These data report surface mass balance (SMB) stake measurements at the frontal part of Gourdon Glacier on James Ross Island, northern Antarctic Peninsula. The measurements were conducted by drilling stakes made of bamboo or aluminium into the ice. Changes in the height above the glacier surface were measured in yearly field campaigns during January/February from 2014 until 2017. The resulting height differences in meter ice equivalents [SMB (m i.e.)] are presented together with the coordinates [Latitude Start (°)], [Longitude Start (°)], [Latitude End (°)], [Longitude End (°)] and the elevation in regard to the WGS84 ellipsoid [Altitude Start (m)] and [Altitude End (m)] for the start and the end date of each measurement period. GNSS measurements were done with a single-frequency hand-held Garmin GPS 60. The mass balance measurements were not corrected for movement within one yearly measurement period.