Around the Petit Ballon, starting from Buchwald

The hike starts at the car park of the Ferme-auberge du Buchwald.

(S/E) Take the road that climbs to the left towards the pass. The first few hundred metres are on the road.

(1) At the start of a bend, 200 m before Kahlenwasen, leave the road and take the footpath.

(2) From the inn’s terrace, take the easternmost path (Yellow Triangle) which climbs towards the Petit Ballon.

(3) After passing through a forest, cross a track and turn right to climb towards the Petit Ballon through the forest, then across the scree.

(4) At Petit Ballon, head west. Descend following the Blue Diamond trail towards the Refuge des Amis de la Nature via the second path on the left.

(5) At the Refuge des Amis de la Nature, rejoin the GR®532 on the left (Yellow Rectangle) and continue towards the Col du Hilsenfirst.

(6) About 800 metres past the Refuge du Bockwasen, on the scree slope, turn left towards Hilsen, marked by a Yellow Rectangle with a White Rectangle.

(7) At the end of a lovely descent, you’ll reach a wide path. Turn left towards the Petit Ballon and Mullermatt (Blue Triangle)

(8) Shortly after Mullermatt, rejoin the GR®532 for a short while (Yellow Rectangle).

(9) At the youth hostel, turn left towards Strohberg (Red Diamond).

(10) Shortly after Strohberg, take the Red Disc path on the right towards Buchwald.

(11) After 400 to 500 m, turn right towards Wasserbourg (Red Saltire). Continue straight on. Pass the refuge.

(12) Once you enter the forest, look out for the path leading off to the left towards Wassmatt (Yellow Saltire).

(13) From Wassmatt, continue along the track and follow the Yellow Saltire route which leads to the Buchwald Farm Inn (S/E).

Access to the start of the hike: by car, Buchwald car park from the Route du Petit-Ballon coming from Wasserbourg or Luttenbach-près-Munster.

Ferme-auberge de la Wassmatt: ferme-auberge-wassmatt.com, tel.: (33) 06 70 03 86 18, 134 Wassmatt 68230 Wasserbourg

• Access: 4 km from Wasserbourg via the Route du Petit-Ballon. Take the 400-metre path at a hairpin bend (follow the signs).

• Opening hours: open from April to the end of November. Closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings.Second sitting on Sunday lunchtimes from 2 pm.

• Credit cards accepted.

Other farmhouse inns on the route:

• Buchwald: tel: (33) 03 89 77 37 08, 131 Buchwald, 68230 Wasserbourg, open from 15 May to 15 October, Saturdays and Sundays from Easter to November, closed on Mondays and Fridays.
  
• Kahlenwasen: tel: (33) 03 89 77 32 49, 68140 Luttenbach-près-Munster, open from Easter to the end of October, except on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 10 rooms with two to four beds.
  
• Hilsen: tel: (33) 03 89 74 03 15, 181 Rue du Hilsenfirst, 68610 Linthal, open all year round, closed on Tuesdays; from Guebwiller by car, head towards Markstein. At Linthal, turn right and continue for 4 km.
  
• Strohberg: tel: (33) 03 89 77 56 00, 68 230 Wasserbourg, closed from early November to late April, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays unless they are public holidays.
  

The summit of the Petit Ballon offers a beautiful view of the Alsace plain, the Jura and the Alps.