20.2
PDI
7.6 mi
DISTANCE
3,044 ft
GAINED
7.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland.
INTRO
The Grand Ballon is the highest summit in the Vosges at 1,424 m (4,672 ft), and the climb from Moosch is a demanding way up it: 12.3 km (7.6 mi) and 928 m (3,044 ft) of gain at a 7.6% average, rising from 391 m (1,284 ft) in the Saint-Amarin valley to 1,319 m (4,326 ft) on the Route des Crêtes just below the top.
The road passes through the village of Geishouse and then turns onto the Col du Haag road, a narrow forest road that was resurfaced in 2023 and is now closed to motor traffic. That puts the steepest part of the climb, with long stretches at 10-12%, on the quietest pavement. The grade eases for the last kilometer along the ridge, where you meet the Route des Crêtes.
The Tour de France put this road on the map on 18 July 2026, when Stage 14 from Mulhouse to Le Markstein climbed the Col du Haag from the Saint-Amarin side and Tadej Pogačar attacked near the top. The Moosch road and the Tour's approach share the final climb above Geishouse.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The Grand Ballon from Moosch climbs 928 m (3,044 ft) over 12.3 km (7.6 mi) at a 7.6% average, and there is almost no flat or downhill to recover on (just 2 ft / under 1 m of descent). The grade is sustained rather than spiky: the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) average 8.2% and the steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) average 7.9%, so nearly the whole climb is steady work.
The steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) averages 10.3%, the steepest half kilometer (0.3 mi) 12.0%, and the steepest 91 m (100 yd) reaches 12.7%. The early kilometers out of Moosch are the gentler part; the pitch builds above Geishouse where the road enters the forest toward the Col du Haag, and long stretches there run at 10-12%. The last kilometer or so along the Route des Crêtes eases to roughly 7%.
Roadway: The road is paved the entire way. From Moosch to Geishouse it is an ordinary village and mountain road. Above Geishouse the climb follows the Col du Haag road, which was fully resurfaced in 2023 and is now a car-free green road about 4 m (13 ft) wide, with the middle lane used by climbers, the left lane by descenders and the right lane by pedestrians. The surface is smooth but beginning to fade and show some frost damage. The last stretch joins the Route des Crêtes, which is open to cars.
Traffic: Traffic is light from Moosch to Geishouse and non-existent above it, because the Haag road is closed to motor vehicles apart from a few locals who operate the gates. Expect pedestrians and other cyclists rather than cars. Only on the final stretch of the Route des Crêtes toward the summit will you share the road with sightseeing traffic.
Parking: Moosch is a village of about 1,600 people rather than a trailhead, but the start sits right by the railway station, which has its own car park, and the village center has public toilets and water on the main square. The Mulhouse-Kruth rail line stops in Moosch, so arriving by train is an easy alternative to driving.
Water is easy to find at the start (the main square in Moosch) and there are small fountains in Geishouse, but there is nothing between Geishouse and the Haag farm-inn at the Col du Haag, so leave Geishouse with full bottles. The Grand Ballon summit has a restaurant and terrace if you want a proper stop.
With 10-12% pitches sustained for kilometers above Geishouse, compact gearing is the sensible choice: a 34-tooth chainring with a 28-30 tooth cassette is a comfortable choice. Pack a windproof layer for the ridge, since the summit area is far cooler and more exposed than the valley.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Moosch is the quiet end of the Saint-Amarin valley, with a train station on the Mulhouse-Kruth line, a handful of restaurants around the Rue de la Gare. Its Moosch National Necropolis holds about 600 French soldiers from the First World War and is part of the UNESCO-listed First World War memorial sites, and the short walk to the Bubalafels waterfall makes a good rest-day outing.
The ride is best from late spring to early autumn: snow cover above 1,350 m usually exceeds 1.5 m in winter, and the Route des Crêtes toward the Col de la Schlucht is closed in winter. From the Col du Haag, a trail leads to the Storkenkopf, the second-highest summit in the Vosges at 1,366 m (4,482 ft).
If you want to combine the Grand Ballon with other climbs in the area, our Routes in the Area tool can show nearby climbs and help you build a longer day around the ridge.
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