Switzerland, Europe · Epic Pass
Crans Montana
140km of south-facing pistes from 1,510-2,927m. Epic Pass access, Plaine Morte glacier, 2027 World Championships host.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
6 Dec 2025
Closes
20 Apr 2026
Days open
135
Annual snow
5m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
1417m
Vertical
41
Runs
140 km
Piste
5m
Annual snow
Epic Pass
Pass
The Terrain
41 runs across 140 km of piste
Crans Montana spreads 41 runs across 140 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 16 beginner runs to find your feet and 5 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
41
runs
41 runs across 4 grades
Beginner16 runs · 39%
Intermediate21 runs · 50%
Advanced3 runs · 7%
Expert2 runs · 4%
Time it right
When to visit Crans Montana
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.
Season 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
20 Apr 2026
Closes
135
Days open
5 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Crans Montana, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Crans Montana, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Arosa to Replace 40-Year-Old Hörnli Lifts With New Gondola and Chair
Arosa's Hörnli sector is getting its biggest overhaul in decades. The 1986 gondola and 1994 chairlift linking toward Lenzerheide are both being replaced, with capacity up, tower count down and a new base station lower on the hill. At roughly CHF 67 million, it is the largest single investment Arosa Bergbahnen has ever made - and the target opening has already slipped a year, to December 2028. Here is what is changing, and why the timeline moved.
20 Aug 2026
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.
19 Aug 2026
Levi and Ruka Confirm October 2 Opening on Farmed Summer Snow
Finland's Levi and Ruka open for the 2026-27 season on October 2, more than seven weeks before most of Europe sees a lift turn. Neither resort is waiting on autumn snowfall - both are skiing on snow buried since last spring, insulated through the Finnish summer and dug back out for opening day. It is not a shortcut. It is a decades-old system now spreading from the Arctic Circle to Idaho, Utah, Vermont and Colorado. Here is how snow farming actually works, and why it is catching on.
19 Aug 2026
Sölden's Old Einzeiger Chairlift Gets a Second Life in Montafon
Silvretta Montafon is replacing its ageing Freda chairlift - but not with something new. The resort is having a 1999 four-seater chairlift, retired from Sölden, dismantled, shipped to Vorarlberg and rebuilt with new electronics, cable and clamps. It has to be running before March 2027, when Silvretta Montafon hosts the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships - the biggest winter sports event Vorarlberg has staged. Here's how a reused lift ends up cheaper.
18 Aug 2026
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.
17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
15 Aug 2026
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.
12 Aug 2026
Current conditions
Snow Report
Updated 21 Aug 2026
2927m
summit
+2cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Partly Cloudy6°C / 15°C · W 13km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
2cm
48 hours
2cm
7 days
2cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
10cm
Total lifts23
Live open status isn’t available right now.
6 Dec 2025 - 20 Apr 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 38 hours· Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,927 mUpdated Aug 21, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.0cm
Sat, Aug 22
Slight Rain Showers
Temp15° / 6°°C
Snow0.0cm(8%)
Wind13 km/h W
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Crans Montana snow report
See what's happening on the mountain at Crans Montana right now — snowfall, snow depth, and weather data to help you plan your day in Switzerland.
Snow measurements
Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 1510m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 1417m higher at 2927m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.
Weather conditions
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Crans Montana's base and summit.
Data sources
Crans Montana snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 23 lifts, including 3 quad chairlifts and 3 6-person chairlifts.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.