39 Best Stops Between Anaheim and Palm Desert (2024)

First time here. Amazing views. A great hiking trail at the back end of the top. The temperature difference is a good 40*F between the bottom and the top, so prepare accordingly if you're going to be hiking.The Ride & Dine pass is definitely worth it. Otherwise, you have different options for food as there are two other restaurants available.Oh, and bring quarters to use the telescopes! I wish I had known that.

What an incredible experience! Absolutely breathtaking vistas surrounded by the gorgeous scenic mountains. At the peak of the mountain is stunning. I just love the view from way up there. It can get a little busy waiting for the team to take you in either direction, but once you get to the top, there's a beautiful hiking trail to conquer before heading back down. I am looking forward to coming back in the near future, especially in the winter.

Come when it raining/ snowing. It's amazing and fun.Cost $30.95 per person round trip (no reservation)Arrived 11 am, there was a line, bought tickets at 12 pm and waited 1.5 hours for the 1:44 pm slot.There is a little park/dirt area with benches at the back (past the cafe), gift shop, and cafe.Small nature trail view hike is 0.75 miles round trip.Opens 10 amThere is three floors when you arrive at the top of tram.You exit at the bottom floor to get to the hike.People brought sleds but didn't see anyone using it.Didn't buy tickets ahead of time, arrived at 11 am , parking lots go from A to J.Was slotted for parking H.If you coming in January, bring winter jackets and proper shoes. Shoes will get wet and it's cold.Family friendly, fun to experience.

One of my favorite places to visit for some snow! Honestly, it’s a bit better than going all the way to Big Bear. It’s just more convenient. I went on March and we got to see lots of snow!!!! It was snowing as well!!! So beautiful. As for tickets, online might say their sold out but if you arrive early when they open which is at 10:00am, they sell some tickets until they sell out so make sure to get there early.

It's a fun ride up and down. The scenery at the top is stunning. The restaurant was very good. I only give it three stars because it is crazy expensive. $15 to park. $66 for a couple to go up ( if you are over 65, you get $1.25 off). Lunch for two was $94 plus tip. So, it's $170 for a fun 20 minute round trip ride and a couple of sandwiches and tea.

It gets pretty packed in the weekends but a definite must for first time Palm Springs visitors. The views are incredible from the top. Things I wish I had known before going:There are a few hiking trails up there. Bring appropriate shoes as they are very rocky.It's a nice place to enjoy a picnic if you bring your own food.Bring a mask if you're uncomfortable being in very close proximity to people while riding up. Tram cars are standing room only and the next person is less than a foot away.There is a 20-30 degree difference in temperature, so bring a jacket. It wasn't too bad in late April. I can imagine it's pretty windy and chilly in the winter.Hope this helps.

Loved the experience! The staff is very friendly, polite and knowledgeable. Would recommend getting there around 7:30-8am if you do not have tickets and need to buy them for the morning. The revolving tram was fun and our little toddler loved it! The view was amazing. We didn't get to venture out into the play area as it was extremely windy for us. We love snow so enjoyed getting to touch it a bit. Will certainly be back in spring to enjoy what else there is to explore.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a must-visit for anyone who is interested in stunning views, challenging hikes, or simply a unique way to experience the desert. The tram ride is an experience in itself, and the views from the top are simply breathtaking. There are trails for all levels of experience, so you can find something to suit your fitness level. And after a long day of hiking, you can relax and refuel at one of the many restaurants or shops at the top of the mountain.I highly recommend visiting the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway if you are ever in the area. It is an unforgettable experience that you will never forget

Would love to rate this better. That actual tram experience was great. Fabulous staff member and great musical descent coming back in dark (recommend). We booked the tram and dine evening with our two kids. Had a lovely tram ride up, walk around. The film about the tramway was over 20 years old and really needed updating.However, the food in the Pines cafe (including in our ticket) would warrant a 1/5. The service similar. Menu sounded nice but in reality had been sat there for a while. My unfussy 7 year old turned his nose up after trying. The corn on the cob has been in liquid for hours and was revolting. The bread was stale. My beef was inedible. The soda drinks tasted like pipe cleaner. The best bit was the basic salad. Really disappointed.Would not recommend booking the package.

This was our first visit back to the tramway since before the pandemic. We decided to do the ride and dine ticket, which is a great value. The views were fantastic, and we took a short hike in the state park at the top before dinner. Also watched the restored movie of the original tram, The Miracle of Palm Springs. This was our first time taking a return trip at night - we could see the lights of all the desert cities. Overall, it was a great experience.

