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Chic . Explore . ThinkerTen

My Style ~ My Journey ~ My Inspiration

CaliforniaPalm SpringsTravelUSA

California Palm Springs Aerial Tramride – World Largest Rotating Tramway!

by kumamonjeng January 28, 2018
written by kumamonjeng January 28, 2018
California Palm Springs Aerial Tramride – World Largest Rotating Tramway!

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

When you visit Palm Springs, one of the must do activity is to ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It is the world largest rotating tram car offering picturesque and spectacular views of the valley floor below.

Visitor Center at the Bottom of the Mountain

The first visitor center before going up to the Aerial Tramway ride is located at the bottom of the mountain.  There are facilities such as washrooms and electric vehicle/EV charging point for cars that are using electricity to run.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

After you have used the washrooms, you can take some picture at the bottom of the mountain before heading up to the Aerial Tramway.  The landscape at the visitor center here is quite different from the top.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

You need to drive for about 20 mins to reach the middle of the mountain where the Valley Station is for the Aerial Tramway Ride.  During the 20 mins drive, you will enjoy the mountain view.  I noticed there were people walking with their dogs down from the mountain.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Valley Station

You park your car outside the Valley Station then do remember to bring all the winter wear as it is going to be cold at the peak of the mountains, snows is common during winter season.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Getting the tickets at the Valley Station

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

After you have gotten your tickets, you will be given a timing to board, the waiting time varies depending on how heavy the traffic are.  There is a waiting area for boarding.  If your waiting time is longer, than you can explore around  Valley Station first.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Inside the Tram

Tramway cars hold 80 people each and there are no seats. Passengers remain standing throughout the journey up the mountain.

There are 3 rotating cable cars in the world, Mount Titlis Rotair in Switzerland and Gondola at the Table Mountain in South Africa.   I have tried the Mount Titlis Rotair in Switzerland, similar to the one in Aerial Tramway Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

It is a 2.5 miles ride starts at the Valley Station which has an elevation of 2,600 ft (800 m) and bring you up to the Mountain Station which has an elevation over 8,500 ft (2590 m).  Slightly more than 10 mins ride.  Actually the tramcars do not rotate, the floor inside of the tramcars slowly rotate giving the rider a 360 degree views of the canyon that leads to the station at the top.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

History of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway opened in 1963 and connected the floor of the Coachella Valley to the top of Mount San Jacinto.  Most of the building work were done by helicopters back in the early days because it was hard to access to the top.

On the way up (above picture) you hardly see any greenery plants on the mountains but when you reach the peak, the view from the other side of the mountain is completely different which has lush greenery of alpines trees. (refer to below picture)

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Mountain Station

The tramway ride stopped at Mountain Station,  visitors disembark and start to explore Mount San Jacinto wilderness.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Mount San Jacinto – California State Park 

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Desert plant

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

There are two hiking choice at San Jacinto Peak trail :

1. Long Valley Discovery Trail
2. Desert View Trail

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

We choose the Desert View Trail (1.5 miles) which leads us to a number of scenic overlooks and forest views.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Sign showing ” Beware of Rattlesnakes”

Yes, desert tend to have rattlesnakes but luckily we did not encounter any.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

It was a sunny day in the month of December 2017, plenty of sunshine but the air in the wood was super cold.  I left my gloves in the car so my hands were freezing.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Since we are non-experience hikers, we tried our best to stick with the rest of hikers as we were afraid to get lost in woods.  There are few trails in the woods and you never know where it will lead you to.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Fallen Big Trees

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Scenic Point Notch 5

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

After half an hour of hiking, we finally reached notch 5!

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Climbing up to some big rocks and look at the view below, simply stunning but my legs were very shaky because I was standing at the top of the world.  The view is great but the climbing of rocks are  challenging.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

After the hike, which took us about an hour, we went back to Mountain station to escape the coldness.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Gift Shops

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Function Room in Mountain Station

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Tramway Phone Charging Station

If your phone battery is running low, there is a free phone charging station at the Mountain Station.  Charge before you start to explore the woods.  In case you get lost, you are still able to make a call for help.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Staircase to basement floor

Mountain Station is very big so make sure you spend some time to explore.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Locker Facilities

In case you need to put some of stuff at the locker before your hike, just paid USD $1.50 for the facilities.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Little Museum at the Visitor Center Mountain Station

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Inside the museum, there are many information about the woods and its wildlife.  It teaches you how to find out the animal prints and their activities.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Hikers Essentials

We failed as out of the 10 essentials items, we only have one item, the food.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Birds and Pine Cone

There are plenty of pine cones in the woods, I pick a huge pine cone back as a souvenir but forgotten to pack into my bag and left it in the rental car.  Too bad, the big pine cone did not board on the plane back  home with me.  I have habit of collecting pine cones from all over the world.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Squirrel & Chipmunk

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Learn about Mountain Heritage 

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Santa Rosa Theater at Mountain Station

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

There are two theaters at the Mountain Station airing free show & information about this place.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Cable that making the tramway up and down the mountain.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

On the way down to Valley Station

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

On the way down, I was able to spot some desert land in this area.  Bidding good bye.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Shuttle Bus

If you are not driving, there is free shuttle bus which will pick you from the entrance of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Parking at Valley Station Palm Springs – USD $5.00

Palm Springs Aerial Tramride

Other attractions in Palm Springs California :

  • Cabazon Desert Hill Premium Outlet
  • Palm Springs Night Market – Village Fest
  • Palm Springs Getaway
  • Road Trip Palm Springs to Las Vegas

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California State ParkCoachella ValleyEV charging pointHikers EssentialsMount San JacintoMount Titlis RotairMountain HeritageNotch 5 in Mt San JacintoPalm Spring Tramway Valley StationPalm Springs Aerial TramridePalm Springs Aerial Tramway Shuttle BusPalm Springs Tramway Mountain StationParking at Valley Station Palm SpringsSanta Rosa TheaterTable Mountain in South AfricaWorld Biggest rotating cable cars
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Getaway To Little Desert – Palm Springs California
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What a Bargain at Desert Hills Premium Outlet – Cabazon, Palm Spring California

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3 comments

sphericalinsight February 2, 2018 - 3:04 pm

The explanation of how to do, what to do.is presented brilliantly by you. And the photograph, even if nothing were written here, they truly speak themselves. Brilliant work.of yours. Keep sharing.

Reply
kumamonjeng February 3, 2018 - 12:21 am

Dear sphericalinsight
Thanks for your comment. You have made my day! And I am glad it helps to serve more information for travelers!

Reply
sphericalinsight February 3, 2018 - 1:30 am

That’s you being humble. Many write, making a person stop and read complete that’s the thing. My best

Reply

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I am the travel writer for Thinkerten. I lived in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and now based in Singapore. Speak 4 languages, Japanese, English, Malay, and Chinese. There are the many types of travels one can experience and mine are mostly focus on self-driving/road trip to explore the places I wanted to see and learn about. Only if you get out of your country, you will see the real you and understand more about yourself, to realize of your own identity, your own culture, and your root.

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