We wanted to see as much of the El Paso area as we could during our stay. And what better way to see as much as possible in one day than a ride on the Wyler Aerial Tramway to the top of the Franklin Mountains?
On a clear day in mid-November, we drove up the steep, winding entrance to the Wyler Aerial Tramway on the east side of the Franklin Mountains. It was a beautiful, clear day with low winds, and warm enough to leave our jackets in the RV. We got the idea to ride the tramway after visiting the nearby McKelligon Canyon Park office.
The tramway parking lot has telescopes, benches, and a variety of plant life to enjoy. It is also where hikers park for the Directissimo Trail. This .88-mile strenuous trail takes you up and around Ranger Peak. You’re required to register at the Tramway office before starting your hike. The ranger told us it’s best for hikers to walk up the trail, and then ride the tramway back down. We were not prepared to hike and decided to ride the tramway in both directions.
We located the ticket booth, purchased our $8.00 round-trip tickets for the tramway, and got in line for the trip to the top of Ranger Peak on the Franklin Mountains. The Swiss-made gondolas are small, and only a handful of people can ride at a time. The line was not too long, and there were two gondolas running, so the wait was fairly short.
While in line, we watched gondolas go up and down the mountain. We also watched the 51,000-pound concrete counterweight slowly move up and down as it controlled the tension of the moving steel cables.
Soon, we were in our gondola and on the way up. The 4-minute ride was very smooth, and it was fun watching the ground get farther away as we slowly ascended to the top.
As we went up, we watched the other gondola heading down.
A park ranger accompanies passengers in each gondola, answering questions and providing information regarding the tramway and the trails. On the way up, we learned that the gondola travels 940 vertical feet up the mountain on a 2,600 feet long, 1 3/8” diameter steel cable.
Here is a view from the gondola as we reached the platform at the top. The platform also features 2 massive telecommunications towers.
Ranger Peak is 5,632 feet above sea level. On reaching the top, we stepped out into a large observation area. There are two levels, with railing all around so visitors can see a 360-degree view of El Paso, Juárez, Mexico, and the surrounding area. There are several telescopes for use (for a small fee), benches, restrooms, and a gift shop.
After disembarking the gondola, we walked around the main level, trying to identify landmarks indicated on the maps. As we continued around, the wind picked up. And it got cooler. Which explained why some of the other riders had been carrying jackets. We hadn’t thought about the difference in temperature at that altitude.
But we didn’t let the slightly chilly breeze stop us from climbing the stairs to the top level. From there, we could see more of the Western view of New Mexico. While walking around the platform, we also located the Ft. Bliss RV Park, where our RV was parked. The blue roofs in the upper right quadrant of the picture below are in the RV park.
We didn’t spend a lot of time trying to identify the sites on the map we received with our tickets. We were there for the view!
When we were done enjoying the views from the upper level, we headed down the stairs to check out the gift shop.
In the gift shop, we found a selection of souvenir shirts, hats, and shot glasses. What we didn’t expect to find was the notebook containing witness accounts, details, and pictures regarding the 1953 B-36 crash site. There are still some artifacts along the trail. They can be seen from the B-36 overlook marked on the trail map.
After leaving the gift shop, we got in line for the ride down. While waiting, we watched as the gondolas traveled up and down the mountain.
Riding down the mountain, we looked out the windows, watching as the buildings below got larger and larger.
After returning to the platform, we walked around the exhibits of earlier gondolas, took in the view of El Paso from one of the benches, and just relaxed.
If you are planning a trip to El Paso, we recommend making the Wyler Aerial Tramway one of your stops. More pictures of the plants and views are posted on our Photography by Andreas FaceBook page.
In late November, we walked across the pedestrian bridge from the United States to Juarez for another Saturday adventure.
**This post describes our visit to the Wyler Aerial Tramway in November 2017. The tramway was closed to the public on April 1, 2020.
For updates on the status of the tramway, check this site: