Crans Montana Snow Conditions

Situated on a plateau on the north end of the Rhone Valley in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans Montana is made up of three towns - Crans, Montana and Aminona. Known for its sunshine, the resort is entirely south-facing and boasts a dry microclimate; however its high-altitude glacial slopes see plenty of snowfall making the ski area snow-sure and reliable.

 

The resort sits at an altitude of 1,500m, and offers skiing up to 3,000m, although most of the pistes are located up to 2,300m. A total of 40 runs are concentrated in 3 sections, and Crans Montana is best suited to beginners and intermediates, who have 40% and 56% of the slopes respectively. There are 3 nursery areas in the resort, and some wide uncrowded slopes on which to practice technique. Intermediates have a greatest choice and a huge variety of terrain, with plenty of challenging trails and long cruising runs, whilst experts in Crans Montana have more limited choices, although there is the Men's Downhill course to navigate, and there are plenty of tree-skiing and off-piste opportunities. The slopes are generally quiet and uncrowded, with the excellent lift system ensuring that queues are short, and skiers move quickly and efficiently around the ski area.

 

The ski season in Crans Montana runs from December to April. Upper slope averages in 2008 reached 283cm, with February and March seeing the best conditions during the season. The ski area is also boosted with a total of 160 snow cannons, which cover 16 acres of slopes - around 10% of the total ski area.