South · One-way

The Other Desert

Nitzana → Ovda

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 187 km

Total climbing 2,434 m

Highest point 1,012 m

Lowest point 234 m

Days 3–4 days

Difficulty Moderate

Recommended months Nov–Apr

The other desert: along the Negev's western border from Nitzana to the Ovda valley. A quiet, lesser-known area of sand, plains and open horizons.

How to load the file to your device → Download GPX

Elevation profile

999 m 234 m

0 km 37 km 75 km 112 km 150 km 187 km

Route story · The Other Desert

The other desert, along the western border

187 km and 2,400 m of climbing from Nitzana to the Uvda valley, along the western border of the Negev. You pass Ezuz, climb past the Kadesh Barnea ridge and Har Harif to about 1,000 m, and descend Nahal Sagi to Nahal Karkom, the White Canyon and Nahal Paran. A quiet, little-known area, with water at only two points and no resupply at all after the start.

One-way · Nitzana3–4 daysNov–AprModerate

187km

2,434m climbing

187km, longest stretch without fuel

1fuel station within 300 m

2water taps along the way

6night campsites near the route

There is no fuel station or shop after the start, along all 187 km. Water only at Bustan Lea (km 6.5) and Borot Lotz (km 65.9), then no water for 121 km, to the finish. Carry all your food and plan water for the whole last section.

Firing zones on the way

The route crosses 3 firing zones, about 146 km of 187. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.

Firing zone 600 km 0–4, 23–26, 55–56, 59–61, 62–67 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Training area km 19–26, 28–61, 81–115 Southern Command coordination center 08-9902926
Firing zone 1000 km 70–82, 114–184 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Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 ⁦0–25⁩

Nitzana and Ezuz

You set off from the fuel station and shop, the only resupply on the route, and reach the Nitzana national park, with the remains of Byzantine churches and the Turkish railway station. The Bustan Lea campsite has water. From there you ride across the plain, past the HaHubarot lookout built from railway carriages, to Nahal Be'erotayim and Ezuz, and on to the Sabha cistern.

Along the way

km 5.5Nitzana national park
km 6.5Bustan Lea night campsite, with water, 150 m off the route
km 6.8The Turkish railway station
km 12.7HaHubarot lookout, railway carriages on the Hejaz line
km 16.4Ezuz, 460 m off the route
km 24.4Sabha cistern

Resupply · km 0
HaTahana: a shop and fuel station at the start. No more resupply until the finish

02km ⁦25–45⁩

The Kadesh Barnea ridge

This is where the big climb begins, almost 500 m. The Kadesh Barnea ridge lookout, shaded and with a good view, Nahal Kadesh Barnea, and at the end of the section the Har Horsha lookout, explaining the Kadesh Barnea valley, Har Hamran and Ramat Barnea.

Along the way

km 32.8Kadesh Barnea ridge lookout
km 37.9Nahal Kadesh Barnea
km 44.2Har Horsha lookout

03km ⁦45–70⁩

Har Harif and Borot Lotz

The high part of the route. You pass Har Horsha and a lookout over the Kadesh Barnea valley, ride by Har Harif and reach Har Romem, about 1,000 m. Right after it comes the Borot Lotz campsite, with sleeping shelters, toilets and a water tap, and nearby the remains of a First Temple period farm.

Along the way

km 56Kadesh Barnea valley lookout
km 60.2Har Harif
km 64.7Har Romem, the route's highest point
km 65.9Borot Lotz night campsite, water and toilets
km 66.3A First Temple period farm

Resupply · km 65.9
Water at Borot Lotz. This is the last water on the route

04km ⁦70–106⁩

Nahal Lotz and Har Sagi

You descend along Nahal Lotz, about 200 m, crossing a series of small stream beds: Eliav, Shkedim, Eshharim. On the way you pass the Yaron Maya memorial, then climb again to Har Sagi, almost 1,000 m.

Along the way

km 74Nahal Lotz
km 75.9Nahal Shkedim
km 86.7Yaron Maya memorial
km 105.2Har Sagi

05km ⁦106–130⁩

Down Nahal Sagi

From Har Sagi you dive along Nahal Sagi, almost 400 m, to Nahal Karkom. Near the stream bed, a little off the route, stand the 12 stelae, two rows of upright stones.

Along the way

km 106.6Nahal Sagi
km 124.4Nahal Karkom
km 125.3The 12 stelae, 320 m off the route

06km ⁦130–155⁩

The White Canyon and Nahal Paran

The route keeps descending gradually, to about 400 m, to the White Canyon campsite, right by the route and fairly sheltered from the wind, then to Nahal Paran, one of the largest stream beds in the Negev, with a campsite on its bank.

Along the way

km 141White Canyon night campsite
km 149.1Nahal Paran
km 149.2Nahal Paran night campsite, 150 m off the route

07km ⁦155–187⁩

To the Uvda valley

The last section crosses Nahal Tzihor, Nahal Hatzatzim and Nahal Garzi, at about 450–550 m, to the Uvda valley. Open desert to the very end.

Along the way

km 155.3Nahal Tzihor
km 169Nahal Hatzatzim
km 178.4Nahal Garzi

Where to sleep

Over three days, for example: Borot Lotz (km 65.9), with water and toilets, and the White Canyon (km 141) or Nahal Paran (km 149.2). Bustan Lea (km 6.5) suits a night before you set off.

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 6.5With water

חניון לילה בוסתן לאה 150 m off the route

km 65.9Water and toilets

חניון לילה בורות לוץ 30 m off the route

km 141Free

חניון לילה הקניון הלבן 20 m off the route

km 149.2Free

חניון לילה נחל פארן 150 m off the route

km 164Free

חניון לילה שער צניפים 960 m off the route

km 167Free

חניון לילה גב צניפים 910 m off the route

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

Fuel station, Grocery

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.