Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: I Took the Ride… and Left Katherine at Sea Level
There are two types of friends when one of you gets to try something new first:
The one who says, “Have the BEST time! Send photos!”
And the one who says, “Okay, but we’re absolutely going together next time.”
Katherine is the second one.
Not in a dramatic way. Not in a “how dare you” way. Just in a deeply loyal, slightly FOMO-y, we’re-a-package-deal kind of way. And on this particular day, I was representing our duo from 8,500 feet above Palm Springs aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Was I thinking of her?
Yes.
Was I also sipping a hot toddy at the top of a mountain?
Also yes.
Let’s just say… the views were worth the temporary separation.
Let’s unpack.
Getting There (A Few Things to Know Before You Go)
Before you’re soaring over Palm Springs feeling like the main character in a desert-meets-alpine montage, there are a couple quick logistics to know.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is located at 1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262, just a short drive from downtown.
Parking is $15. It’s easy to access and well-organized, but it’s something to factor into your day’s plan.
After jumping in line and securing my tickets, I had a minute to just stand there and take it in.
And look up.
The towers stretch straight into the sky, and you suddenly think, “Oh. We’re really committing to this.”
Not in a “turn around” way.
More in a “tighten your ponytail and let’s go” way.
The Ascent (Aka When It Gets Real)
Once we stepped inside the tram car, the anticipation skyrocketed.
Before we even left the station, the attendant gave us a quick rundown of what to expect. Part safety briefing, part stand-up comedy set.
He mentioned we’d feel a little swing at each tower.
And casually dropped the line, “We added swing extra at tower three.”
The delivery? Playful.
The reality? Accurate.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is not your average “stand still and stare at the wall” situation.
The tram car rotates a full 360 degrees as you ascend and descend. Smoothly. Dramatically. Cinematically. Not nauseatingly. Don’t worry about motion sickness, it’s subtle.
Translation: Everyone gets the view. No neck craning. No awkward shoulder leaning. Just pure, panoramic desert-to-mountain transformation.
One minute you’re staring at sunbaked Palm Springs. The next? Pines. Granite cliffs. Actual alpine air.
It’s giving “cue the orchestral soundtrack” energy.
As we climbed higher, prerecorded audio played overhead, sharing information about the tram and the surrounding landscape. It added this fun, documentary-style layer to the experience.
Then we hit the first tower.
A gentle sway.
A few nervous giggles.
Second tower — another swing. Still manageable.
And then… tower three. To everyone’s delight, he wasn’t exaggerating.
There’s a noticeable dip and a real swing — the kind where strangers make eye contact like, “Okay. We’re all experiencing this together.”
It’s not scary. It’s just enough thrill to wake you up a little.
And then you keep rising — rotating, climbing, desert slowly giving way to pine trees and cooler air — until suddenly it doesn’t feel like Palm Springs anymore.
The Summit (Wait… This Is Still Palm Springs?)
When the doors open at the top, it genuinely feels like you’ve stepped into a different state.
Down below? Desert. Sunshine. Palm trees.
Up here? Alpine air. Pine trees. And on the day I visited: snow.
Not a light dusting. Not a decorative sprinkle. The mountain was under a winter storm warning.
There was fresh snow along the trails, flurries in the air, and that crisp, cold bite the second you step outside. Between the alpine views and the tall pines dusted in white, it felt like a completely different world.
And as someone visiting from Colorado?
It felt like home.
I’m used to winter storm warnings and snow-packed trails, just not fifteen minutes after leaving palm trees and sunshine behind. The altitude shift isn’t just scenic. It’s dramatic. You’re not just going up a mountain, you’re stepping into a completely different season.
One minute you’re debating sunscreen.
The next, you’re brushing snow off your jacket.
A Girl Lunch at 8,500 Feet
It was time to lean into the real reason we ascend mountains: snacks.
And not just any snacks.
Reader, I had a girl lunch at Peaks Restaurant. Recently ranked #8 on Architectural Digest’s list of the World’s Best Cliffside Restaurants. Which feels correct when you’re sipping a hot toddy while staring off a mountain.
And it was perfect.
We’re talking hummus. Olive tapenade. Warm pita bread. French fries (because balance is important at altitude). And tiramisu to finish it off.
And of course, I ordered a hot toddy.
Because if you’re under a winter storm warning at the top of a mountain, you simply have to commit to the vibe.
You don’t expect to sip a toddy in the snow… while technically still in Palm Springs.
And yet, here we are.
Coffee, Crisp Air, and a Little Wandering
After lunch, I wasn’t quite ready to head back down.
So I grabbed a coffee and did what you’re supposed to do at 8,500 feet: wander.
The Mountain Station has a cozy alpine-lodge feel. Warm inside. Big windows framing snow-dusted pines. People thawing out, layering up, peeling off gloves. It’s part scenic overlook, part alpine hideaway.
I made a loop through the gift shop, because you can’t not. When at elevation, you suddenly consider buying a sweatshirt you absolutely don’t need. Souvenirs just feel more justified when you’ve ascended 8,500 feet to earn them.
Then I stepped back outside.
At the top, you’re not just at a viewpoint — you’re inside Mount San Jacinto State Park. And it was very much in use. Kids were dragging sleds across fresh snow, parents bundling them up for another run, and groups were strapping on snowshoes to explore the trails.
I snapped a few photos and a received a quick hit of crisp mountain air. It was sharp, cold, and energizing — snow crunching underfoot, sleds sliding nearby.
It was a winter wonderland.
The Descent (Cue The Soundtrack)
After one last sweep of mountain views and winter air, it was time to descend.
Trams depart the summit every 12 minutes, so you’re not stuck up there plotting survival strategies.
On the quick ride down, we listened to The Cure, and I cannot overstate how cinematic it felt.
Rotating 360 degrees. “I don’t care if Monday’s blue”
Descending back into desert sunshine. “Tuesday’s grey and Wednesday, too”
90s-alt vibes in the background. “Thursday, I don’t care about you. It’s Friday, I’m in love”
It was giving:
- Indie movie montage
- “She learned something about herself” energy
- Slightly dramatic but in a chic way
And yes, I did text Katherine a photo.
The swing at the towers? Still there.
Tower three? Still committed to the bit.
But this time, it felt familiar. Less “what is happening” and more “okay, I see you.”
And just like that, you’re back where you started, only now you’ve experienced two climates, one mild adrenaline rush, and a world-ranked cliffside lunch in the span of a few hours.
Not bad for an afternoon in Palm Springs.
Final Thoughts: Should You Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?
Absolutely.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway isn’t just a scenic ride; it’s a full climate shift. In less than 15 minutes, you go from desert floor to alpine forest. From palm trees to pine trees. From debating sunscreen to ordering a hot toddy under a winter storm warning.
It’s dramatic in the best way.
You get rotating 360-degree views, a little swing at the towers, and access to Mount San Jacinto State Park without committing to a full mountain expedition. You can hike. You can sled. You can snowshoe. Or you can do what I did — wander, sip something warm, and soak it all in.
If you’re in Palm Springs and want a break from poolside lounging and mid-century modern house tours, take the ride.
Would Katherine have loved it?
Without question.
Will we be going back together?
Also yes.
Because some experiences are just better when you can look at each other mid-swing at tower three and say, “core memory secured.”
