Col du Grand Ballon via Geishouse

This is the steepest way up the Grand Ballon, and the quietest too. The road to Geishouse sees mostly local traffic, and from there, it’s bikes and hikers only. The climb from Geishouse to Col du Haag winds up on a narrow, well-paved cycling path, with glimpses of the Grand Ballon observatory teasing you along the way. It holds steady between 8–11%, with a couple of brief breathers that ease the average gradient. Once you break out of the forest, you’ll pass by the Ferme-Auberge du Haag, and just one more hairpin stands between you and the summit.