Lac du Grand Ballon walks

An original route to get to Lac du Grand Ballon avoiding the road. You will discover beautiful trees, a waterfall and views over the Petit Ballon and the Black Forest along the way.

This hike, mainly in the forest, follows the Lauch river and then climbs up through the Belchenseebach gorges, alongside a series of magnificent waterfalls, to reach the romantic Lac du Ballon. The trail is steep in places and some sections are slippery, but they are safe and the views are well worth the effort. The return journey is relaxing, with the option of stopping for refreshments at a farmhouse inn.

Above Lautenbachzell, this day hike will take you through several different landscapes of the Vosges: orchards and villages in the valley, pine forests, beech woods and stumps. You will reach the Grand Ballon, the highest peak in the Vosges, after walking along the Lac du Grand Ballon and passing near waterfalls.

This is an ideal short walk in hot weather, starting from the Col du Haag and passing successively by Lac du Ballon, the Roedelen farm and the Grand Ballon. As the circuit is located on the northern slope of the Grand Ballon at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, there is no need to worry about excessive heat.