It was a nice trip. I paid for $15 entrance fee (or parking lot fee) and $31 for the tram ticket.The best thing of the trip was that I could see Palm Springs city from 8,500 ft above.The bad thing was that each tram was super crowded. They tried to arrange few dozens of people into a small round tram. Surrounded by tall people prevented short people like me from seeing the landscape outside (even the floor of the tram could rotate 360 degrees).

I went a couple weeks ago for the very first time! I had a very great time and the view is beautiful! I will for sure be coming back!😍My visit was last minute planned, so we waited about 2+ hours to get on which is understandable.But it was worth every second!

A great place! I recommend it to everyone! It was a little scary to take the tram up, as it is very high and there are only rocks all around. But it's very exciting and beautiful. The pine forest at the top of the mountain will not leave you indifferent. You will feel the refreshing coolness and the coniferous aroma of the mountain air. This is a truly lifesaving place from the heat in Palm Springs. I recommend buying tickets with dinner if you plan to eat upstairs after 4 p.m.

Awesome experience and a unique aerial view of the Desert from 8,514ft. We got tickets at the station on the day. Plenty of parking at $12 per car. The tram was fun, 10-15 min ride, floor revolves while moving. Little daunting but fun. Lovely cafe, restaurant and bar at the summit but not cheap. Plenty of look out areas and hikes to avail of

This tram is such an awesome experience. My other favorite is at Snowbird in Utah; but that tram does not rotate like this tram. The rotating tram gives you a great view up and down this mountain. Don't worry about the rotating floor. It's slow and smooth. At the top of the tram is the Mountain Station which has food and beverage service; including a bar. There is only one negative about the experience and that's the cost of food and beverages. Just like sporting events and amusement parks, this place charges way too much for food and beverage. A small bottle of water is almost $5 and soda/pop is the same. There's a museum type thing on the lower level and food is on the upper level. If you exit on the back side there are trails to walk and hike. It's $12 to park so be prepared to pay. Other than that folks, enjoy an awesome day and get out of the desert heat 🇺🇸

Really nice ride up and very scenic, When you get to the top, there's an 8K' view and a forest to explore. The visitors center is informative, have bathrooms and food in case you forgot your snack. Worth checking out.

Everyone must take this team ride to 8,516 elevation. It is so crazy high and only takes 10 min to get up to the top. Amazing views. Best to go up during the day to hike and then come down in the evening to enjoy the lights of the city below

Highly recommend!! Make sure to buy your tickets online including parking pass and print them-this part saved us a lot of time. We went on a VERY hot day in Palm Springs. The tram ride was crowded, but it rotates so everyone gets a good view at some point. The tram itself is not air conditioned, but the windows open and it moves right along, so you get pretty good airflow - it only took about 10 minutes. We went up at 4:00 and bought the "Ride and Dine" package, which was a great deal. It was at least 35 degrees cooler at the top. Ate dinner early-limited menu but food was fine. Then we looked around the multi-level building with multiple balconies and picked a place to watch the sun go down. We stayed until after sunset and watched the l8ghts of Palm Springs start to twinkle. We rode the tram down about 8:15 and got an even better view of the lights. I really recommend a similar schedule...it was a really magical evening!

This was a great place. We visited on a Thursday, had to wait 2 hours to go on the tram ride. There was a lot we do as we waited for our turn to go on. It's cheaper after 4pm (approx $3 less). The cafeteria hot chocolate was great to keep us warm. Kids loved the short trails. 😍. The wait to go back down was pretty long... approx 1 hour.

What a great way to spend a day. The wait was long but there was enough to keep us occupied while we waited. The ride to the top was fun but the views from the top were the highlight of the day.

Excellent experience with a lot to explore and discover. The rotating gondola gives everyone a chance to view all angles of the mountain range. Shuttle from parking makes it convenient to get to the lift. A few miles of trails to enjoy nature and listen to the running stream. A must if visiting Palm Springs, CA.

1st time doing this experience and got to enjoy it with my other half. The tram ride was fun and unexpected. 😄😅 once up the mountain you can walk around various trails and enjoy nature. Great experience to have even if you are afraid of heights!

Wonderful! Beautiful. We had a blast. Great for little ones. Amazing photo ops. I recommend bringing lots of snacks instead of planning to buy food at their cafeteria since it was "ok" and super pricey. They have picnic tables as well. We bought tickets at their booth. No wait line.

Incredible views 8500 ft up from sea level. Would recommend 10/10. What a nice get away from the desert heat as well! Loved spending time here and walking around at the summit in the woods. Will be back!

Awesome trip on the Aerial Tram from 2,643 feet all the way up to 8,516 feet. The tram ride is a quick 10 minute ride up with trams scheduled every 20 minutes up and down from 10 am until 8 pm. I drove out after work and enjoyed watching the sunset while going up and seeing the city lights at night and enjoying a wonderful dinner at the mountain top restaurant. Great way to end the day on top of the mountain with a cold beer in hand!

