Want to enjoy awesome mountain views but without worrying about doing any skiing or mountain climbing?
Well, you’re in luck.
Gondolas have become increasingly popular across the US. While at first they were developed to move packs of skiers and snowboarders to their slopeside destinations, today gondolas are a fantastic way to get incredible views of cities, seascapes and mountain range across the country.
In this post, we’re going to highlight some of the best.
Are you ready to go up, up, and away?
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway | Palm Springs, CA
There are lots of top ten lists of the best gondolas around the world, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is consistently included on this list. This tramway has the world’s largest rotating tram car. It travels over 2 miles along cliffs and canyons giving you an incredible view of mountains, desert, and wildlife.
Mammoth Mountain Scenic Gondola | Mammoth Lakes, CA
Mammoth is home to one of the most popular skiing resorts in the country. So it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that they’d offer one of the best gondola rides around. The Mammoth Mountain Scenic Gondola rises over 11,000 feet to the top of the mountain. Once there, you can enjoy lunch and check out an interpretive center.
Roosevelt Island Tram | New York, NY
You won’t just find gondolas in the mountains, many cities around the world use them for real public transportation too. Like, New York City: The Roosevelt Island Tram gives you some unique views of both Manhattan and the East River as it glides across the cityscape.
Telluride Gondola | Telluride, CO
The Telluride Gondola is one of the only free gondola rides across the country. Visitors and tourist love this ride and use it frequently as it connects Telluride and Mountain Village during a 13-minute scenic trip. The ride features three stops which allow people to hop off and go hiking and mountain biking as well as accessing bars, restaurants, and shops.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway | Franconia, NH
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire, you can find the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. This gondola brings passengers to the top of Cannon Mountain, just over 4,000 feet high. During the 10 minute ride, on clear days, you can see not only many of the other New England states but also Canada. At the top, there’s a cafe, observation deck, and plenty of hiking trails.
Stone Mountain Park Summit Skyride | Stone Mountain, GA
There aren’t many gondola rides in the Southern states, but the Stone Mountain Park Summit Skyride is in Georgia. This Swiss-style gondola is located just outside Atlanta and goes to the top of Stone Mountain. You’ll get great views of the Appalachian Mountains, the city of Atlanta, and the lakes and forests that are nestled in and around the base of Stone Mountain.
These are some of our favorite picks for people who want to enjoy incredible views from a gondola across the country. If you’re in any of these places, you don’t want to miss out on any of these. Take your camera and enjoy the views!
