15 short circular routes in Israel that are suitable for families
Get a sea of offers for short circular trips from now until the beginning of spring, which are especially suitable for the cooling weather and the days off that the holidays bring with them
Eyal Shapira
09/20/2022
Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 08:54 Updated: 12:20
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View from the top of Alot, Lotz Pits (Photo: Ziv Reinstein)
Travelers who understand interest, wait all year (well, all summer) for it to cool down a bit, and it will be possible to go on trips without sweating (like in the summer) and without being crowded with everyone (like in the spring).
All the following circular routes are of easy to medium difficulty, up to three km.
Don't forget to equip yourself with a trail marking map or an off-road navigation app, and a detailed "road story" of the trip.
Tel Yodafat
It seems as if not about 2,000 years have passed since the great revolt of the Romans.
A trip to Old Yodafat sometimes reminds one of a journey through a time tunnel - from the sculpted warrior figures to the ancient remains discovered along the route.
This is where Joseph ben Matthew sat and led the battles with the Romans, when from all these dramas there remains an easy and beautiful hiking trail next to hidden caves, water cisterns intended for the needs of the besieged city and also beautiful views of the lower Galilee.
More on the route: remains of residential houses, stone walls, a hewn shaft that served as an underground shelter and more.
The length of the circular route:
about a kilometer.
In Wise: Ancient Yodafat
National Park.
Quarries in Tel Yodafat (photo: Surfers' Photos, Boaz Eshkol)
Finger Cave and Finger Ridge in Carmel
Many of those who visit the Finger Cave in Carmel, climb towards the large cave, which is shaped like a finger, and return the same way down to the starting point.
In doing so, they miss what the full circular route offers, which continues and climbs to the top of the ridge, while providing wonderful views towards the coast and the blue sea.
Especially in winter, the view from above is beautiful and supremely clear.
The climb to the cave is not easy, but suitable for those with basic fitness and above.
The road is decorated with a green grove, and the cave itself - whose opening is about four meters high - is pleasant to stay in, high above the landscape.
The length of the circular route:
about 2.5 km.
In Wise:
Finger Cave.
Hikers in the Cave of the Finger (photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Ran Peretz)
The pits and wells trail in Britannia Park
Many sites and trails network the Britannia Park in the lowland, which has an area of about 40 thousand dunams, but of all of these, the "Pit and Well Trail" is particularly outstanding, passing, as its name suggests, next to an abundance of ancient water facilities that were used to store rainwater.
And in between, it offers pine groves, a tangled grove, small orchards and high observation points.
Also on the route: ancient Goths and the ruins of Shekelon, which is topped by a beautiful observation.
The length of the circular route:
a little over 3 km.
In Wise:
"The pits and wells trail".
Britannia Park (Photo: ShutterStock)
Lutz pits
Here is an example of a route that is routine to spectacular in the summer, but one that the winter (and also the spring) does not do well and makes it exciting.
Not far from Mitzpe Ramon, the circular route awaits you, showing hints of the ancient agriculture of the area.
It has cisterns that fill up in winter, with the largest of them boasting a diameter of about 17 meters and a depth of four meters.
If you wait until February, you will also get a great display of blooms of desert tulips, yellow city tulips and more.
Note: The Ramat Negev Regional Council recently placed a sign at the entrance to road 171, regarding driving on the road which is dangerous and even prohibited, due to a disruption in the road, but nothing has changed in it for many years, including access to the overnight parking lot of the Nature and Parks Authority there.
Route length:
3 km.
In Wise:
Borot Lutz parking lot.
View from the top of Elot in the Lotz pits (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
Oak forest in Raam
The most European forest in Israel extends to the banks of the northern road, and it has thousands of dunams of pines, oaks, cypresses and other friends designed to provide you with dim shade and a real winter feeling.
In some places, such as for example in the Aloni Baram Forest Reserve (which is part of the forest), there are tracks that pass through dense thickets, ones where you will not see the sun's rays even if you wanted to.
