
140km of south-facing pistes from 1,510-2,927m. Epic Pass access, Plaine Morte glacier, 2027 World Championships host.
Crans-Montana operates across 1,417 vertical metres, from a plateau base at 1,510 metres to the Pointe de la Plaine Morte at 2,927 metres. The ski area covers 140 kilometres of pistes across 41 marked runs, with 39 per cent beginner terrain, 50 per cent intermediate, 7 per cent advanced and 4 per cent expert. The resort sits in the Valais region on a south-facing plateau above the town of Sierre, with unobstructed views from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. Crans-Montana joined the Epic Pass network in March 2024 when Vail Resorts acquired the lift operations, and the 2025-26 season runs from 6 December to 20 April.
Terrain tilts decisively towards beginners and intermediates, with wide groomed cruisers dominating the ski area. The Plaine Morte glacier, a flat expanse at nearly 3,000 metres, offers 6 kilometres of cross-country trails and summer skiing access. Intermediate runs fan out from mid-mountain hubs at Cry d'Er and Les Violettes, whilst advanced skiers find steeper pitches on the Nationale piste, which hosts Women's World Cup races and will feature at the 2027 Alpine World Ski Championships from 1 to 14 February. The resort's snowpark at Cry d'Er includes an Olympic half-pipe with 7-metre walls, the only one in French-speaking Switzerland.
The twin villages of Crans and Montana merge across the plateau, with Crans offering the more upscale boutiques and hotels. Free shuttle buses link the villages and lift bases throughout the day. The plateau's southern exposure delivers exceptional sunshine hours, though lower slopes can soften in warm spells. On-mountain facilities include 90 restaurants ranging from mountain huts to fine dining, with Cry d'Er serving as the main meeting point where lifts from both villages converge.
Crans-Montana earned the title of best ski area in Western Switzerland in 2023. Epic Pass holders receive unlimited access throughout the season, whilst regional pass holders can access the resort through dynamic pricing that drops lift tickets as low as CHF 69 when booked in advance. The resort suits families and intermediate skiers seeking reliable conditions and long cruising runs, whilst advanced skiers and freeriders will find the terrain less extensive than neighbouring Verbier. Crans-Montana hosted the 1987 World Championships and regularly features on the World Cup calendar for women's speed events.
Crans-Montana stretches 140 kilometres of piste across 41 runs on a broad, sunny Valais plateau, with 1,417 metres of vertical between 1,510 and 2,927 metres. The terrain is gentle on the whole: 39% beginner, 50% intermediate, 7% advanced and 4% expert, and the area receives about 4.8 metres of snow a year. Wide, groomed runs fan out from several mid-mountain bases, leaving plenty of space for skiers of mixed ability to share the day. Aspect matters here, because the south-facing slopes soak up the sun, which makes the lower runs softer on warm afternoons.
The Plaine Morte glacier is the high point, with a long red run dropping about 1,400 vertical metres to Les Barzettes. The Piste Nationale, the steep World Cup course, is the main challenge for advanced skiers and is due to host the 2027 Alpine World Ski Championships. Cry d'Er is a busy meeting point with a snowpark, Les Violettes offers steeper reds, and Aminona is quieter with trees and some off-piste potential after storms. Strong freeriders will find the terrain less extensive than at larger neighbours. It is well suited to families, cruisers and intermediates looking for reliable sunshine.
The 2025-26 season opened on 6 December 2025 and runs until 20 April 2026, though the full ski area typically opens progressively through December depending on snowfall. Usual opening falls in late November, with closure in late April giving a season length of approximately five months. The resort opened slightly ahead of schedule in 2025-26 after early snowfall, with progressive lift and piste openings through to full operations by late December. Historical season dates show consistency, with mid-November to mid-April representing the typical operational window.
Annual snowfall averages 4.8 metres across the ski area, supplemented by 200 snow cannons covering 17 kilometres of piste. The Plaine Morte glacier at 2,927 metres provides snow security at altitude, with skiing possible year-round on limited terrain. Valais sits in the rain shadow of major Alpine peaks, resulting in lower precipitation than many Swiss resorts but higher sunshine hours. Lower slopes at 1,500 metres can struggle in warm periods due to the southern exposure, though altitude variation allows skiers to chase better conditions higher up.
January through March delivers optimal conditions, with February historically the snowiest month and mid-December seeing peak weekly snowfall of approximately 43 centimetres. Spring skiing extends into April with firm morning snow and softer afternoon conditions. Quieter periods fall outside school holidays, particularly in early December and March. The resort introduced dynamic pricing that rewards advance bookings and off-peak visits, with adult day tickets ranging from CHF 69 to CHF 89 depending on demand.
