South · Loop

No Loop for You

Yeruham · Loop

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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.

Mud forecast Built by Boaz Yoffe · mtb.yoffe.net

Distance 85 km

Total climbing 1,106 m

Highest point 677 m

Lowest point 300 m

Days 2 days

Difficulty Moderate

Recommended months Nov–Apr

Route by Itay HaLevi

From Yeruham to Sde Boker and back, across the Negev Highlands plains, Midreshet Ben-Gurion and the desert farms. A comfortable two-day desert trip, not far from the centre.

How to load the file to your device → Download GPX

Elevation profile

676 m 308 m

0 km 17 km 34 km 51 km 68 km 85 km

Route story · No Loop for You

From Yeruham to Ein Akev and Sde Boker

85 km and more than 1,100 m of climbing, from Yeruham and back. You cross the plains of the Negev Highlands to Midreshet Ben-Gurion, drop into the Zin valley and Ein Akev, climb to Ben-Gurion's tomb and Sde Boker, and return along Nahal Boker and Har Rahama. An easy two-day desert route, with open views and few services.

Loop · Yeruham2 daysNov–AprModerate

85km

1,106m climbing

55km, longest stretch without fuel

1fuel station within 300 m

5water taps along the way

3night campsites near the route

There is no water point in the first 32 km, until Midreshet Ben-Gurion. After the water point by the Nahal Boker farms (km 59.3) there is no water or shop back to Yeruham, 26 km including the climb to Har Rahama.

Firing zones on the way

The route crosses 2 firing zones, about 38 km of 85. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.

Firing zone 504 km 2–24 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 510 km 60–79 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926

Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 ⁦0–26⁩

The Negev Highland plains

You set off from Yeruham, at about 490 m, and ride across the open plains of the Negev Highlands. You cross Nahal Shualim, Nahal Revivim, Nahal Hatzatz and Nahal Dror, and pass the route's highest point, almost 680 m.

Along the way

km 6.1Nahal Shualim
km 14.1Nahal Revivim
km 16.7Nahal Hatzatz
km 18.9Nahal Dror

Resupply · km 0.5
Super Hevrati in Yeruham, 190 m off the route. The next shop is at Midreshet Ben-Gurion, km 32.5

02km ⁦26–34⁩

Midreshet Ben-Gurion

You enter the Gan HaPsalim national park, pass Horshat Ma'ayan and Har Tzror, whose flat summit looks over the Zin valley, and reach Midreshet Ben-Gurion. It has a supermarket, falafel and water, and at its edge the Dor and Uri lookouts above the valley.

Along the way

km 26.9Gan HaPsalim national park
km 27.2Horshat Ma'ayan
km 27.8Har Tzror, 380 m off the route
km 32.4Water at Midreshet Ben-Gurion
km 33.4Mitzpe Dor, a view over the Zin valley
km 33.7Mitzpe Uri

Resupply · km 32.5
Midreshet Ben-Gurion: Super Zion, falafel and HaKnania

03km ⁦34–50⁩

The Zin valley and Ein Akev

From the Midrasha you drop about 180 m into the Zin valley, past Metzad Zin, a Byzantine fort on the ancient road. Along Nahal Akev you reach Ein Akev, one of the largest springs in the Negev, with a deep pool, then cross Nahal Zin and climb past the Serpantinot campsite to Ben-Gurion's tomb.

Along the way

km 36Metzad Zin
km 42.7Ein Akev, a deep pool
km 44.3Mishtachim Levanim night campsite, 720 m off the route
km 46.2Nahal Zin
km 49.3Serpantinot night campsite

04km ⁦50–62⁩

Ben-Gurion's tomb and Sde Boker

The tomb of David and Paula Ben-Gurion, with water, and the Nahal Karkash lookout. From there you ride to Sde Boker, with a fuel station and Ben-Gurion's desert home, and carry on past Horbat Ritma and the Desert Olive Farm to Nahal Boker.

Along the way

km 50.6Ben-Gurion's tomb
km 51.1Water at the tomb park
km 51.9Nahal Karkash lookout, 300 m off the route
km 55Ben-Gurion's desert home, 390 m off the route
km 55.1HaRo'a grove, water
km 59The Desert Olive Farm
km 59.3Water point by the Nahal Boker farms, the last before Yeruham

Resupply · km 55
Delek at Sde Boker, the only fuel station on the route

05km ⁦62–85⁩

Nahal Boker and Har Rahama

Along Nahal Boker and Nahal Mas'ad you climb about 170 m to Har Rahama, more than 600 m. From there you cross the Helmoniot Yeruham reserve and the Yeruham national park, past the Yeruham stronghold, and drop back into Yeruham.

Along the way

km 62.2Nahal Boker
km 73Har Rahama
km 74.8Helmoniot Yeruham nature reserve
km 77.6Yeruham national park
km 79.8The Yeruham stronghold

Where to sleep

Over two days, the Serpantinot campsite (km 49) or Mishtachim Levanim (km 44, 720 m off the route), near Ein Akev and Nahal Zin.

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 38.3Halfway

חניון לילה חוד עקב 1,210 m off the route · Water and toilets

km 44.3Halfway

חניון לילה משטחים לבנים 720 m off the route · Water and toilets

km 49.3Halfway

חניון לילה סרפנטינות 20 m off the route · Water and toilets

Where to refuel

Fuel stations, groceries and food within 300 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 0.5

Grocery

km 32.5

Grocery 2 cafés and restaurants

km 52.7

A café or restaurant

km 55

Delek A café or restaurant

km 85

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

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.