True, this may be an exaggeration, but it is not far from the truth.
The length of the recommended route in the Aloni Baram Forest Reserve (don't get confused by the routes in the forest outside the reserve):
about 3 km.
In Wise: Yaer
Baram parking lot.
The most European forest in Israel.
Baram oak forest (photo: Eyal Shapira)
The Red Canyon
Did you find yourself at the end of a winter holiday in Eilat?
It's time to also see desert nature in one of the popular family routes in the area: the Red Canyon (Gai Shani).
Its name alludes to the colors of the reddish sandstone formation that characterizes the canyon.
Metal steps will help you merge into the Red Canyon, and walk through it in the heart of the desert, while crossing rock cliffs.
great experience.
Length of the short circular route:
about 2 km.
Arrival
from road 12, about 20 km north of Eilat and according to the signs.
One of the popular family routes in the Eilat area.
The Red Mall (Photo: Walla! System, Ziv Reinstein)
Hamuki Nitsana
Hamuki Nitsana is a space that captivates the eye and the heart in the Pethat Nitsana area, not far from the Egyptian border, where the Kirton rock hills are low, rounded and beautiful in a bright white color.
For ages the rocks have been weathered by the forces of nature, and today they give the feeling of walking on the moon.
Less than a year ago, a new circular path was marked, which brings the best of Hamuki Nitsana, alongside other points of interest in the area, including ancient terraces, an ancient agricultural experience that has been restored and more.
The length of the circular route:
3.5 km.
In Wise: Hamuki
Nitsana.
A space that captivates the eye and the heart.
Hamuki Nitsana (photo: Walla! NEWS system, Eyal Shapira)
Harbel Cliff
The trip to the cave fortress on the Harbel cliff, which rises high above the Sea of Galilee, is a family trek full of experiences.
At the entrance to the reserve, you get a map and walk according to it on the route, which begins with a descent with the help of pegs.
Later we reach the cave fortress, which was carved in ancient times.
Among other things, a bloody battle took place here between Herod's soldiers and the Galilean rebels.
And between one story and another, don't forget to stare at the beautiful and clear view of the Galilee and the Golan that will be revealed at every step.
The route ends with another challenging climb on iron pegs.
The length of the route:
about 2 km. Suitable for children from the age of 7. Entrance is paid (22 NIS for adults, 9 NIS for children) and by coordination on the website of the Nature and Parks Authority.
In Wise:
Arbel Nature Reserve.
A family trek full of experiences.
Harbel Cliff (photo: official website, Vared Rabinowitz, Nature and Parks Authority)
Salvador River
When the popular Nahal Og is full to the point of exhaustion with crowds of travelers, it is recommended to take a little stroll along the shores of the Dead Sea and discover a less familiar route.
True to its name, Nahal Salvadora, north of Ein Gedi, showcases a magnificent and multi-branched Persian Salvadora tree, next to which springs a small stream that is almost impossible to discover if you don't know about its existence.
The desert trail will make you climb dwarf rock waterfalls and also encounter a dry waterfall that rises to a height of hundreds of meters on top of the replica cliff.
Route length:
about 2.5 km.
Arrival:
on road 90, between Mitzpe Shalem and Ein Gedi. Park in a small parking lot between km markers 251-250.
Leave you from the busy Og.
Nahal Salvadora (photo: Walla! NEWS system, Eyal Shapira)
Nahal Gilbon
In the summer they come to Nahal Gilbon to dip in a deep pool in front of a flowing waterfall, and in the winter they come here to be impressed by the winter show of nature in this area of the western Golan.
The powerful show includes a route that will bring you to the Deborah waterfall, a walk next to streams of water and also a jaw-dropping view of the Gilbon waterfall, which is about 40 meters high.
The length of the route:
a little over 3 km.
Arrival:
drive on road 91. About a kilometer and a half northeast of the Nashut junction, go down according to the signs to the road marked in red and after a kilometer and a bit turn right and Arach Ramchen parks next to abandoned buildings.
