Grand Ballon from Cernay: Up the Southern End of the Route des Crêtes

The Grand Ballon from Cernay is 22.8 km (14.1 mi) long, with 1150 m (3772 ft) of climbing and 134 m (438 ft) of descending along the way, from 305 m (1001 ft) to 1321 m (4335 ft) - a 4.5% overall average. The steepest 1 km averages 8.9%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 8.5% and the hardest 5 km (3.1 mi) 8.0%. The steepest 100 yards (91 m) reach only 11.5%, so this is about sustained effort rather than walls.

The first 2 km (1.2 mi) through Cernay and Uffholtz are flat to false flat. Then the forest hairpins of the D431 begin at 5-8% and hold that for about 7 km (4.3 mi) before a nearly flat stretch past the Col du Herrenfluh. A final ramp reaches the Col du Silberloch and the Vieil Armand at about 14 km (8.7 mi).

Next comes roughly 3 km (1.9 mi) of rolling road and descent to the Col Amic, around 830 m (2723 ft) - enjoy it, because the last 6.5 km (4 mi) are the hardest part of the climb, at 7-8.7% with long straights and little relief until the ridge.

Provisions: Fill up in Cernay before you leave - there is no reliable water on the open road until the farm inns higher up. The Ferme-Auberge du Freundstein, just off the road between the Vieil Armand and the Col Amic, serves a traditional farm meal on a big terrace facing the Grand Ballon, and there are more food options on the Route des Crêtes near the summit.

Gear: The climb is long rather than steep, so pacing matters more than gearing, but a compact chainring makes the final 6.5 km (4 mi) from the Col Amic more comfortable. The top sits more than 1000 m (3281 ft) above the Alsace plain, and riders regularly find it cold, windy or in cloud while Cernay is warm, especially in spring - carry a wind jacket and something warm for the long descent.

Cernay calls itself the "cité des cigognes" and is one of Alsace's stork villages, with a stork park in town. The Musée de la Porte de Thann occupies part of a surviving medieval town gate, and on Sundays and holidays from June to September (plus Wednesdays in July and August) the heritage Train Thur Doller Alsace runs steam and diesel trains 13.6 km (8.5 mi) from Cernay-Saint-André station to Sentheim - a relaxed rest-day outing at the foot of the climb.

Up on the route, the Vieil Armand (Hartmannswillerkopf) memorial and its national cemetery at the Col du Silberloch are an essential stop - our Grand Ballon (Soultz) page covers the battlefield's history and visiting hours. Just beyond, the ruins of the Château de Freundstein, first recorded in 1297 and a listed monument since 1922, stand close to the road toward the Col Amic, near the farm inn of the same name, run for many years by the Luttringer family and known for its summer blueberry tart. Riders looking for extra climbing recommend the detour up the Molkenrain, which touches 11%. Conditions at the summit can be very different from the plain, so check our Weather tool before you set out.