We love this experience and the views at the top are spectacular. Short tram ride in gondola shared with several others. Lots of photo opportunities at different levels that can be accessed via various stairways. Cafeteria style restaurant as well as bar area. Many use this tramway to access a multitude of hiking trails. Several degrees cooler than the desert floor so be sure to bring a sweater or jacket.

Taking the tramway is a very unique and super recommended experience. Going from a hot desert climate at the bottom to snowy landscapes at the top is simply incredible. The views are amazing both from the tramway (which rotates!) as well as the top, again giving you the contrast of desert and snow. On the way down, it was fun to have the tramway pilot spread good vibes with the fun playlist that he put on.I would also recommend doing a (short) hike when you reach the top. But please bring warm clothes! There are some very nice viewpoints if you hike the loop.

A great experience. My husband's grandfather was the President of the Civil Engineer group that designed this aerial tram. He has a plaque at the top. Very cool to see it. Tram ride is wonderful going to the top and back down. Very organized and easy to use. Are at the sit down restaurant and food was great. Waitress was a little overwhelmed with mostly likely too many tables but she was very polite.

Very scenic ride. The tram can feel pretty crowded on a busy day. I rode the tram back down when the crowd was a bit smaller (before sunset) and I enjoyed the ride a bit more that way. The hiking trails at the top are beautiful and I enjoyed the hike. My father, son, and I went during the 1st week of April and got there around 11am. The wait was already 2.5 hrs by 11am. Probably best to go earlier.

What a cool experience and a must do if you visit Palm Springs. Make sure you pack accordingly because it is a severely different temperature at the top.We got to hike though fresh snow which was a magical experience after leaving the desert floor.Don’t be discouraged if the wait timeIs long. There is a gift shop, food, drinks, and some beautiful spots outside to spend your time while you wait on your boarding group.We got to there at about 7:40 on a Saturday morning to no car line wait and were able to purchase tickets for the first 8:00 tram up to the top. If you want to avoid crowds I’d suggest the earlier time on the weekends instead of the 10:00 tram during the week. You could also do the after 4pm passes which sounded nice, and look out at the lights of the city as the sun sets.My husband and I had a great experience and would totally go back for our next visit to Palm Springs.

So much fun and a great experience! Our tram operator, Gil, was so fun and friendly and the park rangers were incredibly helpful! There are several hikes that are easy enough for families while others are more suited for experienced hikers. Ask the rangers which route/trails would be best for you and the conditions. We were able to get tickets for the 10:30 tram and walked into the building at 10:20 on a Friday!

We went during the off season. We purchased the lunch/dinner with the tram ride. which was a better deal purchasing them together.The food was very good & you could eat outside or in. We took a walk along some of the trails. All the staff were helpful & friendly. Bathrooms were very clean. They also provide a photo with a variety of packages for a price.

I recommend purchasing tickets directly from the official website. Our group bought tickets from a third-party site, which meant we didn't get a designated time until we checked in, resulting in an additional hour's wait for the tram. During this time, we enjoyed some drinks.The ride to the top offered beautiful views. However, despite the conductor's reminder that the tram rotates as it moves, some people held onto the railing, causing others to get squished.There was plenty of snow during our visit, making the scenery even more breathtaking. However, it also required extra caution on the hikes. I recommend arriving early to make the most of the experience, as the departure line gets long. Our departure wait was nearly two hours.

We didn't get tickets in advance and had to wait approx 2 hours to go up but it was totally worth it! The ride up/down itself is very cool with great views. Then up top there's a beautiful forest! Made me feel like I wasn't even in California. Remember to bring warm clothes though as it's cold up top! We ate at the restaurant (Peaks) for lunch which had a very impressive view and had reasonable lunch prices all things considered.

Our family had a great time at the Aerial Tramway. We had a meal at the summit and took in the views of the valley below. My kids and I played in the snow for over an hour at the summit. We explored through the massive trees and was experience we will truly treasure. I would highly recommend if you're a tourist in the area, check out this place. The views are worth it!

I love this place! Lots of parking, there's a tram that picks you up to take you to entrance. We bought tickets when we got there, but you can buy them online before. Great views, and the staff makes the tram fun with music and sharing info on the way up. Be sure to go through the little museum before you leave. It's all so interesting to see how it was made! Lots of food with the ride and dine tickets, we had a lot of leftovers. Bar and restaurant at the top! Go out on the deck at the top and walk out to all the little lookouts, you can take your drink with you while you walk around.

