Tramway Climbing

This digital Tramway climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Tramway days smoother, safer, and more dialed.

Alpine bouldering in the desert?!!! That doesn’t seem possible, unless you are at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. For over fifty years the tram has brought tourists back and forth from the steamy desert floor to the cool alpine heights. Since 2001, it has introduced the largest of only three rotating tramcars in the world! Now climbers can enjoy the same amazing juxtaposition into a wonderland of towering conifers and ancient granite boulders! 

The website www.pstramway.com offers all the information about prices to ride the tram, as well as current weather, closures, and even t... Show more

This digital Tramway climbing guidebook gives you GPS navigation, verified topos, and beta for hundreds of climbs. Explore classics and hidden gems with offline access to maps, directions, and beta videos. Whether it's your first visit or fiftieth, KAYA makes your Tramway days smoother, safer, and more dialed. Alpine bouldering in the desert?!!! That doesn’t seem possible, unless you are at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. For over fifty years the tram has brought tourists back and forth from the steamy desert floor to the cool alpine heights. Since 2001, it has introduced the largest of only three rotating tramcars in the world! Now climbers can enjoy the same amazing juxtaposition into a wonderland of towering conifers and ancient granite boulders! The website www.pstramway.com offers all the information about prices to ride the tram, as well as current weather, closures, and even two tram cams for real time viewing. As of this writing a roundtrip ticket is $30.95 a day with Annual Passes $165 and Summer Passes $85 also available (April-July). The mountain station is at 8,516 feet in elevation, so the Tramway has a reputation of being a summer spot, but as a local, I can testify to climbing there year round. In fact, the best friction for the harder problems seem to be when there is still some snow on the ground. Since the only access is up and down the trams, keep in mind to pack only the gear you need. The space in the tram is limited so if you are traveling with others or in a group, limit the amount of crashpads you bring. The Tramway employees are aware of this issue and would appreciate it for the other guests riding. Once at the Mountain Station, a small path leads you down to Long Valley. Continue straight to the Ranger Station. The Tramway bouldering is within the San Jacinto State Park. The area is a fragile ecosystem often referred to as an “island in the sky”. Many animals and plants thrive there and nowhere else. For these reasons, the rangers are becoming a little weary of the new influx of climbers, (especially on the weekend), but are working along with the locals to help educate the new climbers to the State Park rules. Everyone needs to stop at the Ranger Station to fill out a free permit (one per group), and carry the carbon copy of it, and later deposit it in the lower mailbox when exiting. The rules are posted on every permit, please follow them, as well as maintain your climbing ethics by not moving rocks at the bases to prevent erosion, cleaning up the ground and tick marks on the rocks before moving on, and staying on the trails whenever possible. Thank you, and enjoy your time in this unique desert forest, spot each other and send hard! With 52 square miles of hiking trails, this guide is not the entire Tramway Bouldering. It includes the most popular spots that are North (right side) of the stream that cuts through Long Valley. With a population of over 45,000 people, and an elevation of 479 feet, the City of Palm Springs, California has proudly hosted the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway since 1963. Located at 1 Tramway Road, the entrance is just outside of the town off Highway 111. Anyone entering the town from the West will note the iconic Modernist, Albert Frey building at the entrance which is now a tourist center. The Tramway Mountain Station is about three miles up the steep road. Be prepared to pay a $15.00 parking fee upon entering. (Summer and Annual pass holders, and Coachella Valley residents are waived.) I know it's expensive, but unlike any other alpine climbing area, there is no mountain driving to deal with. There is primitive camping available in Round Valley and Tamarack Valley two miles higher than the bouldering in this guide. The cost is $5.00 per person with a 2 week camping limit. Information and additional permits are available at the Ranger Station or by calling (951) 659-2607. Though most climbers on an extended trip to the Tramway take advantage of the numerous hotels and lodging options located within Palm Springs. Palm Springs needs no introduction. As the gateway city to the Coachella Valley and with its exclusive desert dining and shopping, it has been a Hollywood retreat through the ages. From Los Angeles, (107 miles), take the 10 or 60 Freeways due East, exit at Highway 111, Tramway road is another 8 miles, turn right at the third stoplight. From San Diego (139 miles), take the 15 Fwy North to join the 215 Fwy Northeast, then East on the 60 Fwy, before connecting to the 10 Fwy East. From Phoenix, Az, (271 miles) take the 10 Fwy West getting off in Palm Springs. Palm Springs has its own International Airport, PSP. The closest other airports are Ontario, CA ONT(67 miles), or Los Angeles International Airport, LAX (122 miles) for the cheapest flights.