Palm Springs – Tramway Road Climb (to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway)
Posted: July 17, 2010 at 2:16 am | Tags: Palm Springs, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, San Bernardino Mountains, San Rafael Dr, Tramway RoadPalm Springs. Yes, you read that right. Absolutely not a city known for cycling. Between the abundance of elderly drivers, excessively high temperatures and strong winds, this is one area that will test you. And yet, this wasteland for cycling has one of the best climbs in southern California – Tramway Road. This awesome road basically heads straight up from Palm Springs to the bottom of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
I found this climb in The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) in California
So, a couple of stats on this climb.. First, from the above book:
Additionally, a few more stats:
Needless to say, this is a stout climb. To put it simply, this is a road that does not believe in switchbacks. In 2k feet of climbing, you get some slight curves and one 90 degree bend…and nothing more. Up, up and up some more is an accurate description of the climb. During summer (and late spring, and fall…), the temperatures are generally unbearable. In the afternoon, the winds are strong. This climb has a small window of opportunity. If you hit that window, however, you will be rewarded with a challenging, beautiful climb. This last week, I enjoyed an altogether too hot week in Palm Springs (temperatures hit 115-118 degrees). Given these excessively hot temperatures, I headed out to climb Tramway as early as possible. While I left my hotel before 7AM, I didn’t actually get to start climbing until about 7:20AM (the drive from La Quinta to Palm Springs takes a while). At this time, temperatures were already hovering around 90 degrees. Hot? Yes. Bearable? Just barely.
Anyway, I started climbing Tramway Road from the intersection with 111 (aka Palm Canyon Dr) and enjoyed the views from the start:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Such incredible mountains that you climb into:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Starting at just below 700ft in elevation, you will quickly hit the 1k marker:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
As you continue to climb, the views just get more spectacular:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Turn off your air conditioner:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Given the 10%+ nature of this road and the summertime temperatures of 110+…that sign is probably necessary. If you (or your car) can make it beyond that sign, the scenery just gets better:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Wow, a stream crossing:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Definitely unexpected. Coming to the Palm Springs desert in July, I did not expect to cross a running stream. Tramway Road, it would seem, delivers the unexpected. This is nice – you get to climb the rest of the climb with some greenery (helped out by that stream):
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
But what an amazing (and steep) road to climb:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
2,000 feet elevation and lots of green along the stream:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Climbing up to the last, challenging steep section:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Entering through the gates:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Ridiculous Scenery:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Success!
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
The tram itself is a marvel of engineering:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
And the view down Tramway Road is not too shabby:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
The only photo I took that accurately represents the grade of the road:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Steep.
The speed limit is 25mph. Descending, you will go faster:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
This first part is very fast. Scrub some speed before the 90 degree turn at the bottom of this section. After the 90 degree section (and the awesome, smooth asphalt above it), you will get one last fast, smooth descent before the rough road begins. The first half of the descent is smooth and very fast (except for that one 90 degree turn). 50+ mph is easily doable. The second half, however, is torture. Still steep, but riddled with creases and bumps, this section of roadway is just no fun. Too bad. The grade and lack of curves would make for a truly epic final descent. Maybe someday. Until then, enjoy that fast top section. And enjoy the views. They really are quite nice:
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
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| From 2010-07-14 – Palm Springs Cycling – Tramway Road Climb (to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway) |
Tramway Road is one great climb. If you find yourself in Palm Springs in the winter, give this a try. In any other season, give this a try in the early morning hours. Weekdays, the tram opens at 10AM. Weekends, it opens at 8AM. Climb the road before 10/8AM and you will basically have the road to yourself.
Anyway, mapmyride maps..
The full climb:
The last 1.2 miles at 12%:
And, the tough, final 1/2 mile at 14%:
Not bad. Click the Elevation Profile buttons for those maps. They might just entice you (or scare you away).
Here is my GarminConnect page for the ride:
Prost!
