Hiking in Israel

The history of organized hiking in Israel stretches back well before the establishment of the state. A periodization cataloged by the National Library of Israel identifies the construction of a Jewish hiking culture in Palestine between 1904 and 1935, followed by the Palmach era and the first marked hiking trail in the Middle East from 1935 to 1948.[1] After independence, Israeli hiking infrastructure expanded in distinct stages: the first Israeli hiking trails were established from 1949 to 1963, the countrywide trail network took shape from 1963 to 1979, and the network was completed and a national trail created between 1980 and 2001.[1]

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel began a trail-marking project in the 1950s, initiated by Uri Dvir.[3] During the organization's formative period, its public educational work included leading nature hikes, organizing scientific conferences, establishing a field school, and publishing periodicals and nature books.[3]

Systematic cartographic coverage developed alongside the physical infrastructure. A 1992 hiking and trail-marking map for the Upper Galilee, covering the Upper Galilee uplands, western Galilee, and the Galilee coast, was published by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel's Committee for Israel Trails together with the Survey of Israel at a 1:50,000 scale.[4] A 1993 trial-edition map covered the Lower Galilee, the valleys, the Gilboa, the Sea of Galilee region, and eastern Galilee uplands at the same scale, and was edited in a series associated with Uri Dvir.[5]

A 1999 map for the Sharon and western Samaria incorporated walking routes alongside routes for bicycles, ordinary vehicles, jeeps, and all-terrain vehicles.[6] A 2006 map for the Jerusalem approaches, the Judean Hills, and the northern Shephelah included updates on firing zones, mines, trails and sites, nature reserves, and national parks.[7] By 2021, detailed cartography for the Eilat Mountains and the Far Negev at 1:50,000 and 1:40,000 scales included inset maps of Timna Park, Nahal Shani's Red Canyon, and Amram Valley.[8]

The institutional framework governing hiking was established in the 1960s. The National Parks Authority was established by law in 1963, and the Nature Reserves Authority was established by the government in the same year; the two authorities merged in 1998 to form the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.[9] Their responsibilities include establishing and managing parks and reserves, preserving natural and archaeological sites, constructing access roads and recreational amenities, and providing explanatory signs and pamphlets at ancient sites.[9] As of 2017, approximately 22% of Israel's land was designated as a nature reserve or national park, comprising about 160 established nature reserves and 65 established national parks, with a further 380 nature reserves and 115 national parks in various stages of planning.[10] The protected landscapes include Mediterranean forests, seashores, sand dunes, deserts, craters, oases, caves, ancient synagogues, and Second Temple-period fortresses.[10] A 2008 government publication stated that the authority supervised more than 150 nature reserves and 65 national parks covering approximately 400 square miles, with about 20 reserves developed for public use with visitor centers, roads, and hiking trails and attracting more than two million visitors annually.[11]

The Israel National Trail is the centerpiece of Israeli hiking culture and is regarded as the country's premier long-distance route. It runs from Beit Ussishkin at Kibbutz Dan in the north to approximately 100 meters before the Taba border crossing near the Eilat Field School.[12] Because Israel is approximately 610 kilometers long in a straight line, the trail's winding course—approximately 1,000 kilometers in length, with the route lengthening as sections are added—is nearly twice the country's north-south extent.[12] A 2025 guide describes the trail as approximately 1,080 kilometers long and divided into 56 segments.[13] Earlier reports gave lengths of 1,015 or approximately 1,100 kilometers, reflecting different route versions and rounding.[2][14] Walking the full route from Dan to Eilat takes about 45 consecutive days at an accelerated pace or about 60 days at a slower pace.[12]

The trail was proposed by journalist Avraham Tamir after his experience on the Appalachian Trail.[12] Tamir began pursuing the project in 1984 with Yoav Sagi and Ori Dvir; the Committee for Israel's Trails approved a Dan-to-Eilat proposal in 1984–1985, and the project was formally launched in 1985.[12] After more than a decade of planning and marking, President Ezer Weizmann dedicated the trail during Passover in April 1995 at the Armored Corps Memorial Site at Latrun, when it was approximately 850 kilometers long.[12] It was inaugurated by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and has been described as a private initiative that originated in the late 1970s before growing into a major public institution; tens of thousands of people hike it every year.[15]

The trail is marked in white, blue, and orange stripes. Sources explain white as representing the snowy peaks of Mount Hermon and orange as representing the Negev desert; blue has been interpreted as representing water and the Israeli flag.[16][17] Its route combines preexisting natural trails with newly planned connecting sections and is described as the "meta-trail" of Israel's trail network.[12] The design sought to expose walkers to varied landscapes, vegetation, communities, religions, peoples, and historical and heritage sites, making the route both a nature trail and a heritage trail.[12] National Geographic named it one of the world's twenty best hiking trails in 2012, citing its combination of outdoor adventure with history and culture.[2]

The route was designed for year-round hiking. Hikers completing the trail in one continuous journey commonly begin in the south during winter and reach the cooler north during warmer months when water is more available; alternatively, they begin in the north during summer and finish in the south during winter.[12] A southern branch added in fall 2019 increased the route by approximately 90 kilometers and incorporated sites including Masada and the Dead Sea, with access to lodging, campgrounds, and public transportation.[12] Two northern sections officially opened between Tel Hai and Mount Hermon, adding approximately 38 kilometers and extending the trail through the Hula Valley, near the Banias Nature Reserve, along the Hermon Stream and Jordan River, and through Kiryat Shmona.[18] Following the northern extension, the route continued through the Upper and Lower Galilee, the Carmel range, the Mediterranean coastline, Tel Aviv, the outskirts of Jerusalem, the Judean Desert, the Negev, and the Arava before ending in Eilat.[18]

The trail passes through or near landmarks including Mount Meron, Nahal Amud, Mount Arbel, the Mediterranean coast, the Yarkon River, the Judean lowlands, archaeological sites at Beit Guvrin, Ramon Crater, and the dunes of the southern Negev.[13] In 2015, volunteers from the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel set out to hike the trail carrying Google Street View Trekker cameras.[19] A later report described the resulting documentation as the longest trail photography project undertaken for Google Maps and the first to span an entire country.[14]

Beyond the INT, Israel maintains an extensive trail system. A 2025 report marking six decades of the Nature and Parks Authority stated that Israel had at least 5,600 kilometers of hiking routes, ranging from easy trails suitable for strollers and families to challenging routes for experienced hikers, including some involving rappelling.[20][20] The same report identified 120 overnight campgrounds nationwide, including 102 free campgrounds and 18 paid campgrounds.[20] The Nature and Parks Authority's hiking-search engine was reported to include 175 recommended hikes in nature reserves and national parks, filterable by region, duration, difficulty, accessibility, suitable season, water access, flowering, picnic areas, caves, viewpoints, and suitability for dogs; tens of thousands of searches for hiking recommendations take place in an average month.[21]

The environments accessible through Israeli trails are extraordinarily varied for a small country. An Israeli government source describes more than 6,000 miles of hiking trails passing through green forests, desert landscapes, archaeological sites, waterfalls, canyons, springs, and views of the Mediterranean, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, and Red Sea, all within a country less than 300 miles from its northernmost to southernmost points.[17]

In the north, Nahal Amud in the Galilee runs from Mount Meron toward the Sea of Galilee and includes shady sections, pools, and ancient flourmills.[17] Nahal Kziv in the western Galilee is described as one of the few coastal streams in Israel whose waters have remained unpolluted, with clear springs, rare plants, archaeological sites, and wooded scenery.[22] Nahal Tabor in the Lower Galilee offers both a short, easy family route and a longer, difficult route involving a descent into the canyon and walking in the streambed.[22] Mount Carmel, reaching 546 meters above sea level and covering 32 square kilometers, supports approximately 670 plant species; its reserve contains scenic paths, parking areas, shaded corners, lookouts, and organized picnic spots, with views toward the Jezreel Valley, Upper Galilee, and Mediterranean coast.[23] Named hiking features there include Kelah River, known as "Little Switzerland," the Nesher River hanging bridge, and Nahal Mearot Nature Reserve, whose tourist path passes through caves once used as prehistoric dwellings.[23]

In the Golan Heights, Nahal Yehudiah includes swimming sections, ladders, and the 20-meter Yehudiah Falls.[17] The Yehudiya Forest Reserve contains streams, waterfalls, deep canyons, lagoons, pools, volcanic features, rare flowers, animals, and scattered Tabor-oak woodland.[22] The Banias Nature Reserve in the north offers a 45-minute loop trail passing Roman- and Crusader-period sites and a marked 90-minute route to its waterfall; the trail crosses the Govta Stream beneath a Roman bridge and passes a hydroelectric station and a reconstructed water-powered flour mill.[24]

