New in 2027: the Trail du Grand Ballon will have its winter edition

The Trail du Grand Ballon is expanding! In 2027, we are adding a third event to our calendar in the Vosges. After our famous spring and summer editions, this time we are heading into the mountains in the middle of winter. A new start location, four completely new courses and – sooner or later – guaranteed snow underfoot.

The story of the Trail du Grand Ballon began in 2017 with a single edition in April. Later, a second summer event was added in July. Since then, the event has continued to grow year after year.

Last year, no fewer than 4,500 runners were at the start of our April edition. The race sold out in no time, and today the Trail du Grand Ballon has become one of the largest and most popular trail running events in the Vosges.

But something was still missing.

Why not a real winter trail

We noticed that there is practically no major, demanding long-distance trail race organized in the Vosges during the winter months. Even though it is perhaps the season when the massif reveals itself at its most impressive.

Snow on the peaks. Frozen mountain trails. Bare forests. Winter panoramas. And conditions that suddenly turn a trail run into a whole different adventure.

That is why in 2027 we are launching a third Trail du Grand Ballon: a true winter edition. We are moving to the other side of the Grand Ballon. For this new race, we are leaving our usual start and finish site at the Markstein ski resort.

We are essentially crossing the Grand Ballon and descending towards Guebwiller. Our new base camp will be Jungholtz, where the start and finish will be set up at the magnificent four-star Les Violettes hotel-spa.

From the valley, participants will head straight up into the massif.

And our course designers have gotten back to work. No winter versions of our existing routes, but four completely new courses, specially designed for this race.

You can choose between 20 km – 25 km - 35 km – 50 km.

If you are motivated, you can even take on the 2-day adventure with the Hivernale 60 or Hivernale 45. 

Snow? You can count on it.

The choice to start from the valley is deliberate.

Anyone registering for this winter edition can be sure to encounter snow along the way at some point. To ensure this, the courses climb high enough into the massif.

At the same time, our lower start location makes the event much less vulnerable to extreme snow conditions.

Under normal winter conditions, we head towards the highest and snowiest parts of the massif. If we were to face exceptionally heavy snowfall or extreme weather, we have an alternative route that avoids the highest and most exposed peaks.

This way, we can offer participants a real winter trail, without being entirely dependent on the conditions at the very top of the mountain.

16 & 17 January 2027

The very first winter edition of the Trail du Grand Ballon will take place on January 16 and 17, 2027, spread over two days.

In the heart of winter. In the heart of the Vosges.

For this first edition, we are keeping it exclusive: only 2,000 race bibs will be available across all four distances.

Registration will open on October 5.

Given how quickly our other editions sell out, we have just one piece of advice:

mark October 5 in your calendar.

20, 25, 35 or 50 kilometers or the 2-day challenge with the Hivernale 60 or Hivernale 45.
A completely new adventure.
The Grand Ballon in the heart of winter.
And only 2,000 spots.

Good luck getting your bib.