Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Launches Summer Schedule With Extended Late-Night Hours

SUMMER HOURS AND WILDERNESS ESCAPES RETURN TO THE PEAK

As the Coachella Valley prepares for the unofficial start of the summer season over Memorial Day weekend, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is officially shifting to its expanded seasonal schedule. Beginning Friday, May 22, 2026, the world’s largest rotating tramcar will implement extended evening operations and revive its popular outdoor recreational programs, providing residents and tourists alike with an immediate escape from the intensifying desert floor heat.

Under the updated summer guidelines, which will remain in effect through Labor Day on September 7, the tramway will extend its schedule every Friday and Saturday night. The final tramcar heading up the rugged cliffs of Chino Canyon will depart the Valley Station at 9:00 PM, while the last tramcar traveling back down from the alpine wilderness will leave the Mountain Station at 10:30 PM. To accommodate the holiday weekend crowds, these identical extended evening hours will also be observed on Sunday, May 24. On Memorial Day itself, Monday, May 25, the first car up will move at 8:00 AM, with the final car descending at 9:30 PM.

EXTENDED MOUNTAIN DINING AND VOLUNTEER NATURE WALKS

The late-night transit adjustments are seamlessly paired with extended service hours across the Mountain Station’s premier culinary establishments. Visitors looking to enjoy panoramic nighttime views of the illuminated valley floor can secure reservations at Peaks Restaurant, which has shifted its final dinner seating to 8:45 PM throughout the summer stretch. For more casual dining, the Pines Café will remain open and operational until 9:30 PM on extended nights, alongside beverage service at the Lookout Lounge.

In addition to later dining and transit options, the tramway is partnering with Mount San Jacinto State Park to bring back its highly sought-after guided nature walks. Spearheaded by certified State Park volunteers, these free interpretive tours are scheduled to run every single Sunday beginning May 24 and concluding on September 6. The weekly program gives participants a choice between two distinct, family-friendly trail loops to explore the unique sub-alpine ecology sitting at an elevation of over 8,500 feet.

The first option is the Desert View Trail, a moderately easy 1.5-mile trek that departs from the visitor center at 11:00 AM and features a series of dramatic, sweeping overlooks of the high desert. For families seeking a shorter excursion, volunteers will lead a 0.75-mile loop along the Long Valley Nature Trail starting at 1:30 PM, which provides an excellent educational overview of local flora and fauna. No advanced registration or ticketing is required to participate in the nature walks, as the program is entirely included with the purchase of a standard regular tramway admission ticket. Visitors are encouraged to dress in layers, as mountain temperatures routinely sit 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the desert floor.

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