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.
As the name says: a loop from Haifa with almost 5,000 m of climbing in the Carmel and the Galilee. For riders who love climbs, and the views that come with them.
Carmel, Kinneret and Golan, and every climb between
320 km and almost 5,000 m of climbing in one loop from Haifa and back. You leave the Carmel through the Menashe Heights and the Jezreel Valley, drop to the Jordan and the Kinneret, climb onto the Golan Heights and Nahal Meshushim, return to the Kinneret and cross the Lower Galilee on the way home. A route for those who love climbing.
Loop · Haifa3–4 daysOct–JanHard
320km
4,966m climbing
98.1km, longest stretch without fuel
14fuel stations within 200 m
22water taps along the way
41night campsites near the route
Between Dor Alon at km 136.2 and Dor Alon at km 234.3, almost 100 km across the Golan Heights, there is no fuel station or shop. There is water at km 146.5, at Mitzpe Nehama (km 183) and by the Hexagon Pool (km 214), and a restaurant at Amnun beach at km 226.8.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 4 firing zones, about 20 km of 320. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 107km 57–64Fire-zone ops room04-6125212
Firing zone 122 בkm 180–182Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 121 אkm 190–196Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 121 בkm 195–204Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 0–40
The Carmel forests
You set off from Ramat Golda, at about 360 m, and ride through the Carmel forests and their campsites: Horshat HaArbaim, Givat HaHagana, Ya'ar HaYa'aranim and the Israel Trail campsite with its library. Then the Tayeset HaEmek lookout and Muhraqa, and on along the ridge to the Keren HaCarmel lookout and Sha'ar HaCarmel.
Along the way
km 4.4Horshat HaArbaim night campsite, water and toilets
km 10.9Ya'ar HaYa'aranim night campsite, water and toilets
km 12.5The Israel Trail library
km 24.6Tayeset HaEmek lookout
km 26.5Muhraqa and the Deir al-Muhraqa night campsite
km 38.2Sha'ar HaCarmel night campsite
Resupply · km 2.2 Shufersal and cafés at the start. Sonol and Sogood at Sha'ar HaCarmel, km 39
02km 40–75
The Menashe Heights
You leave the Carmel for the Menashe Heights, hills and small springs: Ein Shelef and Ein Dmumit, the Zehora dams and the Joara museum. In Nahal Keini you pass Einot Lagio and the remains of the village of al-Lajjun, and drop about 300 m to Nahal Kishon and the Jezreel Valley.
Along the way
km 47.2Ein Shelef and Ein Dmumit
km 52The Zehora dams
km 52.8Joara
km 63.5Einot Lagio, a pool in Nahal Keini
km 74.2Nahal Kishon
Resupply · km 72.2 Fatafeat Shawarma, and a fuel station at km 73.1
03km 75–128
From the valley to the Jordan
You cross the Jezreel Valley along Nahal Adashim, pass Kfar Gideon and Dovrat, and follow Nahal Tavor to the springs of the Lower Galilee: Ein Tehavit, Ein Rekhesh and Ein Ulam. After the HaHalalit lookout, at about 340 m, you descend along Nahal Yavne'el to the Jordan, about 200 m below sea level.
Along the way
km 78Nahal Adashim
km 98.9Nahal Tavor
km 106Tel Rekhesh and Ein Rekhesh
km 113Ein Ulam
km 115.6HaHalalit lookout
km 121.9Nahal Yavne'el nature reserve
Resupply · km 90.1 Delek near Dovrat. The next one is at Tzemach, km 131
04km 128–150
Tzemach and the eastern shore
You cross the Jordan by the Yardenit and reach Tzemach, a big service hub by the historic railway station. Then north along the eastern shore of the Kinneret, past the Rotem and Shittim beaches, and the climb to the Golan begins: almost 450 m to Susita and Mitzpor Tal.
Along the way
km 128.4HaYardenit night campsite
km 132.4The historic Tzemach railway station
km 140Rotem and Shittim beaches, night campsites
km 146Susita, the ancient city above the Kinneret
km 149.2Mitzpor Tal night campsite, 240 m off the route
Resupply · km 131.6 Tzemach: a 24/7 Paz, Victory, Yellow and restaurants. Dor Alon at km 136.2, the last fuel until km 234
05km 150–200
The Golan Heights
You keep climbing through the Nahal Meitsar reserve, Fiq and the Yakutsa reservoir onto the Golan Heights. You cross the Achu Hispia and Ahiluf HaHoran reserves, pass Tel a-Saki and reach Mitzpe Nehama. Shortly after it comes the route's highest point, about 670 m, and then you cross Nahal Yehudiya and Nahal Zavitan.