The En Gedi Nature Reserve beside the Dead Sea contains two year-round streams—the David Stream and the Arugot Stream—and four springs with a combined annual flow of approximately 3 million cubic meters.[25] Its hiking network ranges from an easy lower David Stream route through waterfalls and pools to experienced-hiker routes leading to springs, caves, desert plateaus, ancient ascents, and overlooks of the Dead Sea and the Mountains of Moab.[25] The reserve also contains a Chalcolithic temple, remains of a Jewish settlement that existed for more than 1,200 years, and a third-century synagogue with a mosaic floor.[25] The Judean Mountains function as a recreation center on weekends and holidays, particularly for residents of the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem metropolitan areas; most visitors spend less than two hours at sites, usually picnicking, and prefer locations with water sources, with spring and fall as the favored seasons.[26][26]

In the Negev, Makhtesh Ramon is the world's largest makhtesh—a valley surrounded by steep walls and drained by a single wadi, not a meteorite crater—approximately 40 kilometers long, 9 kilometers wide at its widest, and 500 meters deep.[27] It contains fossils, volcanic and magmatic formations, vertical dikes, and rocks dating back as much as 220 million years, and is served by numerous pathways for casual and serious hikers and two campgrounds east of the main road.[27] Ramon Crater more broadly offers hiking involving streams, canyons, viewpoints, flowers, stargazing sites, and wildlife.[22] Near Eilat, Timna Valley National Park is described as a desert area suitable for hiking, jeep tours, and camel rides, with features including the sandstone "Mushroom" formation, Solomon's Pillars, an artificial lake, and ancient copper mines.[28] Mount Zefachot near Eilat offers summit views of the Red Sea and four countries: Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.[17]

Wadi Kelt, a desert gorge, ends near the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. George and exemplifies the trail network's integration of natural and historic landscapes.[17]

Israel's trail network extends beyond general-purpose hiking to encompass routes designed for specific communities and purposes. The Gospel Trail—also known as the Jesus Trail—in the Galilee is a route connecting Nazareth and Capernaum associated with the journey and ministry of Jesus.[29] Covering more than 60 kilometers of specially signposted footpaths and roads, it can be traveled on foot, by bicycle, or by car and became fully open to the public in November 2011.[29] Its main section begins at Mount Precipice and passes through the Jezreel Valley, Beit Qeshet Oak Reserve, Mount Arbel, Magdala, Tabgha, and Capernaum; secondary routes include Mount Tabor, Kafr Kanna, the Horns of Hitim, and the Mount of Beatitudes.[29] Infrastructure on the trail was supported by an investment of more than $700,000 from the Israel Tourism Ministry in cooperation with KKL-JNF, and includes basalt-rock signage incorporating relevant scripture readings, safety barriers, shaded rest areas, stone benches, picnic sites, and tourist information.[29] The trail culminates at a Capernaum center and shoreline dock from which walkers can continue onto the Sea of Galilee.[29] The route was initiated by an Israeli entrepreneur associated with hostels in Nazareth and was marked by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.[17]

Accessible hiking is provided through the nonprofit organization LOTEM, which organizes accessible hikes, workshops, nature activities, and inclusive tours for people with special needs and for families with and without disabilities.[30] One such accessible trail operates at Nahal HaShofet, a stream near Moshav Yokneam where water flows throughout the year.[30]

The INT has also inspired virtual engagement. In 2021, more than 300 participants from Toronto and Israel explored the trail through physical activity and an app called My Virtual Mission, tracking walking and running progress, unlocking educational content, and raising more than $3,500 for COVID-19 relief efforts.[31]

Hiking in Israel is best undertaken in fall and spring; the summer heat, especially in the Negev and desert areas, can be oppressive, and trail-planning guidance emphasizes avoiding hikes during heat waves or when flash floods are possible.[17][21] Trails are marked with colored paint on rocks and tree trunks, and Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel volunteers regularly check the markers.[17] The Nature and Parks Authority warns hikers about firing zones, flash floods, extreme heat, and the need to carry three to four liters of water when entering the desert.[32]

