8 Aerial Tramways You Can Ride After Watching SNL's Hilarious Emoji Skit
Saturday Night Live (SNL) has thrust one of skiing's most popular forms of transportation directly into the limelight: the aerial tramway.
Appearing on SNL's Weekend Update, Mikey Day dressed as the "Aerial Tramway" emoji opposite Marcello Hernandez's "Red Heart" emoji character. According to SNL, "Aerial Tramway" is the least-used emoji, and "Red Heart" is the most-used.
Given the popularity of aerial tramways, also known as trams, in skiing, we compiled some of our favorites scattered across the country. For context, an aerial tramway is a form of transportation. Cabins travel along a fixed wire, usually to ascend a mountain, but there are other uses in urban environments.
Tap or click below to watch the hilarious SNL skit. Keep reading for a list of aerial tramways you can ride at ski resorts, and elsewhere, across the United States.
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Photo: Courtesy JHMR/Ikon Pass Media Assets
1. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming
Of all the aerial tramways in the United States, none is more famous than "Big Red" at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming.
The new tram, updated in 2008 after two years of construction, ferries skiers 4,139 vertical feet in just 12 minutes. If you include backcountry access, skiers can descend nearly 360-degrees off Rendezvous Peak. Oh, and there's the famous Corbet's Waffle Cabin waiting for you with warm, delicious pastries at the top.
Skiers can access the Aerial Tram with a Jackson Hole, Ikon, or other lift ticket option. Non-skiers can purchase sightseeing tickets starting at $49 when purchased online in-advance.
Photo Credit: Melissa McGibbon
2. Snowbird, Utah
Similar to Jackson Hole's Aerial Tram, Snowbird's tram ascends the full vertical of the mountain. Skiers hop on at the base and are whisked up 2,900 vertical feet to the summit in just ten minutes.
Snowbird replaced the original aerial tramway in the Fall of 2022 with new state-of-the-art cabins that feature floor-to-ceiling windows. In the summer, Snowbird adds a rooftop balcony for spectators to ride the tram outside.
Skiers can ride Snowbird's aerial tramway with a lift ticket or Ikon Pass. Spectators can book scenic rides starting at $40. Snowbird's aerial tramway runs throughout the year.
Courtesy Palisades Tahoe
3. Palisades Tahoe, California
Palisades Tahoe, known for being the largest ski resort by acreage in California, is home to more than three dozen ski lifts.
Somehow, the resort's towering aerial tram, which takes skiers from the Village to the upper mountain, is often overlooked. In the three seasons I've spent skiing Palisades, I've only ridden the tram a handful of times.
With that said, Palisades Tahoe could make an argument that they possess the most scenic aerial tramway in the world. The lift ascends 2,000 vertical feet in about seven minutes and passes directly over Palisades' iconic Broken Arrow terrain. Unmatched views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra can be seen from the top.
The original aerial tram was opened in 1968 by resort founder Alex Cushing. He invited an elephant from a local zoo to be amongst the first passengers on the lift.
Skiers can ride the tram with a lift ticket or an Ikon Pass. Spectator passes start at $66. Summer hikers can catch a free ride down on the tram Friday-Sunday through October.
Photo: Courtesy Cannon Mountain
4. Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire
The first aerial tramway in the United States was built at Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire, in 1938. It was replaced by a modernized version in 1980, and is currently undergoing a third renovation.
The iconic red and yellow tramway cars from the 1980 version have been featured in ski movies, postcards, and posters for decades. Dan Egan and Dean Decas made it famous by leaping out of a cabin in Warren Miller's 1994 film "Virtual Reality".
A third-generation tramway is expected to open at Cannon Mountain within the next two years.
Photo: Andrew Lanoue/Jay Peak Resort
5. Jay Peak, Vermont
Known for being the snowiest ski resort on the East Coast, Jay Peak skiers have been logging tree-lined powder laps off the Aerial Tram since 1966. The lift was renovated in 2017 and remains Vermont's lone aerial tram.
The lift ascends Jay Peak's 2,122 feet of vertical in about 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Cabins hold 45 people, about half of what Snowbird, Jackson Hole, and Palisades Tahoe's aerial tramways carry.
Skiers can ride the tram throughout the season with a lift ticket. Spectators can purchase a sightseeing ticket starting at $25.
Alexander Spatari
6. Roosevelt Island Tramway, New York, New York
Intended as an interim transit solution when it first opened in 1976, the Roosevelt Island Tramway has become a permanent mode of transportation between the island and Manhattan.
The tram runs at 15-minute intervals during most times of the year. A one-way trip costs $2.90.
Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
7. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs, California
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is billed as "the world’s largest rotating tram car".
It ascends nearly 6,000 vertical feet across a 2.5-mile span in just 10 minutes. There are two restaurants, observation decks, a State Park Visitors Center, a natural history museum, two documentary theaters, a gift shop, and over 50 miles of hiking trails at the 8,516' summit.
Adult tickets start at $39.
Photo: amygdala_imagery/Getty Images
8. Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Sandia Peak Tramway is a popular tourist attraction near Albuquerque. While skiers can take the tramway to access the ski area on the backside of the mountain, tourists and sightseers can ride it year-round.
The tram first opened in 1966. It climbs 3,819 vertical feet across 2.7 miles. A one-way trip takes about 15-minutes. There are restaurants and hiking trails to enjoy at the summit, similar to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Round-trip fares start at $34 for adults.