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Park at the Grand Ballon car park.
(S/E) The start is on the right behind the Chalet-Hôtel du Grand Ballon: Club Vosgien trail, marked with a Red Rectangle crossed with a White Rectangle. Then begin the descent towards Le Haag along the Route des Crêtes, join the road and follow it towards the pass.
(1) Pass behind the Haag farmhouse inn and take the wide dirt track climbing to the left of the farmland: this section is unmarked, with an elevation gain of 134 m to the Storkenkopf. The climb is quite steep in its first section, on a somewhat rocky path, before reaching a magnificent high-altitude meadow or stubble field: be careful, there are chamois (keep dogs on a lead).
(2) Turn right across the meadow to the low stone wall marking the boundary of the municipality. The Storkenkopf is now very close. Climb to the right, keeping to the right of the stone wall whilst following a lovely path that climbs to the summit in a few minutes.
(3) Here is the Storkenkopf, the second highest peak in Alsace at 1,366 metres. There are no signposts here. A magnificent, unobstructed 360° view. A sense of fulfilment and a true feeling of freedom. A great sense of calm too, as few hikers make it to this summit. The Grand Ballon seems very close. For the descent, follow the narrow path that starts to the right of the low wall. The descent is quick and direct, crossing the low wall twice: watch out for both the small rocks on the path and the electric fence running alongside it on the right. The path becomes grassy as it emerges from the forest and leads back to the pass and the Haag farmhouse inn.
(1) Turn right onto the Route des Crêtes and, at the bend, pass the ‘stop cow’ sign to head up to the right across the meadow towards the Grand Ballon, following the Red Rectangle markings: you are now on the famousGR®5.
(4) At the junction with the panoramic path in a slightly rocky area on this side of the Grand Ballon, turn left towards the Diables Bleus monument and the summit of the Grand Ballon: follow the Red Ring markings.
(5) Once you reach the Diables Bleus monument, continue up the path to the Grand Ballon radome (radar station), where you’ll cross the forecourt and continue straight on to begin the descent.
(6) Follow the panoramic route to the left: Blue Ring markings. You will soon be treated to a view of Lac du Ballon. Return to the Chalet-Hôtel du Grand Ballon and the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Tourist office
Difficult 