The authority's general guidance advises hikers to study a route's character, length, difficulty, access, and required equipment in advance; match the route to the hikers' ages and physical fitness; carry a hiking map and adequate water and food; wear suitable clothing, hiking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen; and carry a charged mobile phone.[21] Hikers should walk only on marked trails, plan to finish before dark, and inform relatives of the planned route, leaving vehicle details, participant numbers, telephone information, and an estimated return time on the car window.[21] Environmental guidance includes taking all waste away, avoiding harm to animals, keeping distance from wildlife, and not feeding wild animals.[21] The Nature and Parks Authority's information center is reachable at *3639 for questions or problems.[21]

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority recorded 13,251,258 visitors to its parks and reserves in 2019, a 5 percent increase over the previous year, and performed 479 rescues during that year.[32] Fourteen people died while hiking in 2019, compared with 11 the previous year; reported causes included drowning in prohibited bathing areas, falls, suicide, dehydration, and vehicle accidents.[32] Israel's emergency numbers are 100 for police, 101 for ambulance services, and 102 for the fire department, and tap water in Israel is potable.[33] The U.S. Department of State advises that parked-vehicle break-ins are common at national parks and tourist sites and that valuables should not be left unattended in parked vehicles.[33]

Hiking occupies an unusually deep place in Israeli civic life. Millions of Israelis hike during holiday breaks, and hiking and trail culture appear throughout popular culture, including news articles, radio and television programs, best-selling novels, government debates, and national-security speeches.[1] Schoolchildren are introduced to hiking through annual school trips beginning in first grade; younger children generally take day trips, while high-school excursions may last up to a week and can involve camping or stays at youth hostels and Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel field schools.[17]

Research has examined the Israel National Trail's role in Israeli identity formation. A study cited by the Institute for National Security Studies found that 57% of INT hikers were male and 43% female, 42% were ages 20–29, and 21% were ages 50–59; 83% were born in Israel.[12] Almost two-thirds described themselves as nonreligious, 10% as religious, and 26% as having varying levels of traditional identity.[12] Ninety percent of surveyed walkers said that hiking the trail enabled them to identify with the Land of Israel and strengthened their connection with Israel.[12]

Researchers have described the INT as a secular ceremony through which Israelis become tourists in their own country, combining personal motives such as adventure and self-discovery with national identification, and experiencing temporary relief from political and social pressures.[12] One analysis argues that "The Trail offers people a sense, or illusion, of a place that is 'clean' of political and social filth, and is a 'suspended space' of sorts, where there are only good people and good deeds, untouched nature, and an agreed-upon national heritage."[12] Many of the trail's memorials and historical references are connected to Jewish-Zionist collective memory, making the route a vehicle for national heritage as well as recreation.[12]

A distinctive institution that has grown up around the trail is the Trail Angel network. Israeli residents living along or near the route voluntarily place water and food in hidden locations, host hikers in their homes, and provide meals or beds without requesting payment.[16] This hospitality is presented as a cultural expression combining nature, history, and the social relationships of the communities through which the trail passes.[16]

Despite its status as an Israeli icon, the Israel National Trail has never held formal statutory designation and does not appear in official planning-information layers.[15][15] Formal statutory designation might have required protected corridors and possible land expropriation, potentially delaying route marking for years or decades; trail planning instead proceeded through recommendations from tour guides, Jewish National Fund officials, Parks and Nature Authority supervisors, and Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel guides.[12] Because the route has no legally binding planning status, its continuity depends on landowners' goodwill and remains exposed to development plans and other pressures.[15]

The trail's route and design have been shaped throughout its history by security, political, and infrastructure considerations. Planners deliberately kept the route away from the Green Line and areas with dense Arab populations, and the original route excluded Jerusalem; these decisions generated criticism.[12] A section in the Sharon region was moved approximately 30 kilometers westward in 2003 during the second intifada, while construction of the Egyptian border fence in 2010 required further route changes.[12] IDF firing ranges, roads, community fences, the planned Sde Barir phosphate mine near Arad, and Highway 6 also forced adjustments.[12] Planning for the trail's later northern extensions similarly had to contend with roads, agricultural land, nature reserves, minefields, and military live-fire zones.[18]

The 2019 expansion of the Nature and Parks Authority's role brought new infrastructure commitments: the authority agreed to take responsibility for most of Israel's hiking paths from various government ministries and announced measures including improving water access along the INT and at campsites, adding campsites, improving trail signage, expanding public transportation to remote locations, and offering online reservations for tents, mattresses, and firewood.[32] The authority also maintains a designated trail ranger for INT hikers and continues to develop new trails each year.[20]