If you prefer to hike in the more secure environment of a regulated national park, “Israel By Foot” presents you with the best options. We will review the most attractive parks for hiking and recommend how to get the most out of each one of them.
There are more than 60 declared national parks in Israel. They are managed by the “Israel Nature and Parks Authority” (“Ratag” in Hebrew). The parks are divided into 4 main categories:
- Declared areas without any facilities or entrance fees.
- Recreational & Camping sites. (Usually beaches or natural pools)
- All the main archaeological sites like Masada & Cesare.
- Nature reserves with hiking trails.
There are 15 parks in the hiking category. Hiking in the parks has some advantages:
- Hiking in a confined and regulated area.
- The park provides a map with hiking trails.
- You can consult with the park rangers before you set out.
On the other hand, there are also disadvantages:
- In most parks, the hikes are limited to short and easy hikes only.
- The hiking trails are usually much more crowded.
- You are limited to the park opening hours.
- Requires entrance fee.
It gets down to personal preference if you favor it or not.
Yehudia National Park – A wide variety of hiking options inside the reserve, ranging from 5-10 Km. The reserve covers the most attractive streams of the Golan Heights.
Amud Stream Natural Reserve – The most attractive stream in the Galil mountains. Plenty of water, shade and huge trees. An easy-medium 3-5 Km hike inside the reserve, or our 10 Km difficult hike that will take you also to a special viewpoint.
Banias Natural Reserve (Hermon Stream) – A very easy 2.5 Km hike along a wild gushing stream.
Arbel National Park – The most famous view on the Sea of Galilee. An easy walk around the summit inside the reserve or an ascend to the top as part of a more challenging day-hike.
Ein Gedi Nature Reserve – The scenery of water in the desert is a unique one and Ein Gedi, is one of the best places to experience it. There is a good hiking trails network in the reserve to accommodate all hiking levels. Ranging from very easy family strolls to demanding steep ascends to the mountain summits.
Ein Ovdat Natural Reserve – Another fine spot to experience the sight of water in the desert. A very easy 3 Km walk inside the reserve, or a day-hike that connects the reserve with the Havarim Stream.
General Information
YEHUDIA NATIONAL PARK – DEEP POOLS AND TALL WATERFALLS IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS
Location: Yehudia Reserve Parking
There is a large selection of trails to pick from ranging from very short up to 10 Km long. The park includes some of the best trails and some of the most beautiful pools in the Golan Heights. Highly recommended!!
Our Recommendation – A Hike in Nahal Zvitan:
- Distance: About 6 Km.
- Difficulty: Medium (Some exposed and rocky sections)
- Map: Download the Park Map (The Map is on page 2 in the PDF file, Only in Hebrew)
- GPS: Download the GPS file for the hike. (How to use the GPS file on the mobile phone)
From the entrance of the Yehudia National Park Take the green trail heading northwest, towards the Zavitan stream. Turn right on the red marked trail. After a short while, turn left and go down to the stream bed following now black markers. You are now inside the Gorge of Nahal Zavitan.
Turn left and hike downstream along the Black marked trail. The trail crosses the stream several times and in some sections, caution is required. After a while, you will reach a junction with a red marked trail. You can turn left go back up to the parking of the Yehudia Natural Reserve. Or make another very attractive detour to the Netef Spring.
Continue downstream along the Red marked trail for about 250 meters to reach the spring. The spring flows from the cliffs on the North (Right) bank creating a chilling natural shower. A great sport to refresh and relax. Retrace your steps to the junction.
Go here for more Hikes in the Golan Heights and Galilee Mountains
AMUD STREAM NATURAL RESERVE – THE MOST ATTRACTIVE STREAM IN THE GALILEE MOUNTAINS
Location: Amud Stream Reserve Parking
Nahal Amud is the most attractive stream in the Galilee mountains. Plenty of water, shade and giant trees. The regulated area in the National park covers only a small section of it. If you are looking for a short walk, you can make a 3-5 Km round trip with the map provided by the park. If you are looking for a more serious hike, we highly recommend our 10 Km Nahal Amud Hike.
BANIAS NATURAL RESERVE – A WILD GUSHING STREAM
Location: Hermon stream Reserve Parking
The Banias river (Hermon) is one of the 3 tributaries of the Jordan River.
