South · One-way

Red2Dead

Paran → Almog

All my rides →

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 532 km

Total climbing 7,910 m

Highest point 996 m

Lowest point -381 m

Days 4–6 days

Difficulty Hard

Recommended months Nov–Apr

From the Arava to the Dead Sea through the heart of the desert: craters, wide wadis and the Judean Desert. A long desert route that needs careful water planning.

How to load the file to your device → Download GPX

Elevation profile

975 m -379 m

0 km 106 km 213 km 319 km 426 km 532 km

Route story · Red2Dead

From the Arava to the Dead Sea, through the heart of the desert

532 km from Paran in the Arava to Almog by the Dead Sea. You climb from the Arava onto the Negev Highlands and the Lotz cliffs, pass Ezuz, Shivta and Avdat, continue to Mitzpe Ramon, drop through the Small Crater to the Arava, then cross Arad and the Judean Desert to the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Resupply points are few and far apart: plan water and food ahead.

One-way · Paran4–6 daysNov–AprHard

532km

7,910m climbing

208.5km, longest stretch without fuel

7fuel stations within 300 m

13water taps along the way

24night campsites near the route

There is no fuel station or shop in the first 208 km, until Avdat, and after that only in Mitzpe Ramon, at the Arava junction, in Arad and at Almog. Desert water points are few: check them before you go and carry enough water for every section.

Firing zones on the way

The route crosses 14 firing zones, about 283 km of 532. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.

Firing zone 1003 km 2–22 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 1390 km 26–27, 29–31 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 1000 km 31–80 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 600 km 90–135, 146–167, 168–188, 200–206 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 520 km 240–249, 251–260, 264–277 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 317 km 280–285 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 522 km 410–439 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 916 א km 449–459 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042
Firing zone 926 km 458–468, 470–473, 482–484, 485–506 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042
Firing zone 915 km 468–471, 472–474 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042
Firing zone 926/3 km 474–475 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042
Firing zone 926/4 km 475–478 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042
Firing zone 926/5 km 477–482 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042
Firing zone 913 km 505–520 Central Command coordination center 02-5305042

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 ⁦0–70⁩

From Paran to the Negev Highlands

You set off from Paran, at about 100 m, and ride along Nahal Paran, one of the largest stream beds in the Negev. Three campsites sit along the stream bed, with water at Be'er Ashalim. Then a long climb of more than 600 m onto the Negev Highlands, ending near the Har Arif campsite.

Along the way

km 23.4Tzihor–Paran junction night campsite
km 30.6Be'er Ashalim night campsite, with water
km 30.5Ashosh nature reserve
km 66.6Har Arif night campsite, exposed to the wind

Resupply · km 30.7
Water at Be'er Ashalim. No food until Avdat, km 208

02km ⁦70–136⁩

The Lotz cliffs, Arod and Ezuz

The high part of the route, almost 1,000 m. The Lotz cliffs campsite, the Har Ido campsite and Mitzpe Arod, looking over the Ramon Crater. Borot Lotz has water and toilets, and from there you descend along Nahal Alot, past an ancient leopard trap, and Nahal Horsha to Ezuz.

Along the way

km 72.8Lotz cliffs night campsite
km 85.5Mitzpe Arod, a view over the Ramon Crater
km 91.4Borot Lotz night campsite, water and toilets
km 103.4Ancient leopard trap
km 110.8Nahal Horsha night campsite
km 135.6Be'erotayim campsite, Ezuz

Resupply · km 91.4
Borot Lotz: water and toilets at the campsite

03km ⁦136–210⁩

Shivta and Avdat

From Ezuz north to Shivta, an ancient town in the middle of the desert, with a dovecote tower and a campsite in the orchard. Then across the Boker ridge reserve, past a Nabataean watchtower, to the Remalia rock-cut cisterns and Avdat, the ancient Nabataean city. Avdat has the first fuel station and café on the route, after 208 km.

Along the way

km 166.7Shivta national park
km 167.4Shivta farm night campsite, water at the national park
km 191.8Nabataean watchtower
km 206.6Remalia rock-cut cisterns
km 208.5Avdat, the Nabataean city, 430 m off the route

Resupply · km 208.5
Avdat: Paz fuel station, convenience store and Aroma

04km ⁦210–240⁩

Mitzpe Ramon

Another 25 km of gentle climbing, past small desert farms, brings you to Mitzpe Ramon on the rim of the crater. It is the only town until Arad: a supermarket, a fuel station and cafés, and at the edge of town the Desert Sculpture Park and the KKL grove campsite.

