Self-Guided Walking Tour in Crans-Montana

A flat 4.8 km loop across the Crans-Montana plateau, starting and finishing on the Nine Lakes Walk and taking in Lac Grenon, the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club and Lac Moubra. This page gives you the full map, the walking time for each leg, real prices and opening hours, and shorter versions if 4.8 km is more than you want.

5 Stops4.8 km~2 hours walking2.5–3 hours with stops
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Crans-Montana Walking Tour at a Glance

This route is built for anyone who wants the best of Crans-Montana at plateau level, no chairlift and no steep climb required. It links four things a first-time visitor actually wants to see, and every part of it is optional: you can skip the golf detour, cut a lake, or turn any stop into a long sit. It is self-guided, so the pace and the order are yours.

StartNine Lakes Walk
FinishNine Lakes Walk
Route typeA closed loop that starts and ends on the Nine Lakes Walk, running south-west to the village lakes and golf course, then swinging east and north back to the start, with no backtracking.
Realistic timeAround 1 hour 40 minutes of pure walking for the 4.8 km, but plan 2.5 to 3 hours to do it properly with photo stops, a coffee break and time at the lakes.
DifficultyEasy and essentially flat over 4.8 km, on gravel paths, packed earth, grass verges by the golf course and a forest trail at Lac Moubra. The one real factor is the 1,500 m altitude.
Cost to followThe walking route is free from end to end. The only place money changes hands is the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, and only if you actually play; green fees run roughly CHF 50 to 166.
Best for:

First-time visitors who want the signature plateau scenery on foot, with easy walking, lake swims in summer and no need to buy a single ticket to enjoy the route.

The Route

Free Walking Tour Map of Crans-Montana

5 stops4.8 kmabout 2 hours
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The 5 stops along this route

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    1Nine Lakes Walk
  2. Etang Grenon (Lac Grenon) in Crans-Montana, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Etang Grenon (Lac Grenon)
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    3Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club
  4. Etang de la Moubra in Crans-Montana, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Etang de la Moubra
  5. Missing required field: waypoints[4].image
    5Nine Lakes Walk
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Your Crans-Montana Walking Tour, Stop by Stop

  1. 1

    Nine Lakes Walk

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    The loop opens on the path locals call Les neuf lacs, the signature Crans-Montana walk that connects nine plateau lakes. From the start point near the village edge the trail is gravel and packed earth, mostly flat, with the Rhône valley dropping away to the south and the Alpine wall rising to the north. You smell pine and cut grass before you see the first sheet of water. This is the one walk every visitor does, and it earns the reputation: the lakes mirror the peaks on a still morning. The full circuit is signposted, so you will not get lost. Hours: always open. Price: free, no ticket and no gate. Practical tip: walk this section early, before about 10am, while the water is glassy and the light hits the mountains from the east. Later in the day boats and swimmers ripple the surface and the reflections vanish.

  2. 2

    Etang Grenon (Lac Grenon)

    Etang Grenon (Lac Grenon) in Crans-Montana, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour

    After the open plateau path the route drops you beside Lac Grenon, the largest of the Crans-side lakes and the one that sits right inside the village. A flat walking path rings the whole shore, lined with benches, and the cluster of hotels and chalets reflects in the water on a calm day. This is the social lake: people fish, families picnic, and in summer there is swimming. The full loop around it takes only a few minutes, which makes it an easy breather between the longer stretches. Hours: always open. Price: free. The northern shore catches the most sun and the clearest view of the peaks above the resort. Practical tip: the path on the village side passes cafés and shops, so this is your best chance on the whole route to grab a coffee or refill water before the longer pull out to the golf course. There is no kiosk at Lac Moubra later.

  3. 3

    Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club

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    The trees open and suddenly you are walking the edge of green fairways with the full Alpine panorama behind them. The Crans-sur-Sierre course has hosted the Omega European Masters since 1939, which makes it Switzerland's most famous golf course and a genuine piece of sporting history, not just a pretty lawn. You can walk the public paths along the perimeter without playing, and the view of the holes framed by snow peaks is the real draw. The course runs seasonally, mid-May to October. If you do want to play, green fees run roughly CHF 50 to 166 depending on season and tee time, booked at golfcrans.ch. Practical tip: stay on the marked perimeter paths and watch for play, golfers have right of way and stray balls are a real thing. For the postcard shot, frame a fairway in the foreground with the peaks behind, best in late afternoon when the light is warm on the mountains.

