North · One-way

Smelling Ziv

Rihaniya → Achziv

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 160 km

Total climbing 2,727 m

Highest point 830 m

Lowest point 50 m

Days 3–4 days

Difficulty Hard

Recommended months Oct–May

Route by Itay HaLevi

From Rihaniya in the Upper Galilee via the Hula Valley, Tel Hai, the Ramim ridge and Nahal Dishon to Achziv on the coast. Mountains to the sea, with plenty of ups and downs on the way.

How to load the file to your device → Download GPX

Elevation profile

820 m 51 m

0 km 32 km 64 km 96 km 128 km 160 km

Route story · Smelling Ziv

From the Upper Galilee to the sea, down Nahal Kziv

160 km and more than 2,700 m of climbing, from Reihania in the Upper Galilee to Achziv on the coast. You drop to the Hula Valley and the Jordan, climb to Tel Hai and the Ramim ridge, cross the Upper Galilee through Dishon and Baram, and descend Nahal Kziv to the sea. Plenty of ups and downs, and springs all the way.

One-way · Rihaniya3–4 daysOct–MayHard

160km

2,727m climbing

77.9km, longest stretch without fuel

4fuel stations within 200 m

7water taps along the way

25night campsites near the route

Between Kfar Giladi (km 49) and Hurfeish (km 126.9) there is no fuel station or shop, almost 80 km with plenty of climbing. There is water at km 90.4 and at the Lea and Yitzhak Rabin campsite (km 106).

Firing zones on the way

The route crosses one firing zone, about 5 km of 160. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.

Firing zone 100 km 3–9 Northern Command coordination center 073-3483007

Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 ⁦0–19⁩

From Reihania to the Hula Valley

You set off from the Circassian village of Reihania, at about 680 m, and drop almost 600 m to the Hula Valley. On the way: Alma Cave, Horvat Marot and Tel Hazor, the Canaanite city, and at the end of the section Nahal Mahanayim and Hamam Bnot Ya'akov.

Along the way

km 0Circassian heritage museum, Reihania
km 3.1Alma Cave, a bat roost, closed from November to mid-June
km 5Horvat Marot
km 10.3Tel Hazor
km 18.1Hamam Bnot Ya'akov, a spring and a small pool

Resupply · km 0
Reihania: Supermarket Galal, T market and Nelchik Restaurant

02km ⁦19–45⁩

Along the Jordan

A flat section in the Hula Valley, along the Jordan, with a row of campsites on the bank: Lina al HaYarden, HaYarden–Gonen and Gesher Lehavot. Then Nahal Snir, the Hatzbani, by Beit Hillel, and at the end of the section a big service hub, with fuel, groceries and restaurants.

Along the way

km 21.6Lina al HaYarden night campsite
km 30.3HaYarden–Gonen night campsite
km 32.4Gesher Lehavot night campsite
km 37.1Nahal Snir (Hatzbani)

Resupply · km 42.9
A 24/7 Dor Alon and Alonit, Aroma, Pina BaGan and more restaurants

03km ⁦45–80⁩

Tel Hai and the Ramim ridge

From Kfar Giladi and Tel Hai the route's big climb begins, more than 600 m, up to the Ramim ridge. Ein Roim, the Liran lookout and the Kiryat Shmona reserve, the A"H lookout and the Ramim cliff, then the Hunin fortress and the Margaliot lookout. At the end of the section, by the Manara orchid reserve and Har Nezer, you reach about 780 m.

Along the way

km 49.3Tel Hai national park
km 49.2HaAri HaSho'eg night campsite, with water
km 54.1Ein Roim
km 62.5Ramim cliff lookout
km 69.7The Hunin fortress and its night campsite
km 76.8Mitzpe Hussein night campsite

Resupply · km 49
Sonol by Kfar Giladi. After it there is no fuel or shop until Hurfeish, km 126.9

04km ⁦80–106⁩

Nahal Kadesh and Nahal Dishon

Through the Nahal Kadesh reserve and the Yiftach lookout you drop about 250 m to Nahal Dishon and its springs: Ein Dishon, the Shondi pool and Ein Aviv. Then you climb back up, past the Fara ruins and the Rahimov lookout, towards Baram Forest.

