The Petit Ballon circular route starting from Christlesgut and via the Steinberg

The walk starts at the car park of the Christlesgut farmhouse inn.

(S/E) Take the path (Yellow Cross) above the farmhouse inn heading south-west.

(1) At a place called Braeschenberg, cross the road and continue on the Yellow Cross marked route which climbs through the stubble fields of Lameysberg and Obermatt to a junction at an altitude of 1,000 metres, continuing straight on.

(2) At the 1,000-metre mark, turn left onto the Red Triangle-marked path which climbs up to the Steinberg ridge.

(3) Stay on the Steinberg ridge path all the way.

(4) At the end of the ridge, at a place called Kegelritz, take the path on the right, still marked with a Red Triangle, which leads to the Col du Petit Ballon.

(5) At the Col du Petit Ballon, continue straight on along the Red Triangle route which climbs to the summit of the Petit Ballon (1272 m).

(6) At the summit of the Petit Ballon, descend via the Yellow Rectangle route (second on the left).

(7) Take a wide turn through the stubble to reach a junction.

(8) Turn left and stay on the Yellow Rectangle route, continuing straight down to the youth hostel above Schellimatt.

(9) Turn left onto the Red Diamond/Yellow Ring marked trail which leads to the Strohberg Farm Inn.

(10) Just after the Strohberg Farm Inn, turn right onto the Red Disc/Yellow Ring trail which descends to the right of the path.

(11) After the Buchwald Farm Inn, at the crossroads, stay on the Red Disc route towards Schweng by following the path to the right of the road and then crossing it.

(12) Cross a track and stay on the Red Disc route until you reach Schweng.

(13) At Schweng, take the Blue Disc route which branches off to the right. Cross a track.

(14) After the forest, continue left on the Blue Disc route for 200 to 300 metres.

(15) Turn left onto the Yellow Cross route, which will quickly take you back to Christlesgut and the car park (S/E).

Christlesgut Farm Inn: www.christlesgut.com/,tel. (33) 03 89 77 51 11, contact@christlesgut.com, 68380 BREITENBACH HAUT-RHIN. Accommodation : rooms and lodges, minimum two nights

Access to the starting point:

• by train or bus: on the TER line connecting Colmar to Metzeral, alight at the Breitenbach stop or station
• by car: From Munster, take the D10 towards Metzeral, passing through the village of Luttenbach. On reaching Breitenbach, turn left and, in the village centre, follow the green sign for the Christlesgut farmhouse inn and head up through the forest.

Christlesgut opening times:

• from 1 May to 1 November for lunch (except half-board)
• May to the end of September: open Thursday to Monday, lunch and dinner – Tuesday and Wednesday evenings only
• October: open Thursday to Sunday, lunch and dinner – Monday to Wednesday evenings only

Packed lunches: not available on Sundays; at other times by reservation (and subject to ordering a drink)

Credit cards accepted

Farm inns along the route:

• Strohberg: www.ferme-auberge-strohberg.com,tel. (33) 03 89 77 56 00, 120 Strohberg, 68230 Wasserbourg, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, closed from early November to late April.
• Buchwaldtel. (33) 03 89 77 37 08, Petit Ballon, Wasserbourg, open from mid-April to mid-November, auberge.buchwald@orange.fr,

Farm inn nearby:

• Le Rothenbrunnen: www.rothenbrunnen.fr, tel. (33) 03 89 77 33 08, 68380 – Sondernach, guest rooms and dormitory, open all year round except for two weeks in January, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Le Kahlenwasen: tel. (33)03 89 77 32 49, 68140 Luttenbach-près-Munster, open from Easter to the end of October, closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays, ten guest rooms with 2 to 4 beds.

• The summit of the Petit Ballon (1,272 m)
• The Steinberg ridge