  4. 4

    Etang de la Moubra

    Etang de la Moubra in Crans-Montana, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour

    From the manicured golf course the path turns into forest and the mood changes completely. Lac Moubra sits south of Crans inside a nature reserve, ringed by pines, and it is the quietest stop on the loop. After the open sun of the fairways the shade is welcome and the only sound is usually birds and the lap of water. A trail circles the lake, and there is a small beach area used for swimming in summer. Hours: always open. Price: free. Because it is a protected zone, this is the spot to slow down rather than rush, no kiosk, no crowds, just the reserve. Practical tip: bring your own water and a snack here, because there are no shops at the lake, and the village cafés you passed at Lac Grenon are the last food stop on the route. The far shore gives the cleanest reflection of the surrounding forest.

  5. 5

    Nine Lakes Walk

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    The loop closes where it began, back on the Nine Lakes path. Walking it a second time in the opposite direction is not a repeat, the light has shifted, and the lakes you saw glassy in the morning now catch the afternoon sun from the west. This final stretch is the easy victory lap: flat gravel, valley views to the south, and the resort coming back into sight. Hours: always open. Price: free. Practical tip: if you have any energy left, this is the moment to detour onto one of the side branches of the nine-lake network rather than heading straight back, the signposts mark them clearly and each smaller pond has its own quiet corner. End the day on a bench facing the Rhône valley as the sun drops toward the western ridges. That low golden light over the plateau is the image most people remember from Crans-Montana.

How Long Does This Walking Tour Really Take?

The 4.8 km loop is about 1 hour 40 minutes of walking on its own, but the honest figure is 2.5 to 3 hours once you add morning reflections on the Nine Lakes path, a coffee at Lac Grenon and the forest quiet at Lac Moubra.

The full loop is 4.8 km and takes around 1 hour 40 minutes of pure walking, but plan on 2.5 to 3 hours to do it properly with photo and rest stops. The Nine Lakes path and Lac Moubra are where you will want extra time, the first for the morning reflections and the last for the forest quiet. Lac Grenon is your natural break point: grab a coffee at one of the village cafés on its northern shore, since it is the only food stop on the whole route. The golf course stretch is the most scenic, so do not rush it. End on a bench at the Rhône-facing edge of the Nine Lakes path for the late light.

Full Route, Shorter Walk or Two-Day Version?

The full route is one flat 4.8 km loop, but it splits cleanly if you want less. Here are three ways to walk it, using the real stop order and the per-leg distances so you know exactly what you are trimming.

The Full Loop

All four sights, plateau complete

Stops 1–5 (Nine Lakes Walk → Lac Grenon → Golf Club → Lac Moubra → back), 4.8 km, 2.5–3 hours

The complete circuit: the Nine Lakes path, the in-village Lac Grenon, the European Masters fairways and the quiet forest lake at Moubra, closing where it began. Longest single leg is the 1.7 km stretch from the golf club to Lac Moubra.

Lakes Only

Skip the golf detour

Stops 1 → 2 → 4 → 5, roughly 3.3 km, about 2 hours

Cut the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club (stop 3) and the two south-west legs out to it. You keep all three lakes and the plateau views, and drop the least central part of the loop. Good if you have no interest in golf or want to save your legs.

The Easy Half

Village lakes, split at Lac Grenon

Stops 1 → 2 and back, roughly 1.4 km, under an hour

Just the Nine Lakes Walk and Lac Grenon, the flattest and most central part, with cafes and facilities right there. A gentle option for a short evening stroll, for anyone still adjusting to the altitude, or as day one of a two-part visit before tackling the golf course and Lac Moubra later.

The loop works in either direction since it starts and ends at the same point on the Nine Lakes Walk. The order given here is recommended because it puts the glassy lake reflections early in the morning and saves the golf fairways for the warm late-afternoon light on the peaks.

Is This Crans-Montana Walking Tour Right for You?

This is a gentle, scenic loop rather than a workout, and it suits most people. Here is who it fits best and how to bend it to your day.

A good fit if you…

  • Walkers who want flat, well-signposted paths with no steep climbs over 4.8 km
  • First-time visitors who want the signature Crans-Montana lakes and golf views in one loop
  • Anyone who wants a free outdoor route with only one optional paid stop
  • Summer visitors who want to combine the walk with a swim at Lac Grenon or Lac Moubra
  • Photographers chasing morning lake reflections and late-afternoon light on the Alps

Adapt the route if you…

  • You have limited time or energy: drop the golf detour and walk the Lakes Only version at 3.3 km
  • You just arrived from low altitude: take the first kilometre slowly and consider the Easy Half first
  • It is raining: the loop has little shelter, so wait it out among the cafes at Lac Grenon
  • You want to play golf: the course runs mid-May to October, so check the season before you plan around it
  • You are travelling with young kids: the flat village stretch around Lac Grenon is the easiest section to keep short

Tickets & Skip-the-Line in Crans-Montana

Almost everything on this loop is free open-air terrain with nothing to book. The one stop where money changes hands is the golf club, and even there walking the perimeter costs nothing. Here is what to know before you go.

