When I tell you that lac means lake in French, you will probably have a pretty good idea of where you will be heading if you take this route in Crans-Montana. In the luxurious mountain resort of Crans-Montana, high above the Rhone Valley on a sunny plateau in the canton of Valais, there are nine of them: Étang Long, Lac d’Icogne, Lac de Miriouges, Étang des Briesses, Lac de la Moubra, Étang Blanc, Lac Grenon, Lac d’Ycoor, and Lac de Chermignon.
You may be wondering why some lakes are called lac and others étang – this is because “lac” refers to a larger, naturally formed lake, often of glacial origin, with an inflow and an outflow. In contrast, “étang” is a smaller, shallower, and mostly artificially created lake or pond with slower water circulation.
The Promenade de Lacs loop trail will take you from one lake to the next. Along the way, you can admire their diversity and the views of the surrounding peaks, which I am already looking forward to returning to in winter to ski.
Arrival in Crans Montana
The resort actually consists of three villages: Crans-sur-Sierre, Montana, and Aminona-sur-Sierre. The Crans-Montana agglomeration spans 2 kilometers without any significant transition between its parts. Crans-Montana is easily accessible by car: take the A9 motorway, known as “l’autoroute du Rhône.” At the Sierre-est exit, take the Crans-Montana exit. Continue over the Viaduc d’Anniviers on road 9 for about 15 kilometers. There are several parking lots where you can park.
Public transport: If you arrive in Sierre by train, you have two options for reaching Crans-Montana. Either take the bus, which runs approximately every hour and passes through several villages in the valley – the journey takes about 40 minutes. Buses depart directly from the train station. The second (and, in my opinion, much more interesting) option is the funicular – Funiculaire Sierre–Montana–Crans.
Its lower station is about 300 meters from the train station – don’t worry about getting lost, follow the red line on the sidewalk to the funicular station. The ride takes about 15 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs CHF 13.60 (half price with the Half-fare card). As it is included in the SBB fare, the Swiss Travel Pass or the Day Pass is also valid.
Once you arrive in Crans-Montana, you can get around the resort free of charge thanks to a dense network of local shuttle buses, which are available to all visitors and guests.
Etang d’Ycoor
Once you get off at the Montana funicular station, you can either take the local red bus or walk to the center of Montana in about 10 minutes. Your children may already be resisting going any further, because there is a nice playground here and the opportunity to play mini golf.
Etang Grenor
A little further down the road is Lake Etang Grenor. If you like Instagram-worthy places, this is where your heart will leap for joy, because this is where you will find the iconic letters from the opening photo. On this lake, you can ride on pedal boats.
Crans
In less than ten minutes, you will reach the center of Crans. Yes, here you will find luxury shops. Walk along the main street, Rue Centrale, which will lead you to another lake.
Etang Long
Lake Etang Long is adjacent to the grounds of the famous golf course, which hosts the Omega European Masters, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the DP World Tour circuit, every September.
Lac Blanc
Continue down a gentle hill along the aptly named Route Touristique. An inconspicuous left turn will take you to the picturesque Lac Blanc lake. Then return to the main road and continue a few dozen meters to the intersection with Rue de Pirrazilina.
Lac Moubra
A pleasant walk through the forest will take you to the rope park, and from there it is only a short distance to Lac Moubra. It must be really beautiful here in summer: there is a grassy beach, and you can rent pedal boats and stand-up paddleboards. Or you can work out in the outdoor gym. Continue in the direction of Lac de Miriouges.
Étang des Briesses
On the way through the forest between Lac de la Moubra and Lac de Miriouges, you will come across a small, quiet lake called Étang des Briesses, hidden among reeds and trees. This lake is a small natural treasure of Crans-Montana: shallow, fed by rainwater and springs, it provides ideal conditions for wetland plants and animals.
Picnic spot and viewpoint
At one point along the route, you will have to cross the main road. Just beyond it is Couvert Des Briesses – a beautiful, perfectly maintained picnic spot. Here you will find a large shelter for several hundred people with barbecue pits, smaller covered areas with benches, a playground, a soccer field, trash cans, clean toilets, and even a working tap with drinking water.
It was only when we left that we found out that the place is intended more for organized events and that reservations are subject to a fee. However, we just had a small picnic on the benches behind the covered area, and since the guys from the local technical services were having lunch there at the same time and had no objection to our presence, hopefully it was okay.
A little further along the route, there is a lookout point.
Lac de Mirouges
In less than five minutes, you will reach the official picnic spot on the route – Lac de Mirouges. Here you will also find a beautiful playground and a picnic area (another one is at the other end of the lake). In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful and peaceful lakes in Crans-Montana. As it is a protected area, swimming is not allowed, but with a valid permit, you can fish at the lake.
Follow the bisse through the forest to reach the residential area. Here you can enjoy magnificent views of both the Rhone Valley and the local mountain plains, which in winter form 140 kilometers of ski slopes.
Lac d’Icogne
Probably the least photogenic place on the route is Lac d’Icogne. This artificial reservoir is used for water supply and energy production.
The hiking trail will take you to the private international boarding school Le Régent, and from there, the trail leads back to Crans. I must admit that due to time constraints, we decided to skip the last lake on the trail – Lac de Chermignon – and headed back via Montana to the cable car.
Summary
- The route is just over 13 kilometers long.
- You can find the elevation profile and exact coordinates here.
- The route is ideal for families, as it is mostly flat and can even be managed with a stroller.
- The route can be shortened, for example, by only visiting the first few lakes.
- Lightweight hiking shoes are sufficient.
- And don’t forget to bring a picnic and, in summer, your swimming gear.