The Discussion
see what everyone is saying
Great write up and pictures. Having been up that road many times to take the tram up and hike to the top of San Jack, I have always wanted to take the bike up there. Now that you wrote your ride up so nicely, it is almost like I have done it myself and do not need to do it , but I will, Once again, great write up. Hillbasher
I am a bit surprised Hillbasher has never climbed Tramway! This is a climb meant for you! After all, what road haven’t you climbed? Anyway, I hope you get the chance to try this sometime soon..it is an excellent climb. Of course, I wouldn’t blame you if you wait until winter and its cooler temps..
Great write up! I just climbed this hill for the third time yesterday. Definitely much more pleasant in November rather than early September. No trip to Palm Springs will feel complete without doing this climb for me now. But yes, that descent on the buckled bumpy road on the way down whilst trying to keep from breaking the sound barrier is pretty nerve-wracking for me – I need a new pair of brake pads now!
Catching up on the comments – sorry for the long delay! November I imagine would be much more pleasant. You could actually ride it during the day instead of early in the morning. What a novel concept! I like your thinking – I think I’ll make this climb my ritual on every PS trip. The first part of the descent is great though – easy 50mph.
I was injured when I drove up this road and so sad that I could not ride down it on my longboard. Now that the sr330 has re opened I will have to make my way down there again!
Sorry for the delayed comment, just found your website. This is the most deceptive climb that I’ve ever done. With no switchbacks, you think that you should be in a harder gear. Instead, you keep banging the shifters looking for one more cog. Great climb… too bad they got ride of the time trial.
As of about 2 weeks ago… they’ve completely repaved this road. I’ve lived here in PS for 12 years now and have climbed tramroad at least a dozen times on my bike… but gave that up a few years ago due to the fast speeds coming down… I reached 53mph once so am now happy to walk it on average once a week… or twice a week if I’m training for something.
If you do plan on climbing it, either as a biker or a hiker, you’ll be very pleased to know there’s brand new asphalt from top to bottom and after a slight widening there was even enough room to segregate foot traffic on their own pedestrian path… something you can appreciate as you speed down the hill over 50mph. Yah… I know… I had brakes but I was afraid of using them too much and overheating my wheel and/or tire… my wheels would get so hot as it was when I squirted water on them they would sizzle.
Thats the post I am looking for. keep it up.
I’ve got to climb this on my 700c…UNICYCLE!
Palm Springs and the rest of the Coachella Valley is a great place to ride a bike. Yes the Tram Road is the great hill climb of the area, unless you include the 100 mile loop that takes you up over 6,000 feet of climbing out of Palm Desert, through the mountain community of Idyllwild and back down through the pass community of Banning and back into Palm Springs.
A multi-use trail, CV Link, https://www.facebook.com/pages/CV-Link/513577858709174 , is also in the works. When completed it will follow the Whitewater River Wash from Palm Springs down the valley to near the Salton Sea. Biking weather is great in the valley between mid-October through the end of May. Check out my cycling blog at http://desertroadkill.blogspot.com/ .
[…] it’s the sort of ride people do and then keep to themselves. The best description comes from Tough Ascent. He quotes some pretty compelling stats from The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike) in […]
Hello, I plan on participating in the 6k in October at the Palm Springs Tram. First time for me and I understand its quite the incline. If someone can share their experience and some pointers for preparation I would greatly appreciated it. I typically participate in the 5Ks and wanted to push my limits and do this. YIKES!!
Climbed Tramway Road twice in three days this week. The road is in superb condition and with at least two or three small dips in the road (I wouldn’t call them downhills), there is at least some respite from the otherwise punishing grade. The photos do not show the newer construction of a toll plaza just below the parking lot. It is at this point that you will be politely asked to turn around. You can no longer ride to the parking lot where you would encounter the steepest section of the climb. This has obviously disappointed some riders as the guard complimented me for not cussing him out when he told me I needed to turn around! While this is a great, steep climb that can be done relatively quickly, I still think the better option is to climb the 4,500′ from La Canada to Mt. Wilson along the Angeles Crest Hwy just north and east of downtown Los Angeles.
Great Write up. I just climbed it today and it was an epic climb! The ashphalt has been resurfaced and is very smooth and great for going really fast!
You can no longer climb past the entrance gate because of liability.
There is now a walking /cycling path beside the road – smoother than the roadway. Take it uphill and take the road downhill.
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