Crans-sur-Sierre Golf ClubYou can walk the public perimeter paths and take in the European Masters fairways for free. Green fees only apply if you play: roughly CHF 50 to 166 depending on season and tee time, booked at golfcrans.ch. The course runs seasonally, mid-May to October, so check dates before planning around it.
Everything elseThe Nine Lakes Walk, Lac Grenon and Lac Moubra are all free, always-open outdoor spaces with no gate and no ticket. The lakes have swimming areas in summer at no charge.
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Tips for Walking in Crans-Montana

  • Getting here: from Sierre take the Funiculaire Sierre-Montana, daily 6:04am to 10:38pm at roughly 20-minute intervals, CHF 13.60 single. From the top station the plateau and the start of the loop are a short walk.
  • Terrain and shoes: the route is gravel paths, packed earth, grass verges by the golf course, and forest trail at Lac Moubra. Trainers or light hiking shoes are fine; you do not need boots, but smooth-soled shoes will slip on the damp forest section.
  • Restrooms: your reliable option is the village around Lac Grenon, where cafés and public facilities cluster. There are none at Lac Moubra, so go before you leave the village.
  • Food and drink: stop at a café on the northern shore of Lac Grenon for a coffee (roughly CHF 4 to 5) and refill your water bottle. There is no kiosk at Lac Moubra or on the golf perimeter, so carry water for the second half.
  • Photo: for the classic shot, frame a golf fairway in the foreground with the snow peaks behind, best in late afternoon. For mirror-still lake reflections, shoot the Nine Lakes path before 10am.
  • Sun and altitude: the plateau sits around 1,500 m and the south-facing sun is strong even in cooler months. Bring sunscreen and a hat, and take the first kilometre slowly if you arrived from low altitude.

Why Walk This Route?

Crans-Montana sits on a sunny plateau high above the Rhône valley, and the thing nobody tells you is that the resort works best on foot, not on a chairlift. The two villages of Crans and Montana spread across a south-facing terrace at around 1,500 metres, stitched together by lakes, a golf course, and flat lakeside paths that stay walkable even when your legs are tired from the altitude. This route is a 4.8 km loop that links the best of the plateau-level scenery without forcing you up a single steep climb.

Why this loop and not just random wandering? Because the four named stops are the four things a first-time visitor actually wants: the Nine Lakes path that everyone photographs, the big in-village Lac Grenon, the fairways of one of Europe's most famous golf courses with the Alps behind them, and the quiet forest-ringed Lac Moubra. You start and finish at the same point, so you can park or get dropped once and never worry about a return ticket.

Everything on this walk is free outdoor terrain. The only place where money changes hands is the golf club, and even there you do not need to play to enjoy the view. Bring water, sunscreen (the plateau sun is strong), and shoes you can walk gravel and grass in. The whole thing is honest, low-stress, and genuinely scenic from the first lake to the last.

Common Questions

Is Crans-Montana safe to walk around?

Yes, very. It is a quiet Swiss alpine resort with low crime and well-maintained paths. The only real hazards are practical: stray golf balls near the Crans-sur-Sierre course (stay on marked perimeter paths) and slippery forest trail near Lac Moubra after rain. There are no scams to watch for.

What if it rains during my Crans-Montana tour?

The loop is all outdoors with little shelter, so heavy rain is a real factor. If the weather turns, the village around Lac Grenon has cafés and shops to wait it out, and the forest canopy at Lac Moubra gives some cover. For a full wet-weather plan, save the walk and ride the funicular up for the views instead.

What's the best time of day for this walking tour?

Start by mid-morning to catch the Nine Lakes reflections before 10am, then time the golf course stretch for late afternoon when the light is warm on the peaks. That sequence gives you the best of both ends of the loop.

Do I need to pay to see the golf course?

No. You can walk the public perimeter paths and take in the European Masters fairways for free. Green fees of roughly CHF 50 to 166 only apply if you want to actually play, booked at golfcrans.ch. The course runs seasonally from mid-May to October.

Can I swim in the lakes?

Yes, in summer. Lac Grenon and Lac Moubra both have swimming areas, with Lac Grenon being the more social village lake and Lac Moubra the quieter forest option. Both are free and open access.

How fit do I need to be for this walk?

Not very. The 4.8 km loop is essentially flat, on easy gravel and forest paths, with no steep climbs. The main thing to respect is the 1,500 m altitude, so take the first stretch gently if you have just arrived from lower ground.

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