The infamous Coachella Rainbow Tower, more professionally known as SPECTRA by British creative studio NEWSUBSTANCE. The artwork debuted during the 2018 Coachella Music and Arts Festival and has been a staple ever since.
But in addition to making a great backdrop for Coachella outfit photos, festival-goers can walk to the top.
Determined to put my walking shoes to good use and curious what it was like, I ventured to the top of the tower to determine how long it took to reach the top, how many steps and miles were required and, ultimately, whether it’s time well spent.
Here’s what I found.
@le.socal.local Chances are you recognize this rainbow tower, titled Spectra by NEWSUBSTANCE, but did you know you can walk to the top? Our Audience Engagement Producer, Carolyn Burt (@Reporter Carolyn) put her curiosity to the test to find out how long it takes to complete the route. For the latest Coachella updates, visit PressEnterprise.com or see the link in our bio. 🎥: Carolyn Burt, SCNG #coachella #coachella2024 #thingstodo #thingstodoatcoachella #coachellaoutfit #coachellastyle #coachellafestival #coachellavalley #rainbowtower
♬ original sound – The SoCal Local
Surprisingly, SPECTRA is equipped with air conditioning inside, which guarantees a cool temperature. At the start of my trip, I expected it to feel like a sauna given the translucent windows that the sun shines on.
The climb is a steady, slow incline, and everyone seems to be walking at about the same pace. The only time you’ll find yourself slowing down is when someone stops to take a photo. My recommendation would be to wait to take your photos at the summit to avoid holding up traffic.
Getting to the top only takes about 6 minutes. It’s about six stories tall and you’ll know you’re almost there when the ceiling opens a little more. You will have a 360-degree view of the festival grounds and will have a privileged selection of settings for your photos.
The descent is a little shorter, around 5 minutes if you follow the pace of the traffic. In total, the total time spent walking was 11 minutes and 17 seconds, the distance was 0.41 miles, and the total number of steps was 842, about the accuracy of a phone distance tracking app .
Do I think it’s worth it? Yes. Getting there I didn’t have high hopes, but given how quickly you can get there, you might as well explore it with friends when you have some free time, but only if you have comfortable shoes.
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