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.
West from the Beit She'an valley to the sea: the springs of the Valley of Springs, the Gilboa ridge, Givat HaMore, Mount Tabor, Har Dvora, Har Turan and Yodfat, all the way to the old city of Akko. Plenty of summits, plenty of views, and springs at the start.
217 km and almost 4,000 m of climbing, from Beit She'an train station to the old city of Akko. The springs of the Beit She'an valley, a climb onto the Gilboa ridge, Givat HaMore, the Tabor forests, Har Dvora, Har Turan and Yodfat, and finally a long descent to the sea. Plenty of summits, plenty of views, and springs at the start.
One-way · Beit She'an3–4 daysNov–JanHard
217km
3,969m climbing
65.4km, longest stretch without fuel
9fuel stations within 200 m
5water taps along the way
13night campsites near the route
There are only five marked water points: Beit She'an (km 5.8), Gan HaShlosha (km 26.9) and Akko. Refill at the fuel stations in Afula (km 65) and Golani junction (km 146). After the Paz at km 149.7 there is no fuel or shop until Akko, 65 km.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses one firing zone, about 7 km of 217. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 106km 78–85, 86–88Northern 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Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 0–30
The springs of the Beit She'an valley
You leave Beit She'an train station, by Tel Beit She'an and the Truncated Bridge, into the Valley of Springs, below sea level. The White Waterfalls and Ein Yehuda, the Nahal HaKibbutzim campsite and the Shlosha tower, Ein Moda and Ein Shokek, and at the end of the section Gan HaShlosha and Ein Amal.
Along the way
km 5.2The Truncated Bridge, by Tel Beit She'an
km 12.6The White Waterfalls and Ein Yehuda
km 19.1Nahal HaKibbutzim night campsite
km 25.9Ein Shokek and the wet trail
km 27.5Gan HaShlosha night campsite and Ein Amal
Resupply · km 27.8 A 24/7 Delek, Sonol and Artishok, by Gan HaShlosha
02km 30–60
The Gilboa ridge
The first big climb: from the Beit She'an valley you climb more than 500 m onto the Gilboa ridge, past the Yitzpor picnic site and Har Ahinoam, to Har Barkan and its lookout. Along the ridge are the Sha'ar HaZahav campsite, the Vinya lookout and Katef Shaul, then you drop to the Ma'ayan Harod national park and Ein Jezreel.
Along the way
km 41.8Har Barkan lookout, about 500 m
km 43.1Sha'ar HaZahav night campsite
km 47.3The Vinya lookout
km 49.4Katef Shaul East night campsite
km 53.5Ma'ayan Harod national park
km 58.5Ein Jezreel
03km 60–90
Afula and Givat HaMore
Through Afula, with fuel stations and supermarkets by the route, then a climb of more than 500 m to the top of Givat HaMore. On the way down you pass Hirbat Kara and Hirbat Bolek.
Along the way
km 71Givat HaMore night campsite, 370 m off the route
km 73.9The top of Givat HaMore, about 515 m
km 86.2Givat Bolek
Resupply · km 65.5 Afula: Delek, Sonol, Mega and Victory. Another fuel station and a restaurant at km 89.2
04km 90–125
The Tabor forests
Horbat Tomer and Ein Kishyon, then the Mount Tabor nature reserve, with the section's high point at almost 540 m. From there you drop to Daburiya at the foot of the Tabor.
Along the way
km 95.3Horbat Tomer
km 100.6Ein Kishyon
km 110.8Mount Tabor nature reserve
km 118.8Daburiya, at the foot of the Tabor
Resupply · km 119.3 A grocery in Daburiya
05km 125–150
Har Dvora and Golani junction
Har Dvora has a night campsite right on the route, and just after it the Mount Tabor lookout. You continue past Ein Keshet and Khan al-Tujjar, through Ilaniya and Horbat Kashron, to Lavi Forest, Golani junction and the Mishkena pool.
Along the way
km 126.2Har Dvora night campsite
km 129.2Mount Tabor lookout
km 138Khan al-Tujjar
km 145.5Lavi Forest night campsite
km 148.1Mishkena pool reserve
Resupply · km 146.2 Golani junction: Delek and El Muhtar. Paz and a 24/7 Yellow at km 149.5
06km 150–182
Har Turan and Yodfat
A climb to Har Turan, about 550 m, with views in every direction. From there you head west through Beit Rimon and Rumana to the ancient Yodfat national park, with its old synagogue and burial caves.
Along the way
km 156.7Har Turan, an all-round view
km 176.7Ancient Yodfat national park
km 177.9The ancient Yodfat synagogue
07km 182–217
Down to Akko
By the Rakefet pool and Atzmon the long descent begins, almost 400 m, to the coastal plain. Past the Ridvan Garden you reach Akko and enter the old city through the Land Gate, with its walls, towers and harbour, all the way to the lighthouse by the sea.
Along the way
km 185.9The Rakefet pool
km 212.5The Ridvan Garden
km 216The Land Gate and the walls of Akko
km 217The lighthouse lookout and Burj Sanjak
Resupply · km 214.8 Akko: Sonol, Paz and King Store, and restaurants in the old city
Where to sleep
Over three or four days, for example: Sha'ar HaZahav or Katef Shaul on the Gilboa (km 43–49), Har Dvora (km 126.2), right on the route, and Lavi Forest (km 145.5). After Lavi Forest there is no campsite near the route until Akko.
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 2.5Free
חניון לילה קנטרה690 m off the route
km 19.1Free
חניון לילה נחל הקיבוצים30 m off the route
km 22.4Free
חניון לילה עין מודע530 m off the route
km 27.5Free
חניון לילה גן השלושה20 m off the route
km 43.1Free
חניון לילה שער הזהב110 m off the route
km 49.4Free
חניון לילה כתף שאול מזרח170 m off the route
km 54.3Paid
חניון לילה מעיין חרוד650 m off the route
km 58.6Free
חניון לילה תל יזרעאל700 m off the route
km 71Free
חניון לילה גבעת המורה370 m off the route
km 126.2Halfway
חניון לילה הר דבורה40 m off the route · Free
km 145.5Free
חניון לילה יער לביא170 m off the route
km 146.6Free
חניון לילה שולחנות קק"ל - יער לביא360 m off the route
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 0
A café or restaurant
km 3.7
Grocery
km 22.4
A café or restaurant
km 27.1–27.824/7
Delek, Kiosk
km 28.5
Sonol, GroceryA café or restaurant
km 65.3–65.6
Delek, Sonol, Mega
km 66.4–67.3
Victory, Super ParkA café or restaurant
km 68
A café or restaurant
km 69.4
Grocery
km 89.2
Fuel stationA café or restaurant
km 119.3
3
km 146.2
DelekA café or restaurant
km 149.5–149.724/7
Paz, YellowA café or restaurant
km 214.7–215.3
Sonol, Paz, King Store AcreA café or restaurant
km 216.1–216.9
Grocery, Askari Mini Market10 cafés and restaurants
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.
