01In brief
Highway 87 is a road in northern Israel linking the northern Sea of Galilee with the Golan Heights. From Capernaum Junction, it runs along the northern side of the Kinneret, crosses the Jordan River at Arik Bridge, and continues about three kilometers to Beit Tsaida Junction. At Falls Junction it meets Route 808, while its eastern section includes the segment between Falls and Bashan junctions. The route serves nature reserves and waterfall trails, while the crossing at Arik Bridge also carries supplies to Golan communities and agricultural produce leaving the region by truck.
02Overview and Route Geography
Travel directions from Tiberias follow Route 90 north to Capernaum Junction and turn onto Highway 87, which runs along the northern side of the Sea of Galilee.[1] The highway crosses the Jordan River at Arik Bridge and continues approximately three kilometers to Beit Tsaida Junction.[2] It then climbs into the Golan Heights and passes Yehudiya Junction; one travel guide places the Yehudiya Nature Reserve parking area about seven kilometers beyond that junction.[1] At Falls Junction (Waterfall Junction), Highway 87 meets Route 808, known as the Waterfalls Route.[3]
East of Falls Junction, Highway 87 reaches Bashan Junction.[4] Between Bashan and Katzrin junctions, drivers can access Salukiya Springs, a visitor site with small waterfalls and wading pools that was developed with support from Mei Eden, a mineral-water company based in nearby Katzrin.[6] Beyond its recreational role, a 1997 report described the road crossing Arik Bridge as the main access route to the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee, carrying supplies to Golan communities and agricultural produce leaving the region by truck.[5]
03Infrastructure History: Arik Bridge
Highway 87 crosses the Jordan River at Arik Bridge, north of the Sea of Galilee.[5] In 1997, Shapir won a Ma'atz tender to construct a new permanent bridge there for NIS 4.93 million.[5] The planned structure was to replace a narrow, deteriorating Bailey bridge that had stood for 28 years. One side of the old bridge had collapsed several years earlier and been closed, while the other was described as being in poor condition.[5]
At the time, Arik Bridge was described as carrying the main access road to the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee. It handled hundreds of thousands of travelers annually, active security traffic, supplies bound for Golan communities, and trucks transporting produce from the region.[5]
04Notable Sites and Landmarks Along the Route
Several natural and historical sites are accessible from Highway 87. Salukiya Springs, between Bashan and Katzrin junctions, offers small waterfalls and wading pools in a developed recreational setting.[6] For longer hikes around Nahal Meshushim, a travel guide recommends leaving a vehicle near Highway 87 between Yehudiya and Beit Tsaida junctions or at the Yehudiya Nature Reserve parking area.[3]
At Falls Junction, Highway 87 meets Route 808. Route descriptions place the Waterfalls Route south of the junction toward Ramat Magshimim, while Highway 87 descends west toward the Sea of Galilee.[7][3] The stretch between Yehudiya and Beit Tsaida junctions also serves as a staging point for hikers exploring Golan streams and waterfalls.[3]
A cultural artifact associated with the road is a photograph by German artist Thomas Struth, made between 2008 and 2012, depicting an abandoned Syrian mosque described as lying off Route 87 in the Golan Heights. The photograph is cataloged by the National Library of Israel, which states that its title was drawn from Joseph Koudelka's book Wall.[8]
05Incidents and Road Closures
Highway 87 has been subject to periodic closures caused by severe weather. During flooding in January 2020, police reported that Route 87 was closed north of Yehudiya Junction and that Waterfall Junction was blocked in both directions. Routes 92 and 87 were also listed as diversion routes in connection with closures during the storm.[9] In February 2021, heavy snowfall closed Highway 87 between Falls Junction and Bashan Junction in both directions.[4]
In 2017, an explosion at an oil-drilling site on Route 87 between Katzrin and Yehuda injured two workers.[10] Magen David Adom treated them at the scene before they were transported to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, with one reported in critical condition. Police opened an investigation, and the circumstances were initially unclear.[10]
06Regional Security Context
In 2016, the US Embassy in Israel temporarily prohibited American government employees from personal travel into the area north of Highway 87 and east of Route 918, citing spillover fire from the conflict in Syria.[11] The restriction was imposed during a period of mortar and projectile spillover from fighting across the border, making Highway 87 a geographic reference point in security restrictions affecting the Golan region.[11]
Sources
- 1The Jerusalem Post, Off the Beaten Track: Trails and tribulations in the Golan, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 2Mako, The perfect season: we found the most beautiful place right now, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 3Ynet, Flow, flow: a trip to the streams and waterfalls of the Golan, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 4Ynet, Jerusalem of white: playing in the snow and building snowmen | see photos, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 5Globes, Shapir will build the new Arik Bridge over the Jordan River, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 6The Jerusalem Post, Wheel power in the north -A guide to the North's wheelchair and stroller accessible sites, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 7Ynet, Northern Golan Heights: seeing the white with your own eyes, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 8National Library of Israel, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 9The Jerusalem Post, Roads and highways across Israel flooded - Update, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 10The Times of Israel, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 11The Times of Israel, Spillover Fire Report, accessed on September 26, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is Highway 87 in Israel?
Highway 87 is a road in northern Israel that links the northern Sea of Galilee with the Golan Heights. Starting from Capernaum Junction, it runs along the northern side of the Kinneret, crosses the Jordan River at Arik Bridge, and continues to Beit Tsaida Junction. The route serves nature reserves and waterfall trails, and the crossing at Arik Bridge carries supplies to Golan communities and agricultural produce leaving the region by truck.
What is the history of Arik Bridge on Highway 87?
In 1997, Shapir won a Ma'atz tender to construct a new permanent bridge at Arik Bridge for NIS 4.93 million, replacing a narrow, deteriorating Bailey bridge that had stood for 28 years. One side of the old bridge had collapsed several years earlier and been closed, while the other was described as being in poor condition. At the time, Arik Bridge was described as carrying the main access road to the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee, handling hundreds of thousands of travelers annually.
What natural and recreational sites are accessible from Highway 87?
Several natural sites are accessible from Highway 87. Salukiya Springs, located between Bashan and Katzrin junctions, offers small waterfalls and wading pools in a developed recreational setting supported by Mei Eden, a mineral-water company based in nearby Katzrin. The stretch between Yehudiya and Beit Tsaida junctions also serves as a staging point for hikers exploring Golan streams and waterfalls, including routes around Nahal Meshushim.
Has Highway 87 ever been closed due to weather?
Highway 87 has been subject to periodic closures caused by severe weather. During flooding in January 2020, police reported that Route 87 was closed north of Yehudiya Junction and that Waterfall Junction was blocked in both directions. In February 2021, heavy snowfall closed Highway 87 between Falls Junction and Bashan Junction in both directions.
Why did the US Embassy in Israel impose travel restrictions related to Highway 87?
In 2016, the US Embassy in Israel temporarily prohibited American government employees from personal travel into the area north of Highway 87 and east of Route 918, citing spillover fire from the conflict in Syria. The restriction was imposed during a period of mortar and projectile spillover from fighting across the border, making Highway 87 a geographic reference point in security restrictions affecting the Golan region.