If you plan to leave a car at the tram to shuttle you back to the trailhead, and you plan to park overnight, use the "Bobcat" parking lot at the Aerial Tramway.
Some comments about when to do it. This is a spring/fall hike. Doing it in summer is dangerous. Someone dies every year or so from the heat on Skyline. In spring, you have to time it very carefully so that you're not doing the lower elevations in life-threatening heat, and not doing the upper elevations in so much snow that snowshoes are required. In a light snow year such as 2012, the second week of May was about optimal. In a heavy snow year such as 2011, it would be more like the last week of May or first week of June. In spring, route-finding can be difficult and time-consuming as you come up to Wellman Divide. Check the weather forecast in Palm Springs to judge the heat. People typically start at about 3-4 am. Personally I like to start at 2:30. If you start at 5 or later, you will have to carry lots and lots of water to deal with the daytime heat at low elevations.
2015 - In my opinion this is the best current informational webpage in terms of the hike, preparation and other resources including National Weather forecasts for different elevations of the climb:
Fractal Maniac - Nov 3, 2005 12:59 am - Hasn't voted
Route CommentFor more information, including maps, GPS, photos, and detailed route description, please visit the Cactus to Clouds Hiking Guide
Cy Kaicener - Dec 4, 2005 12:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentHere are two Cactus to clouds websites with additional information and trip report
http://www.hiking4health.com
http://www.geocities.com/cactus2clouds/skyline.html
mnatureson - Oct 25, 2006 9:34 pm - Hasn't voted
Overnight ParkingIf you plan to leave a car at the tram to shuttle you back to the trailhead, and you plan to park overnight, use the "Bobcat" parking lot at the Aerial Tramway.
Moogie737 - Nov 11, 2010 8:44 pm - Hasn't voted
One way tram ride down costAs of November 2010 the cost to ride the tram down is $12.00.
mdostby - Nov 12, 2010 10:02 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: One way tram ride down costThanks for the info. I've changed the page to reflect the current cost.
MoapaPk - Nov 5, 2011 11:54 pm - Voted 10/10
last tramNot sure if this is seasonal, but on Nov 5, 2011, last tram was at 8:45PM.
bcrowell2 - May 13, 2012 12:12 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: last tramAs of May 2012, the last tram is at 9:45. I don't know if this changes seasonally.
bcrowell2 - May 13, 2012 12:12 pm - Hasn't voted
best times of yearSome comments about when to do it. This is a spring/fall hike. Doing it in summer is dangerous. Someone dies every year or so from the heat on Skyline. In spring, you have to time it very carefully so that you're not doing the lower elevations in life-threatening heat, and not doing the upper elevations in so much snow that snowshoes are required. In a light snow year such as 2012, the second week of May was about optimal. In a heavy snow year such as 2011, it would be more like the last week of May or first week of June. In spring, route-finding can be difficult and time-consuming as you come up to Wellman Divide. Check the weather forecast in Palm Springs to judge the heat. People typically start at about 3-4 am. Personally I like to start at 2:30. If you start at 5 or later, you will have to carry lots and lots of water to deal with the daytime heat at low elevations.
johnm - Jun 12, 2016 2:59 pm - Voted 2/10
CTC Hike Information2015 - In my opinion this is the best current informational webpage in terms of the hike, preparation and other resources including National Weather forecasts for different elevations of the climb:
http://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com/2013/08/cactus-to-clouds-route-description.html
HikingGuy - Aug 31, 2016 9:38 am - Hasn't voted
Anohter Good ResourceHikingGuy.com Cactus to Clouds guide