Route
The twelve-and-a-half minute ride begins at the Valley Station (coordinates: 33°50′14″N 116°36′51″W / 33.8372°N 116.6142°W / 33.8372; -116.6142Coordinates: 33°50′14″N 116°36′51″W / 33.8372°N 116.6142°W / 33.8372; -116.6142) at 2,643 ft (806 m) and passes up North America's sheerest mountain face through five life zones (biomes) on its way to the Mountain Station (coordinates: 33°48′47″N 116°38′19″W / 33.8130°N 116.6385°W / 33.8130; -116.6385) at 8,516 ft (2,596 m) above mean sea level. Travelers start in the Sonoran Desert and arrive at an alpine forest.
The floor of the 18-foot-diameter (5.5 m) aerial tram-cars rotates constantly, making two complete revolutions throughout the duration of the journey so that the passengers can see in all directions without moving. With a maximum capacity of 80 passengers it is the largest of the three rotating aerial trams in the world. The other "Rotair" aerial trams are located in Cape Town, South Africa and Titlis, Switzerland.
Passengers disembark at the Mountain Station in the alpine wilderness of Long Valley and Mount San Jacinto State Park. The air can be as much as 40° F (22° C) cooler at the top than in the desert. Visitors can walk along nature trails, take a burro ride, or play in the snow during the winter months. Back-country hiking can be done with a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. There are two restaurants at the summit, one of which specializes in fine dining. Both stations have gift shops specializing in Aerial Tramway-related merchandise as well as educational toys. A video presentation of the history of the attraction plays continuously in a theater at the Mountain Station. It was produced by Palm Springs television station KESQ-TV with voiceovers provided by Palm Springs radio personalities.
The view at the top can stretch northward for more than 200 mi (320 km) on a clear day, all the way to Mount Charleston north of Las Vegas, Nevada. Views to the east and west can stretch as far as 75 mi (121 km). California's Salton Sea is plainly visible to the southeast.
As it was in 1963, the only way up the mountain to deliver supplies and water is via the aerial-tram cars themselves. Supplies are loaded into the passenger area before the attraction's opening while fresh water is pumped into storage tanks in the car's underbelly.
The original aerial-tram cars are now on static display near the entrance to the Valley Station.
Read more about this topic: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
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