The resort calendar includes Women's World Cup races most seasons, typically in February or March on the Nationale and Mont Lachaux pistes. The 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships from 1 to 14 February will bring speed and technical events to Crans-Montana for the first time since the 1987 championships. The Grand Prix Migros finale closes the 2026 season in April. Special programmes include Sunrise First Tracks on Sundays, early-morning glacier breakfasts at Plaine Morte, and Silver Head Days offering discounted skiing and lunch for over-65s on Tuesdays through Thursdays.
Crans-Montana occupies a south-facing plateau at 1,500 metres in the Valais canton of French-speaking Switzerland, directly above the town of Sierre in the Rhône Valley. The resort formed through the merger of neighbouring villages Crans, Montana, Aminona, Chermignon, Mollens and Randogne, spreading across six municipalities. The Wildstrubel massif rises to the north, whilst the Plaine Morte glacier forms the ski area's high point at 2,927 metres. The plateau offers unobstructed views south across the Rhône Valley to the Valais Alps, with the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, Mont Blanc and Grand Combin visible on clear days.
Sierre sits 15 kilometres downhill from the resort plateau, serving as the main valley gateway with rail connections and funicular access. The twin resort villages of Crans and Montana lie 1 to 2 kilometres apart, connected by free shuttle buses. Geneva sits 171 kilometres west, Lausanne approximately 110 kilometres, whilst Brig lies to the east along the main Rhône Valley route. The resort sits in the Sierre district of Valais, a predominantly French-speaking canton known for terraced vineyards and Alpine tourism.
Road access follows the A9 motorway through the Rhône Valley to Sierre, then a winding 14-kilometre mountain road climbs to the plateau. Drive times from Geneva average 2 hours 30 minutes covering 185 kilometres, whilst Zürich lies 3 hours 45 minutes distant via 315 kilometres of mostly motorway. The Lötschberg car-carrying rail tunnel from Kandersteg to Goppenstein provides an alternative route from the Bernese Oberland. Swiss motorway use requires a vignette valid for one calendar year. The final climb from Sierre features hairpin bends unsuitable for inexperienced mountain drivers, though the road remains open year-round with winter tyres or chains required in snow.
Geneva Airport (GVA) sits 185 kilometres away with direct InterRegio trains to Sierre departing every 30 minutes, taking 2 hours 30 minutes. Zürich Airport lies 315 kilometres distant with journey times near 3 hours via rail through Visp. Milan Malpensa sits 206 kilometres south with 3 hour 30 minute transfer times. Sion Airport, 37 kilometres east, handles private flights only. The SMC funicular climbs from Sierre railway station to Montana Gare in 12 minutes, with a 5-minute walk or shuttle connecting the station to the funicular base. Buses run from Sierre to the plateau in 45 minutes for those avoiding the funicular.
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Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.

Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.

Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.

Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
Crans Montana's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 28 through April 4. That window is roughly 127 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Switzerland, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
Crans Montana lists about 140 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 41 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
Trail grading at Crans Montana breaks down roughly as 39% beginner, 50% intermediate, 7% advanced, 4% expert. With a strong beginner share, Crans Montana suits families and first-time visitors who want forgiving warm-up terrain before exploring further upslope.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
Crans Montana operates 23 lifts across 6 lift types. The fleet includes 8 t-bars, 4 gondolas, 4 surface lifts, 3 6-person chairs, 3 quad chairs, and 1 train.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
Base elevation at Crans Montana is about 1,510 m (4,954 ft), with the summit around 2,927 m (9,603 ft), giving roughly 1,417 m (4,649 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
Crans Montana averages about 480 cm (189 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Crans Montana is affiliated with the Epic Pass. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Epic Pass, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans CHF 35 to CHF 100, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (multi-day passes, season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
SnowStash pulls together 5 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Crans Montana so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Crans Montana. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Crans Montana sits in Switzerland, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.