Along the way

km 229.2Noam BaMidbar ranch
km 234.7Mitzpe Ramon: water taps, a supermarket and cafés
km 235.4KKL grove night campsite, Mitzpe Ramon
km 236The Desert Sculpture Park

Resupply · km 234.8
Mitzpe Ramon: Delek, Shufersal Sheli, Yellow and a row of cafés

05km ⁦240–331⁩

Through the Small Crater to the Arava

From here you lose almost 900 m. Along the Tzinim cliff you pass Mezad Mahmal and a Nabataean milestone, continue to ammonite fossils and the Hor HaHar and Craters reserves, and reach lower Nahal Zin and Khan Tzafir. By Ashmedai Gate you enter the Small Crater area, then drop through Nahal Tamar to the Arava.

Along the way

km 256.4Mezad Mahmal and a Nabataean milestone
km 284Ammonite fossils
km 307Nahal Akrabim night campsite
km 320.6Ashmedai Gate, 380 m off the route
km 330.8Nahal Tamar night campsite

06km ⁦331–400⁩

Arava junction and Arad

At the Arava junction a fuel station and a 24/7 Menta are waiting, then you cross the Amiaz plain and climb almost 900 m, from about 280 m below sea level, to Har Kipon and Har Yahal. At the end of the section you reach Arad, with every service.

Along the way

km 340.8Mezad Mazal
km 353.1Nahal Amiaz and Amiaz plain night campsites
km 386Har Yahal lookout
km 397.2Eagles Park, Arad

Resupply · km 339.3
Arava junction: Delek and a 24/7 Menta. In Arad, km 395–398: supermarkets and three fuel stations

07km ⁦400–480⁩

The Judean Desert

From Arad you head into the Judean Desert. Har Tzfira, with a view over the whole area, and the Tzfira pool with a campsite beside it, then the Tze'elim waterfall lookout. Further on you pass the old Bar Sade airstrip, a rock arch and the Ein Gedi desert kite, and drop almost 500 m toward the Dead Sea.

Along the way

km 419.9Har Tzfira
km 422.1Tzfira pool night campsite
km 423.4Tze'elim waterfall lookout, 430 m off the route
km 447.5A rock arch
km 461.2Ein Gedi desert kite, 460 m off the route

08km ⁦480–532⁩

Metzokei Dragot and the Dead Sea

The Muraba'at caves, Metzokei Dragot and the Darja campsite, then the route drops to the Dead Sea. Heading north you pass the flood waterfall lookout, Ras Muakaf, the Og estuary lookout and Qumran, and finish at Biankini beach and Almog, about 380 m below sea level.

Along the way

km 482.7Muraba'at caves, 400 m off the route
km 485.3Darja night campsite, Metzokei Dragot
km 499.1Flood waterfall lookout
km 518.9Og estuary lookout
km 524.7Qumran, 410 m off the route

Resupply · km 531.7
Fuel station at Almog, at the finish

Where to sleep

Over five or six days, for example: Be'er Ashalim (km 31), Borot Lotz (km 91), Shivta (km 167), the KKL grove in Mitzpe Ramon (km 235), Nahal Akrabim or Nahal Tamar (km 307–331) and the Tzfira pool (km 422).

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 23.4Free

חניון לילה - מפגש ציחור פארן 30 m off the route

km 30.6Free

חניון לילה באר אשלים 10 m off the route

km 66.6Free

חניון לילה הר עריף 70 m off the route

km 72.8Free

חניון לילה מצוקי לוץ 10 m off the route

km 80.8Free

חניון לילה הר עידו 90 m off the route

km 91.4Water and toilets

חניון לילה בורות לוץ 30 m off the route

km 110.8Free

חניון לילה נחל חורשה 110 m off the route

km 167.4Free

חניון לילה חוות שבטה 220 m off the route

km 235.4Halfway

חניון לילה חורשת קק"ל - מצפה רמון 40 m off the route · Free

km 307Halfway

חניון לילה נחל עקרבים 10 m off the route · Free

km 422.1Free

חניון לילה ברכת צפירה 250 m off the route

km 485.3Free

חניון לילה דרג'ה 60 m off the route

+12 more on the map

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 ⁦208.4–208.5⁩

Paz, yellow A café or restaurant

km ⁦234.2–234.9⁩

Delek, Grocery, Shufersal Sheli +1 13 cafés and restaurants

km ⁦339.3–339.4⁩24/7

Delek, Menta A café or restaurant

km 392.8

Yeynot Bittan

km ⁦395.1–395.9⁩

Grocery ×2 3 cafés and restaurants

km ⁦396.2–396.3⁩24/7

Fuel station, Lee Lo La A café or restaurant

km ⁦397.4–397.8⁩

Dor Alon, Paz, Yishparo center 2 cafés and restaurants

km 529.3

A café or restaurant

km 531.7

Delek

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.