GR 5 Vosges, Le Donon - Ballon d'Alsace
The place
The GR®5 Vosges section links Wissembourg (the Alsatian border) to Cernay (Haut-Rhin) over roughly 220 km, crossing the Vosges ridge from east to west and its typical fir and beech forests. The route follows the Route des Crêtes, passes by the finest Vosges summits (Ballon d'Alsace, Grand Ballon at 1,424 m), crosses vineyards and reaches picturesque Alsatian villages. Little abrupt elevation gain (a plateau-like massif), impeccable red-and-white waymarking. Ideal for a first multi-day hike in France, accessible to all walkers.
Why go
Grand Ballon (the highest summit of the Vosges, 1,424 m). Lac Blanc and Lac Noir. Route des Crêtes with simultaneous views over the Alsace plain and the Alps. Hohneck and its 360° panorama. Medieval fortified castles (Fleckenstein, Haut-Barr).
A bit of history
The Route des Crêtes des Vosges was laid out during the First World War for strategic military reasons. The GR5 later overlaid this historic route with a waymarked hiking trail in the 1970s by the FFRP, highlighting both the natural beauty of the Vosges and the heritage of the Franco-German border.
Getting there
Wissembourg: railway station (50 min from Strasbourg). Cernay: railway station (20 min from Mulhouse). The GR5 Vosges is accessible by public transport from Strasbourg or Mulhouse.
Recommended gear
Lightweight waterproof hiking shoes. Warm and windproof clothing (exposed ridges). Trekking poles. No technical equipment required.
Best season
April to November. Snow possible on the ridges from November to April. Summer is ideal with long days. Splendid autumn (foliage colours). Flowering spring.