PISTE MAP
SKI Area
- 140 Kilometres of South facing Swiss ski slopes with pisted runs up to around 3000m.
- A great mix of high open bowls at the top of the resort above 2000m and some great tree-lined runs back down into the villages.
- There are 4 different towns that serve the ski area – each have lifts that head to above 2000m. The different towns are Crans, Montana, Barzettes and Aminona.
- Stunning views of the surrounding Rhone valley which also features resorts like Verbier and across the Alps.
- The modern lift systems get you up onto the slopes quickly which in turn helps keep the queue sizes down, even in high season.
The Rhone Valley is home to some top resorts such as Verbier – but Crans Montana is no slouch either; the resort caters for all levels with plenty of the blue runs for the beginners, loads of red runs for intermediates and some black runs for the more advanced skiers. The resort is also fortunate that it can offer lots of different terrain – with high open bowls such as the one up at the Petit Mont Bonvin, it can offer open and expansive runs. On the other side of things, the runs back into the villages are tighter tree-lined runs that offer a completely different experience to say skiing up on the Plaine Morte glacier at almost 3000m.
The resort – despite being southern facing – still holds its snow well, and with the assurance of the Glacier (there are limited runs on this) you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be able to ski. It is still better to aim for the main season when heading to Crans Montana as it is not unheard of to have some spring skiing conditions even as early as January! The runs are also well maintained with plenty of snowmaking facilities which are mainly focused on the main runs so this will allow you to take in the views of both the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc on a bluebird day in the distance!
Take a look below at our breakdown to find out more information relevant to your ability:
Advanced
The steepest runs can be found around the Toula Inferieur lift with Les Bosses, a nice challenge for experienced skiers which then leads on to either the La Noire or Derupe black runs. There are several freeride runs (yellow on the piste map) in Crans Montana which are ungroomed slopes. These include Les Bosses as mentioned before, but also La Foret in the valley, just below the Toula Inferieur and also the Haut de Crans which heads back into Montana.
Intermediates
More confident intermediates will be kept amused for weeks with the red runs in Crans Montana! It is well worth taking the trip to the Plaine Morte glacier, possibly not for the skiing as there are only 2 runs up there (both reds) but it is definitely worth the views, then you can take the Kandahar red all the way back down into the main resort – this is a long piste which takes you back to the main area of the resort. For less confident skiers, fear not as there is still plenty for you to ski – the best area would be Chetzeron where there are some nice blue runs to build confidence or over at the Petit Mont Bonvin area where there are several blue runs that all link up.
Beginners
They have some great beginner areas in Crans Montana making use of the snow-covered golf courses as their teaching areas. The other good spot is up at Chetzeron which has some nice gentle blue runs that are served by two draglifts – Chetseron and Merignou – these provide some nice terrain to practice on if you are struggling with those snowploughs!
Snowboarders
There aren’t too many draglifts to trouble snowboarders in the area, but there are a few flatter spots heading down the mountain towards Crans and Montana when you get into the trees. There are some challenging runs to play around on in the resort and a snowpark up in the Chetzeron just below the top station for the Crans-Merbé-Cry d’Er gondola which has features for all levels and an airbag, half-pipe and snowcross.
Off Piste*
For some proper off-piste, head to the Faverges valley where there are a couple of routes with stunning snow and superb scenery that head back down to Aminona – the best thing about these routes is that you are unlikely to see any other person out there. To find the best spots head out with a guide who can point you towards the main Faverges route or the Petite Faverges route from the top of the TSA lift. Don’t forget the freeride runs (marked as yellow on the piste maps) that are dotted around the mountain. For shorter routes, head over towards the main part of the resort (back towards Crans and Montana) where the runs are slightly less tricky as well (in the most part) – you can find these spots both in and above the tree-line.
*Ski Weekends strongly advise that off piste skiing should only be undertaken when in the company of a professional ski instructor or guide.
Ski Touring
Crans-Montana boasts an impressive collection of 15 ski touring routes known collectively as the Rando Parc, covering over 89 kilometers of meticulously marked and secure paths. These routes offer more than 8,000 meters of elevation gain, catering to skiers of all levels.
For beginners, there are three introductory-level routes designed to ease newcomers into the exhilarating world of ski touring. Meanwhile, experienced and adventurous enthusiasts can tackle "La X’trême," a challenging route featuring a daunting 3,000 meters of elevation gain, along with four additional uphill routes designed to push their limits and test their skills.
To find out more about skiing in Crans Montana feel free to contact one of our friendly Ski Experts on 023 8020 6971 or email sales@skiweekends.com