The results of x-ray diffraction, dc magnetization, and 61 Ni Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of the ternary arsenide CrNiAs are reported. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic Fe 2 P-type structure (space group P62m) with the lattice parameters a = 6.1128(2)Å and c = 3.6585(1)Å. CrNiAs is a mean-field ferromagnet with Curie temperature T C = 171.9(1) K and the critical exponents β = 0.514(18), γ = 1.010(16), and δ = 2.922(10). The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility above T C follows the modified Curie-Weiss law with a paramagnetic Curie temperature of 176.0(3) K and effective magnetic moment per transition metal atom of 2.42(1) μ B. The magnetic moment per formula unit at 4.2 K is found to be 1.114(33) μ B. The hyperfine magnetic field at 61 Ni nuclei at 4.2 K of 41.5(1.0) kOe implies that the Ni atoms carry a magnetic moment of 0.15(3) μ B , and that the moment carried by the Cr atoms is 0.95(6) μ B. The Debye temperature of CrNiAs is 221(1) K.