Col du Grand Ballon

Col du Grand Ballon
The col viewed from the slopes of the Grand Ballon
Elevation	1,343 m (4,406 ft)
Traversed by	D431
Location	Vosges, France
Range	Vosges Mountains
Coordinates	47°54′17″N 7°6′12″E / 47.90472°N 7.10333°E / 47.90472; 7.10333Coordinates: 47°54′17″N 7°6′12″E / 47.90472°N 7.10333°E / 47.90472; 7.10333
Col du Grand Ballon Location of Col du Grand Ballon

The Col du Grand Ballon (elevation 1,343 m (4,406 ft)) is a mountain pass situated close to the summit of the Grand Ballon (1,424 m (4,672 ft)) in the Vosges Mountains of France. It connects Cernay (Haut-Rhin) with Le Markstein winter sports station.

There are several different directions from which the Col du Grand Ballon can be climbed:

From Cernay (south-east), the total distance is 23.3 km (14.5 mi) at an average gradient of 4.5%, gaining 1,046 m (3,432 ft) in height. This route follows the Route des Crêtes over the Col de Herrenfluh (835 m (2,740 ft)) after 9.5 km (5.9 mi). After a short descent, the road climbs again to the Col de Silberloch (906 m (2,972 ft)) before descending to the Col Amic (828 m (2,717 ft)). From here, there remain 6.8 km (4.2 mi) at an average of 7.6%. In the forest on this final section, there are two short paved stretches. 3 km (1.9 mi) from the summit, the gradient increases to over 8%.

From Willer-sur-Thur (south), the ascent (via D138) is 16.0 km (9.9 mi) long, climbing 974 m (3,196 ft) at an average of 6.1%. This route joins that from Cernay at the Col Amic.

From the south it is also possible to climb on minor roads from Saint-Amarin or Moosch, both on the N66; these routes join together at Geishouse. Both routes are approximately 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long at an average of over 7%, with a kilometre section near the summit at 12%.

From Soultz (east), the route follows a minor road for the first 12.0 km (7.5 mi) at a steady average gradient of 4.6%, before joining the other routes at Col Amic. In total, the climb is 19.0 km (11.8 mi) long, climbing 1,072 m (3,517 ft) at an average of 5.6%.

From Kruth (west), the climb (via D27) is 22.9 km (14.2 mi) long gaining 853 m in height at an average of 3.7%. This climb joins the D431 at Le Markstein.