Circular between Col du Haag, Storkenkopf and Grand Ballon from Firstacker

Parking: on the left of the Route des Crêtes above the Col Amic, heading up towards the Grand Ballon, just after the two cobbled bends, opposite the Firstacker.

(S/E) From the car park, cross the Route des Crêtes with caution (bend) and climb up to the Firstacker. Take the first path on the left towards Gerstacker (yellow disc markings). (Option to make a round trip to the Sudel Chapel in 10 minutes).

(1) Cross the Route des Crêtes again, still with caution, towards the Gerstacker farm (yellow disc markings).

(2) At the farm, continue straight ahead on this path (same markings). In the forest, leave the forest path on the left as it descends and head for the Oberer Sattel shelter (marked with a yellow cross).

(3) Pass in front of it, then in front of the Croix de l'Homme Foudroyé and arrive at the Haag farmhouse inn.

(4) Descend to the left via the Greenway, then, at the first bend, leave it and take the marked path on the right (GR®5) until you reach a fork.

(5) Turn right (GR®5 signpost) towards the Storkenkopf refuge.

(6) Above the refuge, continue straight ahead to the Route des Crêtes (Moorfeld) via the Kapitaenstressla path (GR®5 signposting).

(7) At the junction with the Route des Crêtes, cross it carefully, then turn right and walk between the road and the high-altitude meadows (GR®532 and yellow rectangle markings), then descend into the forest and turn left towards the Moorfeld refuge.

(8) From the refuge, continue on the GR®532 and, at the^first junction, continue straight ahead following the same markings (yellow rectangle).

(9) At the junction with a forest path, continue straight ahead following the same markings, climbing up to the Haag Pass (same markings) and crossing the Route des Crêtes once again at the Haag Pass , taking the same care.

(10) Walk along the right-hand side of the road, looking towards the Grand Ballon, then shortly afterwards turn right onto the GR®5 towards the summit of the Grand Ballon.

(11) Pass in front of the Monument des Diables Bleus and reach the summit.

(12) From the summit of the Grand Ballon, pass in front of the radar dome and descend on the north side to the former Hôtel du Sommet.

(13) From the hotel, cross the Route des Crêtes with caution, pass in front of the restaurant "La Vue des Alpes" and descend following the GR®5 and its modified route.

(14) At the junction of marked trails, take the first trail immediately to the right. Reach the Chalet René Girny after passing under a ski lift.

(15) At the chalet, continue straight ahead along the marked path, pass under a second ski lift, and continue to the Ferme-auberge du Grand Ballon.

(16) From the farmhouse inn, cross the Route des Crêtes twice, following the GR®5 markings towards Firstacker.

(17) At the crossroads, turn right, then when you reach Firstacker, turn right and descend to the car park (S/E) after crossing the Route des Crêtes one last time.

It is possible to do this route in winter, taking into account the inaccessibility of the Storkenkopf summit in winter (wildlife quiet zone) by following the closed and groomed ridge road for cross-country skiing (7) to the Col du Haag (10).
Please note: it is no longer possible to climb Storkenkopf from Moorfeld, as the trail crosses private property marked on the ground, requiring hikers to follow either the GR®5 or GR®532. However, from Col du Haag, there are no signs and it seems possible (and tolerated) to climb this summit by starting to the left of the Col du Haag farmhouse inn.

There are two farm inns: the Col du Haag farm inn and the Grand Ballon farm inn, several freely accessible shelters (Oberer Sattel, Storkenkopf) and the Moorfeld Strorkenkopf refuge of the Riedisheim ski club) along the route of this hike.

The Diables Bleus monument, located very close to the summit of the Grand Ballon, commemorates French soldiers who fought in the^First World War.