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Parking is available at the Ferme Auberge du Grand Ballon car park, or along the Route des Crêtes in a small car park about 1 km before the inn (coming from the south); this is the starting point shown here on the map and in the description.
(S/E) From the small car park, walk down the road a few metres to find the start of a path. Cross the road (take care), follow the path uphill and, at the first junction, turn left towards Gerstacker. The path descends and takes a wide right-hand bend to reach the farm.
(1) Enjoy the view at Gerstacker, then continue towards Haag (Yellow Disc markings). Enter the forest, following the uphill slope; ignore the paths to the left and right and continue to a fork in the path. Leave the Yellow Disc markings and keep to the right (Yellow Cross markings) until you reach the Oberer Sattel shelter.
(2) Climb up to the left for about a hundred metres to enjoy the view from the Sattelfels.
(3) Stunning views of the Roosberg massif, Thannerhubel and the Thann Valley. Return to the Oberer Sattel shelter.
(2) Turn left towards Haag due north (Yellow Cross), continuing uphill to the First World War shelters carved directly into the rock, just before the pass. On the right, reach the Col du Haag and the farmhouse inn. Walk past it and join the Route des Crêtes.
(4) Cross the road (take care) and head towards Roedelen opposite. At a fork, keep right, then leave the forest and reach a crossroads just after a right-hand bend.
(5) Beautiful view over the Alsace plain and the Black Forest. Take the path on the left which descends to the old Roedelen farm.
(6) Lovely view. Lots of arnica flowers in season. Turn right and follow the signs for “Ferme du Ballon” (Red Rectangle and White Rectangle markings). You’ll soon reach the crossroads below the Judenhut.
(7) A short, relatively steep climb of about 200 m awaits you to reach the Judenhut (Red Diamond markings).
(8) With the summit of the Judenhut on your left, follow the signs for “Ferme du Ballon” (Red Diamond) straight ahead. Pass through the beautiful, airy beech forest of the Judenhut. Continue the descent to a junction of marked paths.
(9) Continue gently downhill on theGR®5(Red Rectangle), heading due south to the Grand Ballon ski slopes.
(10) Continue to the Ferme-Auberge du Grand Ballon.
(11) Cross the Route des Crêtes (take care) to rejoin theGR®5on the opposite side and descend through the pasture. Reach the junction and the path taken on the way out, follow it in the opposite direction, cross the Route des Crêtes and return to the car park (S/E).
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