Recent rain? Check the mud forecast before you go. Download the route’s GPX and upload it to ‘HaSingletor’ – you’ll get the chance of mud from the nearest rain station and the soil type.
A Galilee loop from Shefer Forest: Mount Meron, Gush Halav, Nahal Kadesh and the Ramim cliff, Metula, the Hula Valley, the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee, and back through Nahal Amud and Nahal Tzalmon. Lots of springs, lots of campsites and lots of climbing.
From Mount Meron to the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee
201 km of Galilee: from Shefer Forest up to Mount Meron, the route's highest point, on through Gush Halav, Nahal Kadesh and the Ramim cliff to Metula, down into the Hula Valley and along the Jordan to the Sea of Galilee. Then back up Nahal Amud and Nahal Tzalmon. Lots of springs, lots of campsites and lots of climbing.
Loop · Shefer Forest3–4 daysApr–May, Nov–JanHard
201km
4,285m climbing
84.6km, longest stretch without fuel
2fuel stations within 200 m
9water taps along the way
24night campsites near the route
There is no fuel station in the first 84 km and no grocery until Metula (km 73). Stock up before you set off.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses one firing zone, about 2 km of 201. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 110 אkm 158–161Northern Command coordination center073-3483007
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date. Some sections are a road that crosses the zone. Either way, check and coordinate before you go.All coordination centers →
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The route at a glance
Fuel stationGrocery or supermarketWater tapNight campsite
01km 0–20
Up Mount Meron
You leave the Shefer Forest campsite and climb almost 700 m in the first twenty kilometres. On the way you pass Ein HaZaken, the source of Nahal Kziv, and a deep pigeon shaft, and reach the Mount Meron summit area, with an eastern lookout, a western lookout and the Lebanon lookout. In winter the pond by the summit holds water.
Along the way
km 8.6Ein HaZaken, the source of Nahal Kziv
km 10Pigeon shaft, about 30 m deep
km 13.2The Mount Meron lookouts, the route's highest point
km 17.3Hurvat Hammama night campsite, with water
Resupply · km 13.2 A water tap by the summit car park. No food until km 26
02km 20–45
Baram, Gush Halav and Dishon
You drop through the Baram Forest reserve to Gush Halav, with its ancient lower synagogue and two old flour mills by the stream. At Ein Halav, a pretty spring at the end of an accessible path, there is a picnic site with tables and a water tap. From there it is spring after small spring: Ein Aravot, Ein Aviv and Ein Dishon.
Along the way
km 21.5Israel Trail library, Nahal Tziv'on
km 27.6Ancient lower synagogue, Gush Halav
km 30Ein Halav and the stream-junction picnic site, water tap
km 34.7Nahal Dishon night campsite
km 40.1Ein Dishon
Resupply · km 26.5 Gush Halav: a café and a restaurant right by the route
03km 45–75
Nahal Kadesh, Ramim and Metula
Nahal Kadesh and the Yiftah gorges open the section, then the route climbs to the Ramim cliff, with lookouts hanging hundreds of metres above the Hula Valley. The views carry on past the Hunin fortress and the Margaliot lookout to Metula, where at last there are groceries and cafés, and just after it a view of the Tahana waterfall.
Along the way
km 46.8HaEla night campsite, KKL
km 49.4Yiftah lookout
km 58Ramim cliff lookout
km 63.7Hunin fortress and the Margaliot lookout
km 74.3Tahana waterfall, Metula
Resupply · km 73.5 Metula: two groceries and a row of cafés and restaurants
04km 75–120
The Hula Valley and the Jordan
From here the route drops almost 400 m into the Hula Valley. Near HaGoshrim there is a 24/7 fuel station and grocery and a row of restaurants, then you cross the Hatzbani and start following the Jordan. Along the river runs a chain of campsites, from Lehavot bridge to Bnot Yaakov bridge.
Along the way
km 77.6Avel Beit Ma'akha national park
km 84.3Nahal Snir (Hatzbani)
km 95.4Lehavot bridge and Jordan night campsites
km 105Rubshiya springs
km 117.6Bnot Yaakov bridge night campsite
km 118.3Metzad Ateret (Jacob's Ford)
Resupply · km 84.6 Dor Alon and Alonit 24/7 near HaGoshrim, and a row of restaurants
05km 120–150
To the Sea of Galilee
Through the Jordan Park you briefly climb to the Hexagon Pool, then drop below sea level to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Amnun beach, Capernaum with its ancient synagogue, and Tabgha with Ein Sheva, all within a few kilometres of each other. This is the lowest point of the route, about 210 m below sea level.
Along the way
km 120Jordan Park nature reserve
km 132.2Hexagon Pool, 160 m off the route
km 143.3Amnun beach night campsite
km 145.5Capernaum and its ancient synagogue
km 148.1Tabgha and Ein Sheva
Resupply · km 150.5 Dor Alon fuel station near Karei Deshe
06km 150–201
Nahal Amud, Tzalmon and the way back
The last section climbs almost 700 m. You pass the caves of Nahal Amud, Livnim and the Tzalmon bridge campsite, continue to Ein Ilabun and the Nahal Tzalmon national park, then through Hazon, Inbar and Kfar Hananya, with its sages' tombs, back to Shefer Forest.
Along the way
km 155The Nahal Amud caves
km 163.2Tzalmon bridge night campsite
km 171.1Ein Ilabun
km 186Nahal Tzalmon national park
km 196Sages' tombs, Kfar Hananya
Resupply · km 171.5 Ilabun: a restaurant by the route. Also a bistro at Kfar Hananya, km 195.8
Where to sleep
There are more than 20 night campsites along the route. Over four days, for example: Ein Halav (km 30), Mitzpe Hussein or Hunin fortress (km 54–64), the Jordan campsites (km 95–118) and Tzalmon bridge (km 163).
Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
Fuel stations, groceries and food within 200 m of the route. Fuel stations usually have water, toilets and a convenience store.
Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
km 26.3–26.8
2 cafés and restaurants
km 73–73.9
Grocery ×29 cafés and restaurants
km 74.1
A café or restaurant
km 84.1–84.624/7
Dor Alon, Grocery, Pina BaGan +29 cafés and restaurants
km 89.8
A café or restaurant
km 132
A café or restaurant
km 150.5
Dor Alon, Grocery
km 171.5
A café or restaurant
km 195.8
A café or restaurant
Distances along the route are calculated from the GPX file; the distance of each place from the route is a straight-line distance. Night campsites come from the site's campsite map, other places from OpenStreetMap. Not checked on the ground: confirm before you go.
Firing zones: OpenStreetMap, IDF data import
Photos from the route
Distance, climbing and recommended months come from the routes table. Highest and lowest points are calculated from the GPX file, and difficulty is an estimate based on climbing per kilometre.
An Israeli maker of sealant, lubes and repair kits. They built a full bikepacking repair kit with us: everything you need so a flat never ends your ride.
Rents out satellite trackers and communicators. In the desert and in areas with no signal, your family can follow your location, and in an emergency you can call for help.
An Israeli company making quality glasses at fair prices. Protection from sun, dust and wind over long days on the trail, and 20% off for the community.
