Étang Long is a narrow, elongated lake at the lower edge of the Crans-Montana plateau, just above the point where the plateau drops steeply toward the Rhône Valley. At 1,455 metres, it sits slightly lower than the other plateau lakes and benefits from the full panorama south across the valley to the mountains of the Valpelline and Gran Paradiso range in Italy on clear days.
The lake is the departure point for the Lanterne trail, a 2-kilometre illuminated path that runs through the snow in winter evenings, lit by 200 lanterns. The trail is child-friendly and one of the resort's most distinctive off-piste experiences. In summer, the lake's reedy banks attract kingfishers and herons, and the circular walking path around the lake connects easily to the broader plateau trail network. A bus stop at Rond-point Étang Long makes it accessible without a car.