Browse
Log in / Register
Share
Palm Springs, CA – May 9, 2026 — The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is back in service after a storm-related circuit board malfunction forced a temporary shutdown earlier this week. The popular mountain tram, located at One Tram Way, reopened Tuesday afternoon with the first public car up at 1:30 p.m. Cars are departing at least every 30 minutes.
Service was interrupted Monday afternoon after the tram's electrical control system began showing problems. Chris Bartsch, vice president of the tramway, said the malfunction was traced to a circuit board. He described the failure as storm-related but made clear that it did not involve the cabins or the cable structure. The issue was isolated to the equipment that monitors and controls the tram's movement.
The timing of the reopening is significant because the tram is a key link to Mount San Jacinto State Park. While the Palm Springs area is known for hot, dry weather, the upper station sits at roughly 8,500 feet. The ride lasts about 10 minutes and takes passengers from the desert floor into pine forest and wilderness trails. Once visitors reach Mountain Station, they can hike in the state park or simply enjoy the views over the Coachella Valley.
The tram has been a local landmark since it opened in 1963. At that time, the project was considered a major engineering feat. Its rotating cabins were one of the first designs of their kind, and they still turn slowly during the climb so riders can see the canyon and the desert below without moving around the car. That design makes the system visually distinctive, but it also means the operation depends on a complicated network of electrical and mechanical parts. When a single component such as a circuit board fails, the safest decision is to stop the tram and fix it before reopening.
Bartsch said the tram was checked before service resumed Tuesday. The current schedule has the last car up at 8 p.m. and the last car down at 9:30 p.m. Riders should keep that in mind if they plan a long hike or an evening visit to the mountain station. After the 1:30 p.m. reopening, the tram returned to normal departures, with cars running regularly throughout the afternoon.
For hikers, the tram is more than a sightseeing ride. It acts as a trailhead access point for Mount San Jacinto State Park and the Pacific Crest Trail. Dropping hikers off at the upper station saves a multi-hour drive and provides a direct route to some of the strongest elevation gains in Southern California. The reopening means those trail networks are accessible again without relying on alternative transportation.
Conditions at the top can change quickly. Even in May, snow can linger on high trails, and the air is noticeably thinner than it is in Palm Springs. Visitors heading into the backcountry should carry extra water, food, sunscreen, and at least a light jacket. For riders who only want to take in the view, the station has observation areas and indoor facilities, making it an easy afternoon excursion.
As of this writing, no further closures have been announced. The circuit board failure appears to have been resolved, and the tram's online status is back to normal operations. Still, desert storms can cause sudden problems, so anyone planning to ride should check the tramway's website or social media channels before heading up. With the summer tourist season approaching, reliable service is especially important: the tram is often the fastest exit from the valley heat, and local businesses depend on the steady flow of visitors it brings.
