Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Allowed to Remain Open in Tier 1, Designated as Transportation

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will continue operations this weekend, despite Riverside County moving back to the most restrictive category of the governor’s reopening plan, officials confirmed Wednesday.

As far as the tram is concerned, Purdy says it’s within the transportation designation, and will not close. But the county’s purple tier classification will force tram staff to slightly modify the Tramway’s offerings, especially those indoors.

The Tramway will continue to operate with some indoor offerings stopping, according to Grey Purdy, the tram’s vice president of marketing and public affairs.

All museums and documentary theaters — which were previously reopened amid modified socially distanced protocols — will close, Purdy said.

Pines Cafe will continue selling pre-made sandwiches, salads and beverages, but purchased goods must be consumed outside, Purdy said. Peaks Restaurant remains closed.

Protocols involving the tram cars themselves were already in compliance within the purple tier classification.

Car capacities were significantly reduced to allow for social distancing, and the time between each departure was lengthened to allow for sanitization of tram cars between trips.

All passengers have to make advanced reservations, wear a mask while inside the tram, or inside the Valley and Mountain stations, and submit to temperature screenings.

The first car heads up each day at 8 a.m., with the last car down at 6 p.m.

Popular hiking trails accessible from the top of the tram — previously closed due to fire danger — also reopened earlier this month within the San Jacinto State Park and San Bernardino National Forest, although overnight camping opportunities remain limited in wilderness areas, according to state and federal officials.