Mountain Cart in Crans-Montana: race down the mountain as a family

An exhilarating descent between alpine pastures and the lake, above Crans-Montana

Picture a small three-wheeled, engine-free machine sitting on a mountain trail that winds between alpine pastures: that's the Crans-Montana mountain cart. You first ride up by gondola to Arnouva, perched at around 1,700 metres, then set off to reach Montana, carried along by the slope. Hands on the handlebars, feet braced, you brake whenever you like and soak up the Valais scenery rolling past. It's a summer activity full of fresh air and thrills, best enjoyed with teens or older children. A real little burst of controlled adrenaline, facing the mountains and the distance.

What your children will discover

The mountain cart is a clever cross between a sledge and a kart: three wheels, handlebars, two brakes, and gravity as the only engine. Your children quickly learn to manage their speed, anticipate the bends and stay in control on the faster sections. It's playful, it takes a little concentration, and it rewards you with immediate thrills. Between runs, the panorama over the Valais peaks and the Rhône valley offers a real breath of mountain air.

What you'll do and the atmosphere on site

You pick up your mountain cart and helmet at the start, take the Montana-Arnouva gondola to ride up, then race down the trail to the bottom. The atmosphere is that of a mountain resort in summer: relaxed, family-friendly, with families and groups of friends stringing runs together. You can ride back up and start again as often as you like, depending on the package you choose. Between runs, you catch your breath, take photos and enjoy the open air before heading off again.

Before you go

• Minimum age / height: 11 years and 1.30 m minimum (confirmed on the official website). Those aged 11-17 must have a liability waiver signed by their legal guardian on site, and 11-15 year-olds cannot take part on their own without being accompanied by an adult.
• Duration: allow half a day to string several runs together (the length of a single run is to be confirmed on site).
• Price: rate to be confirmed on the official website (the rental includes the mountain cart, the helmet and the gondola ride up).
• Booking: recommended and often required; book in advance via the official website.
• Accessibility: a mountain activity on a trail, not suitable for prams or for people with reduced mobility.
• Transport: ride up via the Montana-Arnouva gondola (the ride up is included in the rental); parking in Crans-Montana.
• What to bring: closed shoes, a windproof jacket, sunscreen and sunglasses; it's cooler at altitude.
• Season: a summer activity, open from 4 July to 13 September 2026 (exact days and hours to be confirmed on the official website).

Tips from parents

• The helmet is mandatory and provided with the rental: make sure it's properly fitted before setting off.
• Aim for a fine-weather day: the activity is suspended in bad weather.
• Do a gentle first run so everyone can find their bearings before picking up speed.
• Remind your children to keep their distance from the cart ahead and to brake before the bends.
• Remember the waiver to be signed on site for minors: bring an ID with you.

Useful information

• Address: Télécabine Montana-Arnouva, route de Vermala 7, 3963 Crans-Montana (Valais).
• Official website: https://www.crans-montana.ch
• Hours / season: open in summer, from 4 July to 13 September 2026; exact days and hours to be confirmed on the official website.
• Access: ride up via the Montana-Arnouva gondola (included in the rental); the nearest CFF station is Sierre, then the Sierre-Montana-Crans (SMC) funicular up to Crans-Montana.

Looking for other outings? Find all our activities in Crans-Montana. And to compare all the runs, check out our guide Summer toboggan runs in French-speaking Switzerland.

Why we recommend it

Because it's one of the most fun ways to enjoy the mountains in summer with teens: you gain height by gondola, breathe the fresh air of the alpine pastures, and come back down in fits of laughter. The mountain cart combines thrills, supervised safety and Valais scenery, with no need to be a seasoned athlete.

In a nutshell

A mountain cart descent above Crans-Montana, helmet on your head and mountains filling your eyes: the ideal summer activity for families with teens looking for thrills.