The Grand Ballon from the Étang de la Griedelmatt

Start the walk at the car park by the picnic area opposite the Étang de la Griedelmatt.

(S/E) Cross the road and take the track leading to the building and the lake.

Yellow Cross markings

Go round the first pond on the left and, at the end of it, take the path that climbs up and leads to a crossroads.

(1) Continue to the right. At the road at the end of the path, turn right and head down towards the D13B6.

Red Ring Markings

(2) Cross it carefully and follow the path climbing up opposite. Then ignore an overgrown track coming in from the right.

Discovery Trail markings

(3) When you reach the next fork, continue along the Discovery Trail which branches off to the right. At the junction, take the hairpin bend all the way to the left to reach an open area. Turn left and keep left again to enter the forest and reach a fork.

Red Cross Signposting

(4) Continue straight ahead to reach a pass.

(5) Stay on the left-hand path. Ignore the fork coming from the right and continue to another fork, still near a pass.

Red Rectangle with a white cross

(6) Head straight on to cross over to the other side of the ridge. As you follow the path, ignore the two abandoned tracks coming from the right and stay as close to the ridge as possible. At the next junction, turn left (note: the markings on IGN maps are out of date) to reach a junction with a cross.

(7) Keep going straight ahead on the path leading to the Col du Haag and the Grand Ballon, which occasionally offers views of Geishouse. Cut across a track that does not appear on IGN maps and continue along the path, which starts again on the other side via some steps. The path rejoins a white track at a meadow.

(8) Head up to the right along the meadow and enjoy the views of the Vosges. Once at the top, head straight on to begin the most difficult part of the climb. Cut across a forest track to reach the cycle path.

(9) Continue climbing, sometimes steeply. Pass a track on the left, then a path coming from the same direction. At the next fork, to stay on the same route, go left (the markings on IGN maps are out of date). Then keep to the right. Ignore a path on the right, then pass a overgrown track that continues straight ahead. Further up, take a first turn right then left to stay on the path. Ignore a path climbing to the left and continue straight ahead to reach the GR®5.

Red Rectangle markings of the GR®5

(10) Head off to the right towards the Col du Haag. Along the way, enjoy the views of the Grand Ballon and the final 200 metres of the climb. Go through the gate and continue straight ahead on the cycle path to the pass.

Red Rectangle with a white bar

(11) Take the path to the right, then left along the road towards the Col du Grand Ballon. After a steep climb, at the fork, keep right to reach the Hôtel-Chalet du Grand Ballon. Go round the buildings to the right and reach the junction with a wide track.

Red Rectangle Marking for the GR®5

(12) Take the path on the right. It climbs initially through the woods but soon opens out, offering views of the highest peaks of the Vosges and Lac du Ballon.

No markings

At the summit, head left first to enjoy the initial panoramic view.

Red Rectangle markings for the GR®5

(13) Turn back and head towards the weather station.

(14) Go round the station on the left and pass the Monument des Diables Bleus. At the monument, head straight ahead and begin a stony descent.

Red Ring markings

Head down to the left towards the Redslob Monument.

(15) Pass in front of the monument then, at the next fork, head up to the left. At the following fork, take the track on the right, staying on the Red Ring marked trail despite what the IGN map suggests. Then return to the junction from the outward journey.

Red Rectangle markings on the GR®5

(12) Head right towards the pass. Cross the pass, then take the path that descends to the right of the La Vue des Alpes restaurant. After a hairpin bend, ignore the junction beneath an old ski lift. At the next hairpin bend, turn left, then ignore the next fork and continue to the following one.

(16) Head right towards the Ferme-auberge du Grand Ballon. At each junction, go straight on until you reach the Chalet René Girny, passing a mushroom carved from wood.

(17) Continue straight ahead on the same track to the Ferme-Auberge du Grand Ballon.

(18) Cross the main road carefully and follow the path straight ahead down the slope. Once at the edge of the woods, turn left towards the main road. Cross the road. Then turn left. At the next junction, turn right and head towards the Firstacker.

No signposting

Head straight ahead towards the Chapelle du Sudel.

(19) Return to the junction and take the path to the left of the track, which leads to the D431 road.

Blue Triangle Markings

Cross it carefully and take the path leading down straight ahead. Reach a Y-junction.

(20) Continue the descent towards Goldbach by keeping left, in open country. At the end, continue straight ahead and go through the fence to reach a fork. Turn right, then immediately left to stay heading towards Goldbach. This section has many fallen trees. You will often need to step over them or go around them. Ignore a path coming from the left, then another on the right, and you will reach another fork.

(21) Take the path on the right. At the end, turn right and walk past a chapel. Stay on the D13B6 main road until you reach the church.

No signposting

(22) At the church, turn left onto Rue des Augustins. Then turn left again onto Rue des Champs and follow Rue du Merzenbach, which branches off to the right.

Signposting: Red Rectangle with a white cross

Almost at the end of the road, at a bend, leave the road and take the track on the right. Keep to the right again and cross a stream. After the stream, continue to the right. After another stream, head uphill before reaching a junction.

No markings

(23) Continue straight ahead then follow the main track, leaving two side tracks on your right. Then take the path that climbs to the left to rejoin a signposted path.

Yellow Ring markings

(24) Follow the path to the right and reach a large crossroads of tracks.

(25) Turn right. A few clearings offer views of Goldbach, situated on the right. Ignore two tracks, including a more or less abandoned one coming from the right. Stay on the track opposite until you reach the path climbing to the left.

(26) Take this path, which ends at a wide bend in a forest track.

(27) Follow this track uphill, then, at the first junction, take the track leading down to the right. Please note: the IGN topographic maps are out of date for this section. When you come to a path, follow it to the right. Then, continue straight on until you reach the junction from the outward journey.

(1) Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Please note: several paths/markings appear on IGN maps but are obsolete. You must follow the suggested route. This is the case at (7), between (9) and (10), and between (27) and (1).

Please note: several fallen trees lie on the path between (20) and (21). You will often need to step over or walk around them.

Picnic tables and benches are available at (S/E), at (8), at Firstacker just before the Chapelle du Sudel (19) and at the playground near (22).

You can have lunch at the Ferme-Auberge du Grand Ballon (18).

-Nature trail between (2) and (4).

-The Grand Ballon and its panoramic views, as well as the Monument des Diables Bleus (14).

-Redslob Monument (15).

-The Sudel Chapel (19).

-Goldbach and its church (22).

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