Your excursion by PostBus – Across the Mountain Pastures

Across the Mountain Pastures – A hike through nature and traditions

Crans-Montana offers a multitude of natural landscapes that make it a paradise for hikers. Among these routes is the authentic Across the Mountain Pastures hike, which immerses you in the pastoral heritage of the Haut-Plateau region, and which is accessible to anyone.

A walk under open skies in the footsteps of tradition

This hike begins at Merbé, the mid-station on the Crans-Cry d’Er gondola lift. There are two ways to reach the starting point:

• Take the gondola for quick access to sweeping mountain views and an easy start to the walk.
• Alternatively, set off on foot from the PostBus stop ‘Crans-Montana, Le Mèrignou’ and follow the trails uphill to Merbé (around 1:30). This completely free option lets you spend even longer in the mountains before beginning the Mountain Pastures hike.

Once you arrive at Merbé, the landscape opens up to reveal the surrounding peaks, offering a promising first glimpse of what lies ahead. The trail starts at a leisurely pace as you walk through the pastures on the Corbyre Alp, the path then leads you to the Pépinet, Colombire and Prabaron pastures. These mountain pastures, still in use today, bear witness to an ancestral way of life when mountain farming followed the rhythm of the seasons, long before the arrival of tourism.

As you walk, you'll come across traditional mountain chalets or ‘mayens’, free-ranging herds and glimpses of the highest Alpine peaks, it’s truly a return to roots.

A cultural break at the Colombire Hamlet

Halfway along the route, the Colombire Hamlet invites you to take an enlightening break. Its Ecomuseum traces the history of the region's ‘mayens’ and alpine pastures. It's an opportunity to gain a better understanding of local customs, in a place that is perfectly in harmony with the natural surroundings.
You can also enjoy a gourmet break at the Relais de Colombire, where local produce is highlighted - all with panoramic views to savour without moderation.

A gentle finish

After this cultural interlude, the walk continues towards Plumachit and then Aminona, where nature becomes wilder and quieter. It's the perfect way to round off this walk, along a downhill route that is accessible to anyone.

A free shuttle bus awaits you in Aminona (line 431 "Aminona - Crans Forest") to take you to the centre of Crans-Montana and back to your PostBus stop for the return journey to Sion.

Explore the route

Practical info

• Start: Merbé (intermediate station of Crans-Cry d'Er cable car)
• End: Aminona
• Duration: around 2 hours 50
• Distance: 9,7 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Height gain: +154m / -567m
  
  

Summer lift prices

¹ CHF 5.- discount from 14 September 2026.
² Free of charge from 14 September 2026.

Access by PostBus/CarPostal

Outbound: Gare, Sion - Crans-Montana, Le Mérignou
Then take the Crans-Cry d'Er gondola to the intermediate station: Merbé..

Return: Free shuttle bus 431 "Aminona-Crans Forest" to the "Crans-Montana, télé Cry d’Er" stop.
Then take the Car Postal from the "Crans-Montana, Le Mérignou" stop to Sion station.

If you're looking for a gentle, rewarding hike that's accessible without a car, Across the Mountain Pastures is for you.