The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen Thursday, with pandemic-related restrictions instituted on the rotating cars taking passengers from the desert to the San Jacinto Mountains.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tramway will initially be open on a Thursday-through-Monday schedule, with the first car set to head up at 8 a.m. and the last car down at 6 p.m.

The tramway has been shuttered for much of the coronavirus pandemic, although it did open briefly between October and December, until Gov. Gavin Newsom issued regional stay-at-home orders which were lifted late last month.

Riverside County remains in the most restrictive, purple tier of the governor’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework.

The tramway’s operator previously said the tramway is within the transportation designation and could remain open under the purple tier, but with modified offerings.

All passengers must make advance reservations, cover their faces while inside the tram or inside the Valley and Mountain stations, and submit to temperature screenings. People must also cover their faces while inside Mount San Jacinto State Park when social distancing is not possible.

Tram car capacities will be significantly reduced to allow for social distancing, and the time between each trip has been lengthened to allow for sanitization of tram cars between trips.

The museum and documentary theaters will remain closed, as will the Peaks Restaurant, although Pines Cafe will be open with outdoor seating.

Annual passholders should expect to see their passes extended to match the amount of days the tramway has been shut down.

Since 1963, the tramway has carried visitors 2 1/2 miles from Palm Springs to the San Jacinto Mountains, a trip that takes about 10 minutes. At an elevation of more than 8,500 feet, Mountain Station is an entry point to more than 50 miles of hiking trails.

More information is available at pstramway.com .

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