What to do in Crans-Montana in summer

Crans-Montana is mostly known for skiing. But summer is probably the best time to discover the resort: the same views, the same altitude, the same light — without the February holiday crowds, and 15 to 20 °C warmer.

Here is what there really is to do between June and September, with no detours or unnecessary superlatives: hiking, lakes, mountain biking, golf, and a few good spots to catch your breath.

Why come in summer

Three concrete reasons:

• The sunshine. Crans-Montana reports around 300 days of sunshine per year, and summer here is particularly stable. The plateau faces due south and is sheltered from northerly weather systems.
• The cool altitude air. At 1,500 metres, it is easily 8 to 10 °C cooler than Sion or Geneva in July and August. When the Rhône valley is sweltering at 35 °C, here it sits around 23-25 °C. At night, a light duvet is enough.
• The atmosphere. The resort is alive, but without the density of winter. Terraces are open, the lifts run for hikers and mountain bikers, and you can easily find a parking spot or a table.

It is also the season to really enjoy the outdoors: balconies, gardens, private pools. If you are looking for that kind of stay, take a look at our selection of rentals with a garden in Crans-Montana.

Hiking — the loops worth knowing

This is the headline summer activity in Crans-Montana. The network of waymarked trails covers hundreds of kilometres, from the plateau (1,500 m) up to the Plaine Morte glacier (close to 3,000 m).

A few routes worth knowing before you even arrive:

The Bisse du Ro

Probably the most iconic walk. A bisse is an old Valais irrigation channel carved into the cliffside to carry water to the alpine pastures. The Bisse du Ro hugs the rock faces above the resort, with some spectacular sections (handrails, short ladders). Allow 2 to 3 hours there and back, with a moderate gradient. Best avoided with very young children because of the exposed passages.

The Lake Grenon loop

Ideal as a warm-up walk or for late afternoon. A loop of about an hour, flat, around the resort’s central lake. Pushchair-friendly, perfect with children or for sunset.

The Plaine Morte by cable car

To get high without slogging up 1,500 metres of ascent: take the Violettes cable car, then the funicular up to the Plaine Morte. You step out at nearly 3,000 metres on one of the largest flat glaciers in the Alps. 360° views, and you can walk on the glacier (staying within the marked zones). The air is thin — bring water and a warm layer even in the height of summer.

Cry d’Er and the upper plateau

From the Cry d’Er cable car, you reach the resort’s upper plateau, the starting point for around a dozen loops of between 1 h 30 and 4 hours. Several link up towards Pas-du-Loup and Petit Bonvin, or descend down to Aminona.

To go further, we have published a dedicated guide: 10 hiking trails in Crans-Montana.

Mountain biking and cycling

Over the past few years, Crans-Montana has become a genuine mountain biking destination, with a bike park accessible from the cable cars (day or week passes), downhill tracks graded by difficulty, and a growing network of cross-country routes on the plateau.

The e-bike has changed everything: you can cover 40-50 km on the plateau with 1,000 metres of climbing without being a seasoned cyclist. Several rental shops in the resort offer regular and electric mountain bikes, by the day or by the week. For families, the flat routes around the lakes work well with children from about 8-10 years old.

A few pointers:

• Bike park: downhill tracks with lift access, geared more towards experienced riders.
• Plateau cross-country: trails between 1,500 and 2,000 m, through forest and alpine pastures.
• Tarmac roads: the legendary climb up from Sierre (~25 km, 1,300 m of ascent), worth doing at least once on a road bike or gravel bike.

Lakes and swimming

Crans-Montana has several lakes within walking distance of the resort, three of which are particularly popular in summer:

• Lake Grenon: the most central, in the heart of the resort. Not really set up for swimming (shallow, busy), but perfect for a stroll, a coffee on a terrace, or a pedalo session depending on the season.
• Lake Moubra: more tucked away, in a forest setting. Landscaped beach, swimming possible, snack bar in season. Very popular with families. The water stays cool even in August.
• Étang Long: wilder, at 1,600 m altitude, reached by a short walk. Natural setting, swimming possible but cold water. Ideal for a quiet picnic.

For a proper long swim, the open-air pool at the Ycoor Sports Centre and certain private pools in holiday rentals make up for it (the Rhône is still 30 minutes away by car if you are after a river).

Golf — the legendary course and the Omega European Masters

The Crans golf course was founded in 1906. It is one of the finest altitude courses in Europe: 18 holes at 1,500 m, on an open plateau with direct views of the Valais Alps. A second, shorter course (the 9-hole Jack Nicklaus) rounds out the offering.

