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Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
France
Alsace
Thann-Gebweiler
Lautenbachzell

Grand Ballon – Grand Ballon loop from Grand Ballon

Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
France
Alsace
Thann-Gebweiler
Lautenbachzell

Grand Ballon – Grand Ballon loop from Grand Ballon

Hard

4.7

(15)

100

hikers

Grand Ballon – Grand Ballon loop from Grand Ballon

05:07

14.6km

810m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 17, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Waypoints

A

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1

40 m

Beautiful trail to the Grand Ballon

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The path that leads to the Grand Ballon is absolutely essential. First for its destination, but above all for the variety of landscapes you cross: dense forests, ridge paths, balconies. Pure hiking as we like it!

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2

1.27 km

Blue Devils Monument

Highlight • Monument

beautiful landscape

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3

1.40 km

Grand Ballon

Highlight • Summit

The Grand Ballon (German: Großer Belchen), at 1,424 meters above sea level, offers a magnificent panoramic view and is the highest mountain in the Vosges Mountains.

In 1927, a monument to the Blue Devils (French: Diables bleus), a mountain infantry battalion during World War I, was erected. It was destroyed by the Germans in September 1940 and reconstructed by the sculptor Bouret in October 1960. A radar station has stood on the summit since 1997, serving civilian aviation during approaches to the airports of Strasbourg and Basel-Mulhouse.

On clear days, you can see far into the Rhine Valley and the Alps.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4

1.78 km

View of the Grand Ballon

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Lac du Ballon, also Belchensee, is a karst lake. In the 16th century, Vauban converted it into a reservoir.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5

2.13 km

Grand Ballon

Highlight • Summit

The Col du Grand Ballon from Moosch is 12.6 km long with a total drop of 949 m. The average gradient is 7.6% with maximum gradients of 14.5%. There are stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The climb is often included in the Tour de France.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6

3.60 km

Superb panorama of the Vosges

Highlight • Summit

Even on the way to the Grande Ballon, there are always magnificent views of the surrounding landscape.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.35 km

Firstacker

Mountain Pass

13.9 km

Cave Entrance

Cave Entrance

9

14.3 km

View of the Grand Ballon

Highlight • Other

Here you can see everything, no wonder it's the highest point of the Vosges (1442m).

Showing Translation

Tip by

10

14.4 km

Haag Pass

Highlight • Mountain Pass

The Route des Crêtes, or the Vosges ridge road, is one of the most impressive mountain roads in France. The scenic Route des Crêtes runs along the main ridge of the Southern Vosges almost entirely at an altitude of 1200 m.
Originally, it was laid out by French troops as a supply route during the First World War. Today, in the snow-free months, it is mainly visitors to the Vosges who travel on it. It runs for 75 km from Col du Bonhomme in the north via Col de la Schlucht, Hohneck, Markstein, Grand Ballon and Cernay to Thann in the south.
The route passes several sites from the First World War and touches the highest mountain in the Vosges, the Grand Ballon.
Mostly deciduous and mixed forests line the road, or there are wonderful views of the wooded slopes of the Vosges, the Rhine plain and the Black Forest opposite. On a clear day the view extends as far as the Swiss Alps and Montblanc.
On nice days it is very popular with bikers with and without motor, and hikers get their money's worth on the left and right of the road.
Many convertible tours are also made here, which come from all regions of Europe.
The Ferme, (cozy Alsatian country inns), which can be found along the entire route, offer refreshment opportunities.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

B

14.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.69 km

5.20 km

1.25 km

1.24 km

169 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

7.46 km

4.70 km

1.28 km

679 m

329 m

113 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,410 m)

Lowest point (660 m)

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Monday 6 July

31°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

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