It is the “wildest” of the 3, featuring a deep canyon and an impressive waterfall. The scenery is fantastic with plenty of shade and water. It can feel a little more “European” that middle eastern.
The most exciting section is a “Suspended Trail” that is “hanging” above the gushing water.
The Park has 2 entrances. The top one near the Banias springs and the bottom one near the Banias waterfall. It is possible to visit each part of the Banias reserve separately and make a short circular hike in each. However, the best hike is to start at the top entrance and follow the stream all the way to the waterfall.
Our Recommendation – A Hike along the Banias river:
- Distance: About 5 Km.
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Map: Download the Park Map (The Map is Only in Hebrew)
- GPS: Download the GPS file for the hike. (How to use the GPS file on the mobile phone)
Start at the entrance of the Banias Springs. After visiting the springs and the pools, don’t go back to your car, instead follow the blue marked trail going downstream. Along the way, you will pass impressive flora, cascades, and ancient watermills. after about 2 kilometers you will reach a viewpoint from the top of the famous Banias waterfall.
Descend, cross the Banias river and arrive at a junction with a red marked trail. Turn left to get another view on the waterfall, this time from below. Go back to the junctions and walk downstream to the “Suspended Birde” trail. An easy ½ kilometer circuit. When done climb to the lower park entrance. You have walked until now about 3 kilometers. If you have 2 cars you could leave the 2nd one here. If not, it’s a flat 2 kilometers walk back to the upper entrance.
Go here for more Hikes in the Golan Heights and Galilee Mountains
ARBEL NATIONAL PARK – THE MOST FAMOUS VIEW ON THE SEA OF GALILEE.
Location: Arbel Parking
The two main attractions of the park are the Carob lookout, Probably the most famous view on the Sea of Galilee. And the Arbel fortress, which is a military stronghold carved into the rocks in the 7th century.
Inside the park, you can make an easy 2.5 Km hike of the Carob Lookout and the fortress. However, “earning” the view with the climb from lake Kinneret is much more rewarding. Check out our 8 Km Mount Arbel Hike.
EIN GEDI NATURE RESERVE – A BEAUTIFUL OASIS IN THE JUDEAN DESERT
Location: Ein Gedi Reserve Parking
The reserve includes the Arugot and David streams. It’s the biggest and most beautiful oasis in the Judean desert. The park includes a variety of trails that can be “mixed and matched” to meet all levels of hikers and visitors. Ranging for 2 Km family strolls to 10 Km demanding hikes with some steep ascends. You can make the regular 2-4 km trail in Nahal Arugor or Nahal David, or follow our exciting hike.
Our Recommendation – Circular hike in the Ein Gedi Reserve
- Distance: About 8 Km.
- Difficulty: Medium (But with steep ascends and descends of about 500 meters)
- Map: View and download the map
- GPS: Download the GPS file for the hike. (How to use the GPS file on the mobile phone)
Start by climbing the “Ein Gedi Ascend”. The trail gets steeper and rougher as it gets closer to the summit. From midway and up you get amazing views of the Dead sea below.
Continue with the black markers on the flat landscape for about 1.5 kilometers, until you are at the top of the Nahal Arugot Canyon. (Another great viewpoint). Descend the very steep trail down to the bottom of the canyon where you meet a Red marked trail. Turn right and walk about half a kilometer upstream to the famous hidden waterfall. (Pictured above). After a clod deep in the pool walk all the way down to the park entrance on the Red marked trail.
Visit our Ein-Gedi Complete Guide for all the hiking options in Ein-Gedi
EIN AVDAT NATURE RESERVE – THE BIGGEST SPRING IN THE NEGEV DESERT
Location: Ein Avdat Reserve Parking
The reserve is a section of the Zin Wadi where the biggest spring and oasis of the central Negev is located. A fantastic setting. The problem is that the only trail in the reserve is about 2 Km long. We highly recommend taking our Ovdat Havrim Hike, which upgrades the experience into a 10 Km circuit that connects the reserve with beautiful Havarim Wadi.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Opening Hours:
Summer: 08:00-17:00 (Fridays until 16:00)
Winter: 08:00-16:00 (Fridays until 15:00) - Prices: Adults 28 NIS / Children 14 NIS
- Dogs not allowed
- Parks Authority official website
