Grand Ballon – Ballon Lake loop from Grand Ballon

Hiking trails & Routes

Grand Ballon – Ballon Lake loop from Grand Ballon

Hard

4.9

(69)

267

hikers

Grand Ballon – Ballon Lake loop from Grand Ballon

07:16

19.5km

1,000m

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: August 20, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

20 m

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 …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

713 m

Haag – Grand Ballon area

Highlight • Viewpoint

Pleasant part of the loop around the crest of the Grand Ballon. Plus beautiful views.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

1.17 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 …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.61 km

Judenhut Pass (976 m)

Highlight • Mountain Pass

Nice rest area, tables and benches are available. It can also be grilled there

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.22 km

Cave Entrance

7.98 km

Murbach Abbey

Highlight • Religious Site

Embedded in the middle of a charming little valley, this 8th century abbey seems timeless. These two imposing towers contrast with the natural setting in which they are located.
But …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

13.9 km

Kletterbach Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

There is a smaller waterfall on the forest path and a larger waterfall a little further down the forest path. The noise can be heard from afar.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

17.0 km

Lac du Ballon Dam

Highlight • Lake

Beautiful lake with clear water.
The climb is a bit tricky, partly with split splits, the last about 1000m neatly steep and littered with nasty potholes.
A detour is worthwhile anyway!

Translated by Google •

Tip by

17.4 km

Ballon Lake

Highlight • Lake

The Lac du Ballon owes its name to the summit at the foot of which it is located, the Grand Ballon, the highest point in the Vosges.
Embedded in a …

Translated by Google •

Tip by

19.5 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.95 km

6.60 km

5.43 km

509 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.7 km

5.83 km

2.54 km

428 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (1,340 m)

Lowest point (440 m)

Weather

Saturday 10 October

12°C

5°C

19 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

May 9, 2026,🇨🇵 Murbach-Grand Ballon (1424m)-Lac du Ballon

We started in the small, picturesque hamlet of Murbach near Guebwiller in the Vosges.
First, we visited the imposing Benedictine abbey. Even though today only the transept with its two towers and the eastern part with the choir remain, a visit to this impressive structure is definitely worthwhile.
When the organist suddenly began to play beautiful pieces on the organ, …

Showing Translation

April 15, 2022,Großer Belchen

Hike from Murbach Abbey to the highest mountain in the Vosges - the Grand Ballon. There are a few places to stop off on the road below the summit. Except at the summit we hardly met other people. A very nice tour in the best weather!

Showing Translation

August 25, 2022,🎈 Grand Ballon 🎈

Grand Finale... 😎
At the end of the hiking week we went up again, namely to the highest mountain in the Vosges in France, the Grand Ballon (Großer Belchen - 1424 m) ⛰.
It started in Murbach in the parking lot 🚗 of the Abbaye de Murbach monastery ⛪.
Without further ado, the hardest climb was waiting right at the …

Showing Translation

June 20, 2025,Grand Ballon ⛰️ Runde ab Murbach über Judenhut ⛰️ Lac du Ballon und Hohrupf ⛰️

Grand Ballon/Grand Ballon, at 1,423 m, the highest mountain in the Vosges.
This loop from Murbach was, for me, a tour of superlatives! Wonderfully shady mountain forests, varied trails, a feast for the eyes through lush floral vegetation, magical mossy stones, fortifying wild blueberries, and all of this garnished with the diverse birdsong, indescribably beautiful panoramic views, and history!
Only …

Showing Translation

April 29, 2023,FR Alsace | Murbach - Ruine Hohrupf - Gustiberg - Lac du Ballon - Col du Haag - Grand Ballon - Col du Judenkopf - Ebeneck

With a certain amount of excitement we drove towards Alsace on Friday to see if the "window of sunshine" will come true as announced from Friday afternoon to Monday morning.
We had hoped for a bluer sky for today, but on the other hand playing on the Grand Ballon with the clouds and the wide views that were always enjoyable …

Showing Translation

June 26, 2025,Vogesen - Du Murbach au Grand Ballon

I do this every time I am in the southern Vosges 🙂

Showing Translation

June 26, 2025,Zweite Runde zum Grand Ballon

Hard to believe, but there were actually a few clouds this morning, so I packed a rain cape and some long-sleeved clothing. We started at a former monastery in Murbach. It was a steep climb right away, so there was no need for warmer clothing at first. Via Ebeneck, Judenhutplan, and through the Belchenwald forest, we then reached the summit …

Showing Translation

October 23, 2024,🇫🇷 Vogesen 📍Murbach ⛰️ Grand Ballon 1424m

How often have I looked at the Grand Ballon and never been up there on foot.
Today @Bernd accompanied me on the wonderful tour. The climb took a long time and after 3.5 hours we finally arrived at the radar station on the Grosser Belchen. In between we ordered something on the restaurant terrace in the parking lot before we …

Showing Translation