Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Closed Until October 5: What to Know

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is closed for its annual maintenance through Sunday, October 4, 2026, and is set to reopen on Monday, October 5, at 10 a.m. The tramway’s website says the closure began on September 8 and calls the October 5 reopening date tentative.

If a ride up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park is on your plan for a Palm Springs trip this week, move it to October 5 or later. Our guide to things to do in Palm Springs has other ideas for the days before the tram returns, and our where to stay in Palm Springs guide covers where to base yourself in town.

Tramway Reopens Monday, October 5

The tramway’s last day of service before the shutdown was Monday, September 7, the Labor Day holiday. Its home page says the tram is closed “for annual preventative maintenance September 8 through October 4, with a tentative reopening date of October 5, 2026.” KESQ reported the same dates on September 1.

Because the date is tentative, check the tramway’s website before you head to the valley station on October 5. Maintenance projects can run over, and the operator will post any change there first.

What the Maintenance Covers

The tramway says this year’s work includes repainting the inside of the tramcar cabins and rebuilding the carriage on cabin two, the part that holds the cabin on the track ropes. It also includes the annual state permit testing and the yearly service of the control system by technicians from Switzerland.

“Annual state-permit testing will be conducted, and our Switzerland-based technicians will be performing annual service to the controls system,” Chris Bartsch, the tramway’s vice president of tramway systems, told KESQ. General manager Nancy Nichols said the work “helps ensure the continued safety, reliability and enjoyment of the tramway and all our guests.”

Riding to Mt. San Jacinto State Park

The tramway calls itself the world’s largest rotating tram car. The cars turn slowly during the roughly ten minute ride, which covers more than two and a half miles along the cliffs of Chino Canyon. At the Mountain Station, at 8,516 feet, the tramway lists two restaurants, observation decks, the state park visitor center and natural history museum, two documentary theaters, a gift shop and more than 50 miles of hiking trails.

For food at the top, the tramway points to Pines Café, a cafeteria style restaurant, and the chef led Peaks Restaurant, which takes reservations, plus the Lookout Lounge for drinks with views of the valley. The Mt. San Jacinto Natural History Association also runs guided hikes in the state park, with details on its own site.

Planning a Ride After the Reopening

The Mountain Station sits at 8,516 feet, far above the desert floor, so temperatures at the top can be much cooler than in town. Bring a warm layer even on a hot day in Palm Springs, and wear shoes you can walk in. If you plan to hike, carry water and check the state park’s trail conditions before you set out.

The first days after a reopening can be busy with visitors who waited out the closure. If you have flexibility, a weekday later in the week of October 5 may be calmer than the reopening day itself. Tickets are sold on the tramway’s website, which is also where any change to the reopening date will appear first.