Col du Petit Ballon walks

The Petit Ballon tour starts at the Wasenmatten farmhouse inn. A challenging start (+300 m) precedes a gentle descent with superb views of the surrounding mountains - the Vosges, the Black Forest, the Jura and, for the lucky ones, the Alps.

Moderately difficult hike on the heights of Petit Ballon.

Discover the Petit Ballon and its superb panoramic views of the Hohneck, Schlucht, Schnepfenried and Grand Ballon peaks and the valleys of Metzeral, Linthal and Wasserbourg, not to mention, in good weather, the Black Forest and the Swiss Alps.

The aim of this hike is to reach the Petit Ballon with as little climbing as possible. Due to its position, away from the other peaks of the Vosges, the view stretches far into the distance.

Hike in the hills above Metzeral, starting from the station, with a gradual climb to Petit-Ballon, before reaching the Steinberg ridge and Grothkopf and descending towards the village via the Brietenbach slope. Throughout the route, you will enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding hills and villages in the valley.

Departure from the Col de Boenlesgrab, passing by the Refuge de la Schellimat, near Hilzen, via Bockswasen, then by the Refuge des Amis de la Nature below the summit of the Petit Ballon, then continuing after the summit along the ridges via the Col du Petit Ballon, Steinberg and its megaliths, then Grothkopf.Return via the farmsteads of Kahlenwassen (near the Virage Pinot) and Buchwald, the former intermediate station of the German cable car, then via the Strohberg farmstead before descending via Brudermatt to the Col du Boenlesgrab. This hike takes you across magnificent high-altitude stubble fields and offers numerous 360° views of the Vosges peaks and nearby Alsatian valleys.

Walk, mountain bike or electric mountain bike ride in the Stauffen and Petit Ballon mountains. The proposed circuit includes sections on roads, forest paths and cycle paths. There are no major difficulties, except for a short but steep climb after the Col de Marbach, which may require you to dismount, and the steady but also fairly steep climb from Boenlesgrab to Strohberg.