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The start of this circular route is at the Gaston Brun Monument. On the right-hand side of the road is a small car park with space for a few cars. Please note: contrary to what is shown on the IGN map, the Club Vosgien has made changes to the coding of the trail markings along the routes taken. However, with these instructions and a GPS or the Visorando app, this shouldn’t be a problem.
(S/E) With your back to the car park, cross the road and climb the small flight of steps to reach the monument, where you can learn about the life of Gaston Brun. Follow the path uphill to the crossroads.
(1) Follow the Yellow Triangle markings (which replace the Blue Triangle shown on the IGN map) by turning left towards “Gustiberg”.
(2) Continue following the Yellow Triangle markings and take the path that climbs to the right.
(3) Leave the path just after a hairpin bend and head left, following the Blue Rectangle markings towards “Gustiberg”.
(4) Please note: take care not to miss the very narrow path leading uphill to the right (the second turn-off on the right). Follow it until you reach a junction.
(5) Continue following the Blue Triangle markings to the left, towards “Gustiberg”. Carry on straight ahead at the junction.
(6) Turn right and follow the Blue Triangle markings. Then ignore the side paths until you reach the Gustiberg farm.
(7) To the left of the farm, take the Red-White-Red marked trail towards “Roedelen / Grand Ballon”.
(8) Keep to the right at the Fork in the road and continue along the Red-White-Red path towards “Roedelen”, through the stubble fields
(9) After the old building (farmhouse), take the path on the right marked “Grand Ballon” (Red-White-Red), which climbs through the stubble fields.
(10) After the climb, turn right towards “Grand Ballon”, then keep left at the Fork in the road. At the road, follow the small path running alongside it for 200 m to reach the Col du Grand Ballon.
(11) Take the path that climbs to the left of the Chalet-Restaurant du Grand Ballon, then follow the Red Rectangle markings (Col du Haag). Reach the summit of the Grand Ballon.
Below on the right, you’ll see Lac du Ballon, your next destination.
(12) Continue to follow the Red Rectangle signposting and reach the Monument des Diables Bleus.
(13) Leave the tourist path on your left and, at the monument, follow the Red RectangleGR®5signposting towards “Col du Haag/Markstein” until you reach the Haag farm.
(14) After the farm, cross the road and join the path leading off to the right, running alongside the road. Follow the Yellow Rectangle markings for “Lac du Ballon” (on the IGN map, this is a Red Rectangle).
(15) Further on, turn right onto the path marked Yellow-White-Yellow (which replaces the Red-White-Red markings). Cross a track and you’ll arrive at Lac du Ballon.
(16) Turn right, following the yellow-white-yellow markings, towards “Lac du Ballon / Gustiberg”.
(17) At the end of the lake, follow the same markings (Yellow-White-Yellow) towards “Monument Brun / Linthal”, taking the small flight of steps leading down to the left. A little further on, join a track and continue straight ahead.
(18) Ignore the yellow-white-yellow signposted path branching off to the left (see Practical Information), and continue along the track.
(19) At the crossroads, turn left.
(20) About 300 m further on, turn right onto the Yellow-White-Yellow marked trail. The descent is quite steep (be careful, this section is a bit of a jungle with lots of vegetation). At the T-junction, follow the path to the right and return to the junction you passed on the way out.
(1) Follow the route back in the opposite direction to the outward journey to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