The main event of the year is the Omega European Masters, a DP World Tour stop traditionally held in late August / early September. It is a historic tournament that attracts the world’s top players and transforms the resort for a week. If you are planning a stay during that period, you have two options: come specifically for the atmosphere (entertainment, crowds, players accessible near the course), or on the contrary avoid that week if you are looking for quiet — accommodation fills up fast and prices climb.

For non-golfers, the course is also a beautiful place for a walk outside playing hours (pedestrian paths run along its edges).

Family and children’s activities

Crans-Montana is well set up for families, and summer makes things much easier (no need to ski, plenty of free outdoor activities).

A few concrete ideas:

• Parks and playgrounds: several play areas around the lakes, including a large one at Lake Grenon.
• Mini-golf, mountain scooters down from Cry d’Er or Aminona (descent on marked paths, fun and accessible from age 8-10).
• Treetop adventure course in the forest, several levels depending on age.
• Easy walks: the Lake Grenon loop, the Forêt aux Fées discovery trail (check seasonal opening).
• Outdoor pool at the Ycoor Sports Centre in season.
• Riding centre for pony or horse rides on the plateau.

The altitude and the cooler air also let you do what you can no longer do down in the valley in midsummer: run, walk in the middle of the day, sleep without air conditioning.

Festivals and culture in season

Crans-Montana’s cultural summer is built around a handful of recurring events: open-air concerts on the plateau, musical evenings in the neighbouring villages (Lens, Chermignon, Icogne), exhibitions in the local cultural venues, and of course the week of the Omega European Masters which sets the tone for late August.

Programmes change every year — the best thing is to check with the Crans-Montana tourist office on arrival, or its official site a few weeks before you travel. There are plenty of free events, and they are often a good way to come across a local atmosphere you would not suspect from the winter season.

On the heritage side, several neighbouring villages are worth a detour: Vermala, Chermignon, Lens, Icogne, more authentic than the resort itself, with their churches, their cellars, and often a striking viewpoint over the Rhône valley.

Going out in the village

In summer in Crans-Montana, life centres on the terraces. You will find everything: cafés, brasseries, restaurants serving Valais specialities (raclette, fondue, dried meat, alpine cheeses), pizzerias, sushi, fine dining. The Crans and Montana districts each have their own feel — Crans livelier and a touch more upmarket, Montana more family-oriented and residential.

The weekly market brings the centre to life in season: local produce, cheeses, fruit, crafts. Opening times vary from one year to the next, so check on the ground.

In the evenings, the offer is more modest than in winter, but several bars stay open late, especially during the Omega European Masters and on weekends in July and August. For a quiet drink with a view, several panoramic terraces on the heights (reachable on foot or by car) offer a memorable sunset over the Bernese Alps.

Practical tips

When exactly should you come?

• June: nature in full bloom, flowering trails, few crowds. Some lifts are still closed in early June.
• July: everything is running, weather generally very stable, moderate visitor numbers.
• August: peak season, especially the second half. Book early if you are targeting this period. Midday thunderstorms are possible — set off early on hikes.
• September: probably the best month if you are after peace and quiet. Often glorious weather, mild temperatures, autumn light on the larch trees. The Omega European Masters usually falls in early September.

Useful kit:

• Walking shoes (even for easy walks — some trails are stony)
• Warm layer or windproof (in the evening and at altitude it can drop to 10 °C even in August)
• High-factor sunscreen (altitude amplifies UV exposure)
• Swimsuit (lakes, pools)
• Water bottle (drinking fountains are plentiful along the trails)

Getting here:

• From Geneva: 2 h 30 by car via the motorway.
• From Sierre (SBB station): 30 minutes by road via hairpin bends, or by SMC funicular (panoramic, comparable duration).
• Public car parks in the resort, usually paid in the central zone.

Accommodation: book early for August and the Omega Masters week. For the rest of the summer, you will find something easily, but it is worth comparing. To browse our available chalets, apartments and studios: see all our listings.

In summary

Crans-Montana in summer, concretely, means:

• Hiking at every level, from a one-hour loop around a lake to a glacier at 3,000 m.
• A fast-growing mountain biking network, including a bike park accessible to families via the lifts.
• Three main lakes for swimming and walking.
• A historic golf course, and a major tournament every late August.
• Welcome cool air at altitude when the valley is baking.
• A lively resort atmosphere, but without the winter pressure.

If you are planning a stay, also have a look at our guide Crans or Montana: what’s the difference? to choose your area, and our selection of rentals with a garden to make the most of the outdoors.