New in 2027: Trail du Grand Ballon gets a winter edition
Trail du Grand Ballon is expanding! In 2027, we are adding a third event to our calendar in the Vosges. After our well-known spring and summer editions, this time we are heading into the mountains in the middle of winter. New starting location, three completely new courses and – sooner or later – guaranteed snow underfoot.
The story of Trail du Grand Ballon began in 2017 with a single edition in April. Later, a second, summer event in July was added. Since then, the event has continued to grow year after year.
Last year, no fewer than 4,500 runners were at the start line of our April edition. The race sold out in no time, and Trail du Grand Ballon has meanwhile grown into one of the largest and most popular trail events in the Vosges.
But something was still missing.
Why not a real winter trail
We noticed that during the winter months, hardly any large, challenging long-distance trail races are organized in the Vosges. Even though this might just be the season when the massif shows its most impressive side.
Snow on the peaks. Frozen mountain trails. Bare forests. Winter vistas. And conditions that suddenly turn a trail into a completely different adventure.
That is why in 2027 we are launching a third Trail du Grand Ballon: a real winter edition. We are moving to the other side of the Grand Ballon. For this new race, we are leaving our trusted start and finish location in the ski resort of Le Markstein.
We are, so to speak, crossing the Grand Ballon and descending towards Guebwiller. Our new base will be Jungholtz, where the start and finish will be set up at the beautiful four-star hotel and spa Les Violettes.
From the valley, participants immediately head into the massif.
And our course designers have gone back to work. No winter versions of our existing routes, but three completely new courses, specially designed for this race.
You can choose from:
20 km – 35 km – 50 km
Three distances, three tough winter challenges and three new ways to discover the Grand Ballon.
Snow? You can count on it.
The choice to start from the valley is deliberate.
Anyone registering for this winter edition can assume that they will encounter snow along the way sooner or later. The courses go high enough into the massif for that.
At the same time, our lower starting location makes the event much less vulnerable to extreme snow conditions.
Under normal winter conditions, we head towards the higher, snow-covered parts of the massif. If we face exceptionally heavy snowfall or extremely bad weather, we have an alternative course ready that avoids the highest and most exposed peaks.
This way, we can offer participants a real winter trail without being completely dependent on the conditions at the very top of the mountain.
16 & 17 January 2027
The very first winter edition of Trail du Grand Ballon takes place on 16 and 17 January 2027, spread over two days.
In the middle of winter. In the middle of the Vosges.
For this first edition, we are deliberately keeping it limited: only 2,000 entry bibs will be available for all three distances combined.
Registrations open on 1 October.
Looking at the speed at which our other editions sell out, we have only one piece of advice:
put 1 October in your calendar.
20, 35 or 50 kilometres.
Three completely new courses.
The Grand Ballon in the middle of winter.
And only 2,000 places.
Good luck getting your entry bib.