Station at elevation 8,516 feet and enter the wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The ride takes just ten minutes.
Valley Station
Mountain Station
Mountain Station
View of Coachella Valley
Once you are at the top there are two restaurants, several observation decks, a natural history museum, two documentary theatres, a gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails. Outdoor activities include cross country skiing, camping, guided nature walks, snowshoeing, snow camping and hiking.
Ringtail
Western Rattlesnake
Bobcat
Coachella Valley
Leaving Mountain Station
Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Photos courtesy of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The tram was a dream of Francis Crocker, a young electrical engineer, who visited the area in 1935. Work would begin in 1950 and the massive project would be completed in 1963.
“Construction of the Tramway was an engineering challenge and was soon labeled the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The superlative was earned because of the ingenious use of helicopters in erecting four of the five supporting towers. Twenty-years later, the Tramway was designated an historical civil engineering landmark.
The first tower is the only one that can be reached by road. The helicopters flew some 23,000 missions during the 26 months of construction, hauling men and materials needed to erect the four other towers and the 35,000 sq. ft. Mountain Station.” https://www.pstramway.com/about-us/history/
In 2000 there were upgrades made to the cars and the largest rotating tramcars carried their first passengers.
View the Tram Cam
Thank you to VisitPalmSprings.com for providing the tram tickets.