(Sorry for the late review, we went here during March). This was the greatest experience ever since I’ve never seen snow in ages(Texas). The air cool and there were plenty of great views. And at the top, they have plenty of foods to choose from. But then you get to walk even further into the mountain. The employees were fantastic and the tram pilot was very friendly and had some jokes along the way. Would definitely recommend this.

Fun ride up & back, great views and with rotating cars you get to see from all angles. We had 1pm tickets on a Thursday, slower day so parking and getting around was easy. Bus picks up & returns at parking lot (F at least). The snow fall makes the top a winter haven. We didn’t purchase pictures taken (think $35 for 2 + digital access is package + add ons if you want) Worth the $30/ea + $15 parking to see.

I recently brought my parents here for their first time; it was my second time. The whole experience was exceptional. Everyone from the individual at the ticket booth to the tram operator was friendly and attentive to my dad's disability. The sales staff at the store was great and packaged the fragile merchandise very well. The bartender poured delicious drinks too.Besides the customer service, the views are amazing. It's definitely a great place for a date night.

An amazing experience. The drive up to the gate, the easy entrance into the tram car and a breathtaking ride up the side San Jacinto.Once at the top there are enough views, and levels to see the entire beautiful landscape 8000+ feet below.

It’s weekday but a lot of people come here for the trail and cafe. It was a nice experience to use the tramway! My hubby and I got the summer pass, $85 good from May 1st to August! Will definitely come back here. When you reach the top, it is colder. The fresh air and relaxing nature is so invigorating. Will definitely come back here!

My 1st experience at the Palm Springs aerial tramway was amazing. It's definitely a must when visiting Palm Springs. Upon arrival, be prepared to take a small steep inclined hike to the station from the parking lots, and transports are available. Check-in is easy, with a small deli and bar conveniently located at the bottom station offering plenty of shaded benches and amazing views. The tramway itself is a treat when heading up as it rotates, offering breathtaking views regardless of where you may be standing. Once you arrive at the top , the newly renovated 3 floor station provides you 2 locations to dine at. Reservations are recommended to eat at the restaurant. The bar is a must offering an array of beverages to your liking (beers on draft or bottled, wines, and several spirits for cocktails). Theirs a small museum and a couple of theaters offering a quick history lesson and education on the wildlife observed in the area. Bring warm clothes as temperatures fluctuate in 8k+ elevation. There are plenty of hiking trails as well behind the station. I highly recommend the tramway. 10 out of 10.

Awesome experience to go 8,000 feet from desert level up into the mountains in a slow spinning tram! There can be a bit of a wait on peak days/times but there are cute little trails behind the tram station, a place to eat, a little waterfall and an aerial tram viewing deck. Up on the mountain side, there is a steep path to go down and explore, if so desired, as well as a visitor center and a restaurant. Definitely an experience I recommend!

It’s a wonderful experience from beginning to end. The views are amazing. Not recommended if you have a fright of heights or tight spaces or even enclosed areas. As it may be a full tramp on the weekends.The staff was super nice, starting from the man who sold us the tickets offering multiple convenient times for boarding, to the funny operator who took us to the top of Mt.San Jacinto. Even the gift shops down at the bottom of the canyon & up at the top had the most pleasant cashiers. Not to mention the cleaning person keeping the restrooms tidy and clean.We did visit the nice full bar up at the top, where they served great drinks. There were multiple points for pictures, at different levels. Even camping and trails are indicated, which we didn’t do that day but looked awesome!I would definitely recommend and add it to anyone’s must-do list when visiting Palm Springs!

Absolutely awesome experience with stunning views! The tram ride is about a mile and a half, with something like 8,000 ft elevation change, and is totally exhilarating and well worth the $30 per adult price. There are a cafeteria, a restaurant, and a gift shop at the top; as well as a hiking path and fantastic view points. At the bottom station there are a cafeteria and gift shop as well. If you're sensitive to cooler climates, be prepared with a light sweater. We were there mid April and it was 96°f at the floor, and about 55°f at the top with snow stillon the ground. It was a really nice reprieve from the heat!

Well worth the ticket price. 40° cooler than in Palm Springs. Nice short walks at the summit among the trees. We did the post 4:30pm trip including a meal in the cafe which was good. Last cable car returns at 8:30pm. Parking is $15.

This is a nice place to visit. We drove in from Santa Clarita to visit, and it was all worth it.There are very good views up there and a lot of trails if you are into hiking.There is a cafe and a restaurant. My wife and I had each a salad at the cafe, and they were very tasty and well made- well worth the money.The ride itself takes about 11 minutes.You can buy tickets online - or do as us: walk-in, which can result in getting no tickets. We arrived early at opening, so no problem.