Along the way
km 152.2The Fiq ruins and Ein Fiq
km 156.1Yakutsa reservoir
km 167.6Achu Hispia nature reserve
km 175.1Tel a-Saki, 330 m off the route
km 183.2Mitzpe Nehama, night campsite and water
km 191Nahal Yehudiya
Resupply · km 183.2 Water at Mitzpe Nehama. No fuel or shop until km 234
06km 200–235
Down Nahal Meshushim to the Kinneret
From here you lose almost 700 m, from the Golan Heights to the shore of the Kinneret. Along Nahal Meshushim you pass Ein Amichai, a pool and waterfall, Ein Amphi and the Hexagon Pool, cross the Jordan and reach Amnun beach, Capernaum and Tabgha.
Along the way
km 206.3Ein Amichai, a pool and waterfall
km 214.4The Hexagon Pool
km 214.2Water by the Hexagon Pool
km 226.8Amnun beach night campsite
km 229.5The Capernaum synagogue, 300 m off the route
km 231.9Tabgha and Ein Sheva
Resupply · km 226.8 St. Peter Restaurant at Amnun beach. Dor Alon at km 234.3
07km 235–270
Arbel and Karnei Hittin
Along the western shore: Nahal Amud, the al-Qubo mill and Ein Nun, then Migdal, with a grocery, fuel and restaurants, and its ancient synagogue. From there you climb almost 500 m to the Karnei Hittin national park, the Arbel Valley lookout and the battlefield lookout, up to Lavi Forest.
Along the way
km 238.6The al-Qubo mill
km 239.6Ein Nun
km 242The Magdala synagogue
km 249.3Arbel Valley lookout, 260 m off the route
km 253.5Karnei Hittin and the battlefield lookout
km 261.8KKL tables night campsite, Lavi Forest
Resupply · km 241.2 Migdal: Dabah grocery, Sonol and restaurants. Delek at km 262.3, a 24/7 Sonol and So Good at km 268.8
08km 270–320
Nahal Tzippori and the way home
Across the Lower Galilee to Tzippori and along Nahal Tzippori: Ein Yivka, the horses' spring, the Monks' mill and the Alil mill. After the Sha'ar HaAmakim reserve you reach Yagur, with Asif Corner and the British police building, and then the final climb, almost 400 m, back up the Carmel to Haifa.
Along the way
km 280.2Tomb of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, 280 m off the route
km 292.8Ein Yivka, the horses' spring
km 295.1The Monks' mill
km 302.3Sha'ar HaAmakim nature reserve
km 309.3Asif Corner at Yagur, water and coffee
km 317.8Tlalim night campsite, water and toilets, 480 m off the route
Resupply · km 274.5 Ten and Ten+. Sonol at km 311, and a 24/7 one at km 318.7
Where to sleep
Over three or four days, for example: the Rotem or Shittim beaches (km 140–141), Mitzpe Nehama (km 183), Amnun beach (km 227) and Lavi Forest (km 262).
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 4.4Water and toilets
חניון לילה חורשת הארבעים10 m off the route
km 5Free
חניון לילה נוף המפרץ10 m off the route
km 6.5Water and toilets
חניון לילה גבעת ההגנה60 m off the route
km 7.3Water and toilets
חניון לילה הרקפות90 m off the route
km 10.9Water and toilets
חניון לילה יער היערנים10 m off the route
km 16.3Free
חניון לילה בית השומר30 m off the route
km 139.7Halfway
חוף רותם80 m off the route · Free
km 140Halfway
חוף שטים110 m off the route · Free
km 141Halfway
חוף השיטים60 m off the route · Free
km 183.2Halfway
מצפה נחמה30 m off the route · Free
km 226.8Free
חניון לילה חוף אמנון0 m off the route
km 261.8Free
חניון לילה שולחנות קק"ל - יער לביא40 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 2.2–3.1
Shufersal4 cafés and restaurants
km 3.3–3.8
Markol ZolA café or restaurant
km 39–39.1
Sonol, Sogood
km 72.2–73.1
Fuel stationA café or restaurant
km 90.1
Delek
km 129.2–130.1
Grocery ×2A café or restaurant
km 131–131.724/7
Paz, Victory, Yellow6 cafés and restaurants
km 132.1–132.4
2 cafés and restaurants
km 136.2
Dor Alon
km 214.2
A café or restaurant
km 226.8
A café or restaurant
km 234.3
Dor Alon, Grocery
km 239.4–240.1
2 cafés and restaurants
km 241–241.8
Fuel station, Sonol, Dabah5 cafés and restaurants
km 258.4
Grocery
km 262.3
DelekA café or restaurant
km 265.4
A café or restaurant
km 268.824/7
Sonol, So GoodA café or restaurant
km 274.5
Ten, Ten+
km 296
A café or restaurant
km 309.1–309.3
2 cafés and restaurants
km 311
Sonol ×2
km 312.7–312.8
2 cafés and restaurants
km 318.724/7
Sonol, SoGood
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.
