Ski Lifts in Crans-Montana
The Crans-Montana ski area is divided into four sectors – Crans, Montana, Violettes and Aminona – each adequately served by a gondola, supporting chairlifts and button lifts. The new quad-chairlift replacing the Cry-d’Er cable car is reputedly 20% faster and moves more people per hour to the top of Bellalui.
Crans-Montana Ski Lifts
Crans-Montana has invested heavily in new lifts in recent years, along with improvements to many of its pistes. Four million Swiss francs have been injected into modernising the Piste Nationale, which hosted the 2010 Women’s World Cup slalom and GS races. A new quad-chairlift has replaced the Cry-d’Er cable car and the old T3 button lift, running to the top of Bellalui (2528m) with its stunning views of Mont Blanc and the Rhone Valley. The new lift is reputedly 20% faster and takes 2,400 people an hour over a distance of almost a mile.
The comfortable six-seater National Express chairlift, which opened in 2007/08, halved the time taken to ride back up to the top of the National piste. There are no pull-down hoods on chairlifts for protection in bad weather, arguably because hoods are seldom needed in this sunniest of Swiss resorts.
Each lift is numbered and clearly marked on the map, and although the runs themselves are not numbered and are less well signposted away from the lift stations, it’s easy enough to navigate the ski area. Skiing or boarding in the forest is prohibited to protect trees, wildlife, and other fauna.
There are pay car parks close to the main lift stations in Crans, Montana and Violettes and free car parking next to the lift station in Aminona. If you do not have a car and do not want to carry skis and ski boots between your hotel and the lifts, you can rent a ski locker for a week, two weeks, or a more extended period if necessary.
Crans-Montana Lift Pass
A hands-free electronic ski lift pass system is in operation for lift passes of more than two days’ duration; otherwise, day tickets are issued if you’re skiing for just a day or two. For hands-free cards, a photo is necessary and can be obtained at the lift ticket offices.
If you’re skiing more than one resort in the Valais region, you can buy a personal prepaid Valais Ski Card, which is valid for up to two years in more than 40 Valais ski resorts. Day tickets are available at reduced prices for non-skiers who want to use the lift system.
Free lift passes are available for children under six years old. A 10% discount is available to families purchasing the same ski pass for three or more family members who share the same address in Crans-Montana.
Free lift passes are available for children under six years old. A 10% discount is available for families purchasing the same ski pass for three or more family members who stay at the same address in Crans-Montana.
Crans-Montana Lift Company
Domaine Skiable Crans-Montana-Aminona
Routes des Barzettes
CH-3963 Crans-Montana 1
Tel: +41 (0) 27 485 89 10
Web: www.crans-montana.ch