A route that will bring you to the Dvora waterfall.
Nahal Gilbon (photo: Eyal Shapira, Eyal Shapira)
Tel Dor National Park
If you liked the rugged beaches of Dor Habonim, then this (relatively) new national park is tailor-made for you.
Along with the beautiful coves and hidden corners of the coastal bends, there are quite a few hints of ancient civilizations.
Winter is an excellent season for this coastal trip, where the old port city showcases a picturesque Kurkar ridge, harbor remains, unusual viewpoints towards the sea, remnants of magnificent buildings from the Roman period, and more.
The length of the full circular route:
about 2 km (there is also a short accessible route).
In Wise:
Tel Dor National Park. Entry is free but required by coordination on the Nature and Parks Authority website.
Tel Dor National Park (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Tal Karmi)
A small fin and the colored sands in the Great Crater
Winter is the time when the Israeli desert looks its best, and things are doubly true in the Negev craters, thanks to their varied rock colors, a product of ancient geological processes.
In the Great Crater (Yerucham Crater) there is a winding "small fin" route, which starts with a slightly strenuous climb, and continues with an amazing view towards the expanses of the entire crater.
The name "fin" refers to the shape of the cliff from which this observation is made.
From here you descend steeply to the depth of the crater and finish at the site of the colored sands, where you can fill bottles (bring them in advance) with reddish, greenish, brown, yellowish sand and more.
Route length:
3 km.
Arrival:
From Route 225 to the colored sands parking lot, where the route begins and ends.
Start with a slightly strenuous climb.
The small fin in the large crater (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
Go around Pisgat Tabor
True, this mountain is not high, a little more than 560 meters in total, but despite this, a view from its summit to the expanses of the valleys and the Galilee seems much higher.
Here, in the lower Galilee, Mount Tabor offers a circular and easy summit route that brings straight to your eyes pastoral landscapes of agricultural plains, low hills, blue water reservoirs and other elements that look like a painting.
The path begins and ends at the "Gate of the Spirits", but according to or after the trip, it is recommended to visit the church complex at the top of the mountain, which is considered holy for Christians.
The length of the route:
about 3 km.
In Wise:
Mount Tabor peak trail.
A circular and easy summit route.
The Subbe Trail around Mount Tabor (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
Nahal Katia in Nesher Park
There are few easy and short routes that offer a multitude of experiences for children in a relatively small space.
One of them is Nahal Katia in Nesher Park.
The main attraction here is a pair of suspension bridges, high above the wooded bed of Nahal Katia.
Most are satisfied with these bridges, which are about 70 meters long, but if you go on the circular route that passes right by the river itself, you will discover a dark and magical forest, and also one small, hidden cave.
The full length of the route:
about 2.5 km.
In Wise:
Hanging Bridge Eagle Park.
The main attraction here is a pair of suspension bridges.
Nahal Katia in Nesher Park (photo: Walla! system, Eyal Shapira)
Ein Afek Nature Reserve
Although it is tucked away between the kariyas in the north, the Ein Afek Nature Reserve manages to make its travelers forget this fact, thanks to landscapes that seem to have been taken from 100 years ago, when the marshes thrived, attracting a rich flora and fauna.
Try the "Bad Trail", which will take you to beautiful views towards buffaloes, will meet you with schools of catfish, and will surprise you with a section that literally floats over a pool of water, without railings.
Closest to nature.
More at the place: a view from the top of a Crusader building, a walk in a garden shelter for endangered plants and more.
Route length:
a little over a kilometer.
Entrance is paid (22 NIS for an adult, 9 NIS for a child) and by coordination on the website of the Nature and Parks Authority.
In Wise:
Ein Afek Nature Reserve.
A family route of just over a kilometer.
Ein Afek (Photo: Meno Greenspan)
For more trips and itineraries
- enter the "Trips in Israel" section of Walla!
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