Le Petit Ballon from the Boenlesgrab pass

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This is a very pleasant hike that also offers views of the Alsace plain. The different environments you will pass through will delight walkers who take the time to look around.

Details

n°52
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.94 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 497 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 500 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,272 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 862 m
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Photos

Landscape
To the top
Virgin and cold
Wind and frost

Description of the walk

Reach the Boenlesgrab farmhouse inn at the pass of the same name.

(S) Take the white path that climbs up and runs alongside the farm buildings. Continue until you reach the Strohberg farmhouse inn (1). Just after passing this farm, take the small path that climbs up to the left, which will allow you to cut across the bend in the main road. Return to the main white road, continuing uphill, then after 400 m turn left towards Petit Ballon (2). This is a small path that climbs into the forest before opening up and reaching the summit (3).

Descend towards the house below and continue along the path that continues through the forest. Continue in the same direction, slightly to the left at the fork, and go through the fence. Go to the top of the Steinmauer (4) and retrace your steps before going back up the small path through the bushes.

Pass under the Petit Ballon in the pasture and re-enter the forest, then descend to the car park of the Boenlesgrab farmhouse inn.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 865 m - Col de Boenlesgrab
  2. 1 : km 1.85 - alt. 1,084 m - Strohberg farmhouse inn.
  3. 2 : km 2.33 - alt. 1,156 m - Path towards the Petit Ballon.
  4. 3 : km 3.07 - alt. 1,271 m - Petit Ballon
  5. 4 : km 4.81 - alt. 1,234 m - Summit of the Steinmauer.
  6. 5 : km 6.14 - alt. 1,219 m - Pass under the Petit Ballon.
  7. S/E : km 8.94 - alt. 865 m - Col de Boenlesgrab

Notes

To get to the starting point, go through Guebwiller, then Buhl. Just after Lautenbach, take the road on the right and follow the signs for Boenlesgrab. The paved road will take you to the pass.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 49 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 2959145

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done in autumn on a sunny day; beautiful views, easy route, but at the Petit Ballon pass, the signage could be improved.

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User 26205530

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Everything was as described

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Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

School holidays plus very good weather explain the good attendance. Beautiful views. Recommended for fit hikers.....

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daniel100148
daniel100148

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Perfect

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DOPPLER Bernard
DOPPLER Bernard

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice circuit but the start is near GUEBWILLER. Given the distance covered (less than 10 km), we have attached it to the "Tour de Rundkopf" circuit (same, circuit of less than 10 km).

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ritchy68
ritchy68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I did this walk in October in fine weather. The views are magnificent. At the start, we continued along the DREI SCHOEPF path towards Kaltenbrunnen and Hanspen (from there you can reach the WASSMATT farmhouse inn not far away) and we reached point no. 2 via the little path that leads back up to the STROHBERG farm. It's a little longer but doesn't complicate the hike in any way. At the top of the PETIT BALLON, the view was over the Vosges, the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and, at times, the Swiss Alps! A very beautiful hike.

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HJM67
HJM67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb route, fairly easy but with an hour's climb at the start, so it may not be accessible to everyone. The scenery is superb. After point 4 at the summit of the Steinmauer (4), I advise you not to take the path through the undergrowth, especially if you're wearing shorts, but to take the little path to the right of the field that joins the hiking path, avoiding the undergrowth.

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Gulf
Gulf

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk.
It took us less time than indicated.
Beautiful views and nice alternation between roads and paths.
Guillaume

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jean jacques Frey
jean jacques Frey
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A nice, fairly easy group hike. Nice warm weather, but not many people.
The panorama of the Munster valley is well worth seeing.
Good welcome from the AN hut warden. Ideal for a midday snack.
We've done this walk several times before, but we'll do it again...

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Marc68540
Marc68540

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, fairly easy and I didn't see many people, but then, at this time of year, it was freezing at the top.
Beautiful scenery and pleasant trails.
We'll definitely be doing it again.

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Greyflannel
Greyflannel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, fairly easy hike, but very popular, probably because of the summer holidays.
The Steinberg section offers a beautiful view of the Munster valley and the peaks that dominate it.
Personal note: a little twinge of sadness as you pass by the former Dynamo youth hostel, where I spent some lovely weekends over 50 years ago.

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Ciiity
Ciiity

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

If you want to make it more physical, take the route in the other direction (with the D+ of the Petit ballon climb over 4km, so the whole way). Make sure you bring appropriate footwear.
Everyone is concentrated at the Petit ballon, not so much on the path.
The map with the markings from the Club Vosgien is very useful, as is the live tracking via Visorando.

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Mabel Hikes
Mabel Hikes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and interesting walk. Not very busy (the hostel is closed on Mondays). Thanks a lot!

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lgn68
lgn68

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Few people on the paths, but more on the small ball - interesting route

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Maitai
Maitai

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk despite uncertain weather. Superb views.

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↔16.77 km ↗+783 m ↘-777 m ◔7h 00 ▲Difficult
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