Tour of the Petit Ballon stubble fields starting from the Col de Boenlesgrab

Car park at the Col du Boenlesgrab, accessible via a cul-de-sac from Lautenbach and Linthal.

(S/E) From the pass, head west on the GR®532 (yellow rectangle markings). Walk to the junction of marked trails above the youth hostel.

(1) Continue straight on the GR®532. After a wide right-hand bend of about 200 m, you will come to a fork.

(2) Leave the GR®532 and continue straight ahead (blue triangle markings) towards Hilsen. Turn left downhill, then turn right, following the same markings. You will reach a junction of marked trails

(3) Turn right and climb (yellow and white rectangle markings), continuing until you reach the junction with the GR®532.

(4) Turn right and continue climbing on the GR®532 (yellow rectangle markings). After a few hundred metres, you will reach the Bockswasen refuge.

(5) Pass in front of the refuge and continue to the Refuge des Amis de la Nature (multiple crossroads).

(6) Continue straight ahead, climbing to the summit. Enjoy the view.

(7) Continue left along the ridge, heading north-west (red triangle markings) to the Col du Petit Ballon.

(8) Cross the road and continue straight ahead (same markings). You will arrive at the crossroads at a place called Kegelritz.

(9) Turn left and stay on the ridge (red triangle markings) for about 500 m until you reach Steinberg (megalith site).

(10) Continue straight ahead. Pass Grothkopf, then go straight down through the stubble to the next crossroads.

(11) Turn right, heading east, following the same markings (red triangle). Cross the access road to Col du Petit Ballon and descend to the Kahlenwasen farmhouse inn, following the road.

(12) Leave the farm on your right and continue parallel to the road until you reach the next crossroads (Virage Pinot).

(13) Turn right and follow the road for a few hundred metres to reach the Buchwald farmhouse inn.

(14) Continue straight ahead (yellow ring markings) uphill. Pass the former intermediate station of the German cable car connecting Wasserbourg to Petit Ballon, then continue to the next crossroads.

(15) Continue straight ahead, following the same markings, to the Strohberg farmhouse inn.

(16) Turn left and descend along the forest path (red disc markings). Pass above Brudermatt and reach the Col de Boenlesgrab (S/E).

Club Vosgien trail markers

Several farm inns along the route or in the immediate vicinity: Rothenbrunnen, Kahlenwasen, Buchwald, Strohberg, open from early April to early November

The Refuge des Amis de la Nature mountain refuge is located below the summit of Petit Ballon.

The intermediate station of the German cable car built in 1915 is located between the farm inns of Buchwald and Strohberg. It connected Wasserbourg to the Petit Ballon and was used to supply German troops during the Great War (1914-1918).