Local & Community
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Announces Extended Operating Hours for Fourth of July Holiday Weekend
In celebration of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has announced extended operating hours to provide residents and holiday visitors more time to escape the valley heat and explore the cool mountain wilderness. The adjusted schedule will run from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, 2026, offering early morning access and later evening returns.
For the start of the holiday weekend on Friday, July 3, and Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, the first tramcar heading up Chino Canyon will depart at 8:00 a.m. The final tramcar allowed up the mountain will be at 9:00 p.m., with the last tramcar returning down to the valley scheduled for 10:30 p.m. On Sunday, July 5, the morning launch will remain at 8:00 a.m., but the final tramcar up will shift to 8:00 p.m., and the final descent down to the base station will take place at 9:30 p.m.
In addition to the modified transit hours, the tramway will feature its signature summer programming over the holiday weekend. On Sunday, July 5, visitors can take part in free guided nature walks hosted by volunteers from the Mount San Jacinto State Park. Two separate excursions are scheduled for the afternoon: a one-and-a-half-mile trek along the scenic Desert View Trail kicking off at 11:00 a.m., followed by a shorter three-quarter-mile loop on the Long Valley Nature Trail starting at 1:30 p.m. Interested participants do not need to register in advance and can simply meet the park volunteers in Long Valley at the base of the concrete walkway situated just outside the Mountain Station. The nature walks are entirely free to join with the purchase of a general tramway admission ticket.
First opened to the public in 1963, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway stands as the world's largest rotating tramcar, offering a unique engineering feat right in the Coachella Valley. The specialized 80-passenger cars slowly rotate during the ascent, providing travelers with panoramic 360-degree views of the dramatic canyon cliffs and desert floor. The journey spans roughly ten minutes, transporting guests from the Valley Station at an elevation of 2,643 feet to the pristine pine forests surrounding the Mountain Station at an elevation of 8,516 feet. Visitors can access further ticketing information, schedule updates, or download the tramway's free mobile audio tour by visiting their official digital portal.
Explore NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the valley.
Source: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (https://www.pstramway.com)
By: NBC Palm Springs
June 29, 2026
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