Trail du Petit Ballon 2027
- Next event : Sun, March 14, 2027Date confirmed
The event in a few words
If you thought Alsace was just about storks and lukewarm pretzels, get your thighs ready for a serious muscle wake-up call 🥨 . Nestled in the Haut-Rhin at the heart of the Grand Est region, the charming town of Rouffach welcomes you in mid-March to kick off your trail season at full tilt. As for the sky at that time of year, Mother Nature often hesitates between springlike mildness down in the valley and icy squalls up high 🏔️ . Expect an invigorating cocktail where vineyard mud steals the show from patches of summit snow, with a brisk wind that will mess up even the boldest haircuts 🌤️ !
On these bracing trails, the scenery shifts gears as the kilometers tick by 🍇 . You’ll set off between the renowned plots of Grand Cru Vorbourg before plunging beneath the dense canopy of the Vosges massif on forest tracks and steep singletracks 🌲 . The highlight will take you all the way up to the high-altitude grasslands of the Petit Ballon, peaking around 1,300 m above sea level , before a panoramic descent that overlooks the Schauenberg convent and drops back down to the Rhine plain. Between runnable sections, switchbacks and leg-breaking climbs adding up to as much as 2,100 m D+, your quads will appreciate every flat stretch 👟 .
The adventure was born in 2004 🌞, the very year the organizer’s daughter was born, growing through the seasons to become a beloved institution for fans of trail running. For this big running celebration, the Trail du Petit Ballon pulls out all the stops with a warm welcome orchestrated by attentive volunteers 🎂 . Prestige-wise, the flagship 53 km race as well as the 23 km format hold the Silver Label awarded by the French Athletics Federation, serving as an official qualifying race for the French long and short trail championships. Add to that particularly generous runner packs—from finisher jackets to bottles from the local terroir—and you get a sporting challenge suited to every runner profile, from the beginner to the seasoned trail runner 🥈 .
Once you’ve crossed the finish arch 🏁, stow your poles and move on to local delights 🧀 . You can refuel with an authentic, steaming tarte flambée paired— in moderation— with a great Alsace grand cru, before exploring Rouffach’s medieval lanes or the picturesque canals of Colmar just a stone’s throw away 🏰 . So, ready to tame the Trail du Petit Ballon and write your name on the ridgelines? 🚀
4 reasons to join this race
A distance for every taste
53 km
42 km
23 kmTOP
12 km
3.4 km
2.4 km
1.4 km
800 m
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 8:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 2100mD+
- 3 ITRA points
- 800+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx53 km
A few more words
The flagship race of the event, this alpine adventure totals 53 km with a solid elevation gain of 2,100 mD+ ⛰️. After a punchy start through the Rouffach vineyards and a first stop at Gauchmatt, you’ll tackle the continuous climb to the Boenlesgrab pass at km 20.5 👑. The route then rises to the panoramic dome of Petit Ballon at an altitude of 1,300 m, where lingering snow regularly spices up your footing. You’ll drop down to Wasserbourg and then climb back up toward the Gollentz farm and the Schauenberg before the final descent through the vineyards of Grand Cru Vorbourg 🏁.
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 8:35 AM
- Elevation gain : 1550mD+
- 3 ITRA points
- 1 loopx42 km
A few more words
This endurance race offers an immersive 42 km and 1,550 mD+ experience, tailored for fans of mid-mountain terrain. The route shares its first eleven kilometers with the short course up to the Kreuzlein crossroads, before branching off onto a demanding 19 km loop toward Soultzbach-les-Bains 🧭. You’ll link up technical singletrack and leg-breaking steep pitches that will put your clarity of mind to the test 🦵. The last twelve kilometers follow the legendary finale of the long course via the Schauenberg and the Pfaffenheim hillsides, ensuring a triumphant finish 🎆.
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 10:00 AM
- Elevation gain : 750mD+
- 1 point ITRA
- 1,000+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx23 km
A few more words
A true benchmark of the regional short trail, this intermediate format offers 23 km for about 750 mD+ between 200 m and 600 m in altitude. You'll set off in the heart of the great wine-growing terroirs before climbing the first wooded slopes toward the picturesque Kreuzlein area near Osenbach 🍷. The climb continues along stony paths and rolling undergrowth up to the lookout point at the Schauenberg convent at km 16. You'll then drop down toward Rouffach via a descending, runnable section where you can lengthen your stride all the way to the final sprint ⏱️.
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 10:35 AM
- Elevation gain : 400mD+
- 300+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx12 km
A few more words
This introductory route packs all the charm of trail running into a punchy loop of 12 km and 400 mD+. Right from the start on Rue du Stade in Rouffach, you’ll break out of the plains to tackle the first Sub-Vosges hills ⚡ . The course winds through the vineyards before taking shaded forest trails where the surges come one after another without respite 🐾. With no mid-course aid station, this fast race demands dynamic management of your effort. You’ll then dive toward the finish line via a lively descent on hard-packed dirt tracks 🏁.
