Ballon d'Alsace - Chalet de l'Alouette

Reaching the summit of Ballon d'Alsace

(S) Stand in front of the Virgin of Ballon d'Alsace. Leave the gravel path downhill on your right and take the path that climbs up behind the statue and leads to an orientation table.
Continue along the track opposite. This turns left twice and leads to the statue of Joan of Arc.
Continue to follow the track, which turns left and descends towards an inn and a car park at the Ballon d'Alsace pass.

(1) Cross the D465 and take the access road to the car park on the right opposite.
At the end of the car park, continue along the path opposite on the left, which extends the driveway.
After about 100 metres, keep to the right and continue downhill into the forest, continuing in the same direction until you reach an intersection in a right-hand bend.

(2) Leave the^GR®® 5, which climbs to the left, and continue downhill, turning right.
Cross a transverse path, then the path turns left and arrives at an intersection.

(3) Leave the path to the Refuge de la Grande Goutte on your left and continue straight ahead along the path on the mountainside. Turn right and follow it until you reach a trail on the right.

(4) Take the steeply descending path on the right. Join a path at the Col du Stalon.

(5) Take the path on the left and join a track at a hairpin bend. Follow the track to the right, then take the first path on the right. A little further on, keep to the left.
You will then come to an intersection at a hairpin bend to the right.

(6) Follow the path that turns right uphill and join the Col du Luthier.

(7) Continue straight ahead to the left. Pass three trailheads on your left and arrive at the Refuge Saillet.
After the refuge, turn left and climb to the summit of Ballon de Servance.

(8) Leave the start of^{the GR®®59 trail}on your left. Turn right and descend the winding, uneven path. Continue in the same direction until you reach a track at Les Gouttes du Ballon.

(9) Turn left and follow the track. Pass in front of the Abri des Gouttes du Ballon.
Further on, ignore the track coming from the right and continue straight ahead.
You will arrive near the Abri de Longeligoutte in a clearing.

(10) Leave the track and turn left to reach the shelter. After the shelter, take the track that climbs up to the left. Follow it until you reach a three-way junction in the Hinguenet woods.

(11) Keep to the right. Pass the Pierre du Percepteur and arrive at the Saint Thomas mine.
Continue straight ahead along the track, leaving the track leading to the mine on your left.
Cross a group of houses and continue along a tarmac road. After a car park, you will arrive at an intersection with a cross.

(12) Leave the road and turn left. Keep to the right and pass three paths on the left. You will eventually arrive at an intersection with a tarmac track.

(13) Leave the path opposite towards the Vierge des Neiges and take the track on the right, which leads to the Col des Croix.

(14) Turn right onto the Route des Crêtes. At the junction with the D486, cross it and continue straight ahead on the Route des Crêtes (D57).
After a hairpin bend on the right, walk along the right-hand side of a pond.
Continue until you reach a path on the right at the entrance to a left-hand bend in front of some farm buildings.

(15) Turn right onto the path. Cross another path, then a little further on, keep to the right and continue downhill until you reach a crossroads with a path crossing Pré Martin.

(16) Take the path on the left. A little further on, at the three-way junction, keep to the right.
Ignore a second path coming from the right.
Finally, join and follow a track on the right. This track joins a road at the entrance to Grammont.

(17) Take the track on the left. A little further on, after ignoring two paths on the right, at the crossroads of tracks, keep to the right. Cross the Bois du Hétray.
At the exit, join a road at a hairpin bend, near a hamlet.

(18) Turn left and follow the road uphill. Pass under a high-voltage power line for the first time, take a hairpin bend to the left, and arrive at a path on the right just as you pass under the high-voltage power line again. Take the path on the right which heads back north and arrives at a crossroads near the Chalet de l'Alouette. To reach the chalet, leave the^GR®® and take the path on the right (E)

The route follows the^GR®® 7 and the signposting is straightforward.
Difficulty according to the French Hiking Federation:

• Effort = 4
• Technicality = 3
• Danger = 3

No freely accessible water supply:

• There is a fountain at the Saillet refuge (between (7) and (8)), but the water is not drinkable.
• I was able to get water from a local resident at the Col des Croix (14).
• It is probably possible to refill at the Col du Ballon d'Alsace inn (1) and at the inn in Grammont (17)

Camping is prohibited in the Ballons Comtois nature reserve (between the Col du Stalon (5) and the Ballon de Servance (8)), including at the Saillet refuge (between (7) and (8))

(S) to (1) Ballon d'Alsace (statue of the Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc, viewpoint over the Vosges, the Ballon de Servance and the Belfort Gap).
Between (7) and (8) View of the Ballon d'Alsace at the Saillet refuge.
(8) Ballon de Servance
Several views of the Moselle valley:
(8) Shortly after the Ballon de Servance.

At Château-Lambert::13:: the Virgin of the Snows (Château-Lambert)

(14) at the Col des Croix.
Shortly before (12); the Mines Saint-Thomas (former copper mines).