The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway features two 80-passenger enclosed cars which rotate 360 degrees as they ascend to the top of the mountain. The tram rises through rugged Chino Canyon from 2600 feet to 8600 feet in just over twelve minutes. At the top of the mountain is San Jacinto State Park & Wilderness, a California state park. The temperature was 70 degrees at the bottom and 40 degrees at the top on the day we visited.
The view from the top is truly spectacular. A number of California cities, including Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs, are visible in the valley below. At the summit there are hiking trails ranging from 1 mile to 54 miles, and many winter sport activities.
There is a restaurant and several gift shops at the summit. Of course, all supplies, including drinking water, must be delivered to these facilities. Fresh water is carried up the mountain on each trip of a tram car, 800 gallons at a time. Groceries and other goods are carried up during the night. Employees ride the cars to work as well.
Helicopters were used to construct four of the five supporting towers. The Tramway has been designated an historical civil engineering landmark.
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