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 3:00 PM
- 3.4 km
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 3:25 PM
- 2.4 km
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 3:50 PM
- 1.4 km
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 4:00 PM
- 800 m
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Bib pick-up takes place at the multipurpose hall in Rouffach, located at 19 rue du Stade. Pick-up is scheduled on Saturday, March 13, 2027 from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm for all distances.
On Sunday, March 14, 2027, the desks open from 6:30 am to 7:30 am for the 53 km trail, from 7:00 am to 8:00 am for the 42 km marathon, from 8:30 am to 9:30 am for the 23 km course, and from 9:00 am to 10:00 am for the 12 km mini trail.
Remember to bring your own safety pins.
All starts take place on rue du Stade in Rouffach on Sunday, March 14, 2027. The 53 km starts at 8:00 am, the 42 km at 8:35 am, the 23 km at 10:00 am, and the 12 km at 10:35 am.
Non-licensed adult runners must provide a Parcours Prévention Santé certificate issued on the French Athletics Federation platform less than three months before the event.
License holders affiliated with the French Athletics Federation enter their valid license number. Minor participants must present a parental declaration relating to the official health questionnaire.
Participation in the 12 km Mini Trail de l'Âne is open from age 16 in the year 2027, corresponding to the cadet category. For the 23 km Circuit des Grands Crus, the 42 km Marathon du Petit Ballon and the 53 km Trail du Petit Ballon, the minimum age is set at 20 in the year 2027, corresponding to the U23 (espoir) category.
Registration fees change according to participant brackets:
Mini Trail de l'Âne (12 km): €16 up to the 200th registrant, €18 from the 201st to the 500th registrant, then €20 from the 501st to the 800th registrant.
Circuit des Grands Crus (23 km): €27 up to the 600th registrant, €32 from the 601st to the 1,000th registrant, then €37 from the 1,001st to the 1,800th registrant.
Marathon du Petit Ballon (42 km): €47 up to the 200th registrant, €52 from the 201st to the 500th registrant, then €57 from the 501st to the 800th registrant.
Trail du Petit Ballon (53 km): €53 up to the 500th registrant, €58 from the 501st to the 1,000th registrant, then €63 from the 1,001st to the 1,600th registrant.
Cut-off times are set for the two longest formats:
On the 53 km: pass the Col du Boenlesgrab at km 20 before 11:30 am, the Kreuzlein at Osenbach at km 40 before 3:15 pm, the Schauenberg parking lot at km 45 before 4:15 pm, with the finish line closing at 5:30 pm.
On the 42 km: pass Soultzbach-les-Bains at km 21 before 12:00 pm, the Kreuzlein at Osenbach at km 30 before 2:00 pm, the Schauenberg parking lot at km 35 before 3:00 pm, with the finish closing at 4:15 pm.
Liquid and solid aid stations are provided along the courses depending on the distance:
On the 53 km: liquid aid stations at Gauchmatt at km 10.5, at Wasserbourg at km 31.5 and at Schauenberg at km 46; solid and liquid aid stations at the Col du Boenlesgrab at km 20.5 and at the Gollentz farm in Osenbach at km 37.5.
On the 42 km: liquid aid station at Schauenberg at km 35; solid and liquid aid stations at the Kreuzlein in Osenbach at km 11, at Soultzbach-les-Bains at km 21 and again at the Kreuzlein at km 30.
On the 23 km: liquid aid station at Schauenberg at km 16; solid and liquid aid station at the Kreuzlein in Osenbach at km 11.
On the 12 km: no intermediate aid station on the course. A finish-line refreshment awaits each participant in Rouffach. No disposable cups are provided, requiring each athlete to run with their own reusable cup.
For the 53 km and the 42 km, you must carry a minimum 1-liter water reserve, an emergency blanket, a whistle, a neck gaiter or beanie, a waterproof jacket, a working mobile phone and a reusable cup. For the 23 km, a 0.5-liter water reserve, an emergency blanket and a reusable cup are required.
Walking poles are allowed on the 53 km and the 42 km, but strictly forbidden on the 23 km and the 12 km.
Registration includes your personalized bib with timing chip, access to aid stations, medical coverage, showers and changing rooms, as well as the official event t-shirt.
Finishers of the 53 km and the 42 km receive an exclusive technical jacket.
Participants in the 23 km receive a bottle of organic Alsace wine from a local winery.
A bag drop for your personal belongings is organized behind the Rouffach multipurpose hall. Changing rooms and showers are also available to runners in the immediate vicinity of the finish area.
If you still have questions, you can contact the organizers via their contact form on their website.
You can check the race rules here
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