Along the way

km 83.1Yiftach lookout
km 85.5HaEla and HaElot night campsites
km 91.8Ein Dishon
km 94Ein Aviv
km 97.3Nahal Dishon night campsite
km 103.2Rahimov lookout

Resupply · km 90.4
Water near Dishon

05km ⁦106–127⁩

Baram and Har Adir

The Lea and Yitzhak Rabin campsite, with water, then the Baram Forest reserve and the ancient synagogue at Baram. From there you climb to the Sasa pool, by Har Adir, to the route's highest point at about 830 m, and drop about 300 m to Hurfeish.

Along the way

km 106.4Lea and Yitzhak Rabin night campsite, with water
km 106.9Baram Forest nature reserve
km 109.1The ancient synagogue at Baram, 240 m off the route
km 113.8The Sasa pool
km 116Har Adir lookout, 480 m off the route

Resupply · km 126.9
Hurfeish: a 24/7 Delek and Menta. Sambusak at km 123.9

06km ⁦127–160⁩

Down Nahal Kziv to the sea

The section that gave the route its name. From the Elkosh bridge and Ein Barzit you pass the Montfort lake in Ma'alot, then drop about 550 m along Nahal Kziv: Ein Ziv, Ein Tamir, the Dlavim pool and Montfort castle, Ein Hardalit and Tel Avdon, all the way to the Achziv national park on the coast.

Along the way

km 130.1Barzit night campsite
km 132.6Montfort lake
km 139.3Ein Ziv, a waterfall and shallow pools
km 142.2Ein Tamir and the Dlavim pool
km 145Montfort castle, 200 m off the route
km 150.3Ein Hardalit night campsite, with water

Resupply · km 135.2
Ma'alot: Shufersal Deal and Mega Bul. Dor Alon at Achziv, at the finish

Where to sleep

Over two days, the Hunin fortress (km 70), Mitzpe Hussein (km 77) or HaEla (km 85.5). Over three days, the Hunin fortress and the Lea and Yitzhak Rabin campsite (km 106), with water.

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 21.6Free

לינה על הירדן 20 m off the route

km 30.3Free

חניון לילה הירדן - גונן 20 m off the route

km 32.1Free

חניון לילה הירדן 50 m off the route

km 32.4Free

חניון לילה גשר להבות 10 m off the route

km 49.2Free

האריה השואג 50 m off the route

km 60.3Free

חניון לילה יוחאי ודור 80 m off the route

km 69.7Halfway

חניון לילה מצודת הונין 10 m off the route · Free

km 85.6Halfway

חניון לילה האלות 90 m off the route · Free

km 97.3Free

חניון לילה נחל דישון 20 m off the route

km 106.4Free

חניון לילה לאה ויצחק רבין 0 m off the route

km 130.1Free

חניון לילה ברזית 80 m off the route

km 150.3Free

חניון לילה עין חרדלית 60 m off the route

+13 more on the map

Where to refuel

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 ⁦0–0.5⁩

Supermarket Galal, T market A café or restaurant

km 18.2

A café or restaurant

km 37.4

A café or restaurant

km ⁦42.9–43.3⁩24/7

Dor Alon, Alonit, Pina BaGan +2 9 cafés and restaurants

km 49

Sonol

km ⁦123.9–124.1⁩

3 cafés and restaurants

km 126.924/7

Delek, Menta A café or restaurant

km ⁦132.3–132.5⁩

2 cafés and restaurants

km ⁦135.2–135.4⁩

Shufersal Deal, Mega Bul

km 160

Dor Alon

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.