Season at a glance
resort announcement (partial opening from 2026-11-28 if snow allows) + 15-season mediansSafest weeks to book: 19 Dec - 4 Apr (30 cm+ base in 14+ of the last 15 seasons)
Today (15 Aug) is off-season - the bar above shows the coming season, opening 19 Dec.
Snow history, 2011-2026
full area, mid-stationBars: share of the last 15 seasons with a 30 cm+ base at 2,200 m by the 15th of each month. med = median depth on that date (dashed line). Recomputed 11 Aug 2026 from the Open-Meteo archive.
Conditions & forecast
15 Aug 06:43| Elevation | Snow depth | 7-day snow | Temp (day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier · 2,927 m | glacier ice (not modeled) | 0 cm | - |
| Mid · 2,200 m | 0 cm | 0 cm | +19° / +12° |
| Valley · 1,500 m | 0 cm | 0 cm | - |
Avalanche: no bulletin issued - the avalanche services publish daily bulletins in winter only.
Forecast: Open-Meteo · updated 15 Aug 2026, 06:43 CEST. Temperatures are modeled at mid-station.
The mountain
OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap, ODbL
European piste grades: blue easy · red intermediate · black advanced.
Crans-Montana spreads along a south-facing terrace some 1,000 m above the Rhone valley in Valais, formed from the two villages of Crans and Montana. Its 140 km of pistes all face south, which means sun on the slopes for most of the ski day. Lifts climb from 1,500 m to the Plaine Morte glacier at 2,927 m, and the top station holds a view from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn.
Tickets, passes and lessons are sold by the resort itself - we link, we don't resell.
Live webcams
via Windy.com · refreshed ~10 minWebcam imagery: Windy.com webcams, refreshed about every 10 minutes. Tap a webcam to watch it live on Windy.com.
Getting there
nearest airport: Geneva (GVA), 183 km| Option | Door to door | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car · from Geneva (GVA) | 2 h 28 min | rental + fuel | 183 km from Geneva. Winter tyres are legally required in season; approach roads are kept clear. |
| Train + bus · from Geneva (GVA) | - | - | No practical public-transport connection from the airport. |
| From Milan Malpensa (MXP) | 3 h 17 min | varies | 214 km by road. Often the cheaper flight; budget the extra driving time each way. |
| From Zurich (ZRH) | 3 h 59 min | varies | 308 km by road. Often the cheaper flight; budget the extra driving time each way. |
Plan your trip
Hotels and apartments near the Crans-Montana lifts.
Arriving before the seasonReserve rental gear ahead - typically 20-45% below walk-in shop prices.
Arriving before the seasonSki schools and private instructors, bookable by the day.
Arriving before the seasonWinter-sports cover including piste rescue and kit.
Arriving before the seasonPartner links for these slots arrive before the season.
Common questions about Crans-Montana
Is Crans-Montana open in early December?
Historically the snow is there: in 15 of the last 15 winters Crans-Montana had a 30 cm or deeper base at mid-mountain (2,200 m) in the first half of December, with a median depth of about 73 cm. The lifts themselves open 19 Dec. (15-season record, computed 11 Aug 2026)
How high is Crans-Montana?
The base sits at 1,500 m and the lifts reach 2,927 m, with most skiing around the 2,200 m mid-mountain level. The glacier terrain at the top is what keeps the snow dependable outside the core winter months.
How do I get to Crans-Montana from Geneva Airport?
Geneva (GVA) is the nearest airport at 183 km, about 2 h 28 min by road. There is no practical public-transport connection from the airport, so plan on a rental car or a pre-booked transfer. The full comparison, including other airports, is in the Getting there table above.
When does the 2026/27 season start at Crans-Montana?
Crans-Montana has announced 19 Dec as opening day for 2026/27; the season runs until 4 Apr. (season dates checked 15 Aug 2026)
Does Crans-Montana have a glacier?
Yes - Crans-Montana has glacier terrain reaching 2,927 m, which is why its season starts far earlier than at valley-level resorts and why late-season snow holds up well.
How reliable is the snow at Crans-Montana in January?
Very: in 15 of the last 15 winters there was a 30 cm or deeper base at mid-mountain throughout January, and the median mid-January depth is about 130 cm. (15-season record, computed 11 Aug 2026)
Nearby resorts
Data on this page: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), OpenSkiMap (ODbL), SLF Switzerland. Every number is dated where it can go stale - how the verdicts are computed.