Hiker at Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Tramarama!

Ride Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Access Amazing Hiking

Why do hikers, boulderers, and outdoor enthusiasts love the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway? Because it quickly elevates them to the best terrain for alpine adventure! Get to the good stuff fast, with the world’s largest rotating tram swiftly whisking you to 8,516 feet and a wilderness world away in Mount San Jacinto State Park. At the top, have your pick of over 50 miles of trails, with plenty of boulders too. Summer temperatures are typically 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor, making for ideal hiking conditions.

Get Your Aerial Tramway Tickets!

Board the tram at the Valley Station (elevation 2,643 feet) and marvel at the dramatic Chino Canyon scenery en route to the heart of Mount San Jacinto State Park. It takes about 10 minutes, passing through five climate zones, and featuring stellar views of Palm Springs and beyond.

At the top, have your pick of over 50 miles of trails for all skill levels. Goodbye palm trees, hello soaring Jeffrey pines!

The Desert Valley Trail is a short 1.5-mile loop, but it packs in an incredible five viewpoints! If peak-bagging is more your form, head for San Jacinto Peak, the second highest point in Southern California. Colossal vistas stretch from the Salton Sea to Mt. San Gorgonio.

There’s hike-in camping here, too! Round Valley campground is just a 2-mile hike away, with 22 glorious camp sites waiting in a lush meadow.

But it’s not all roughing it! Fine dining is to be found here, too. You can literally whisk that special someone away with the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway. Enjoy fine dining at Peaks Restaurant, delicious drinks at the aptly named Lookout Lounge, and casual food at the Pines Café.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  2. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View