The Golan Trail (Hebrew Shvil HaGolan שביל הגולן) crosses the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, from Mount Hermon in the very north of the territory, to above the Sea of Galilee at its south. It's a hiking trail, most of which is also fit for cycling and horseback riding. The trail is 120 km (75 mi) in length and usually takes 5-7 days, but since its path is pretty accessible to cars and by public transport, it's also possible to make a shorter hike by picking individual sections.
The trail isn't particularly difficult, but it does have a few rough ascents and descents. It's especially good during spring, when the convenient weather makes it easier and the blooming flowers and green fields make for fantastic scenery. Autumn is also convenient in terms of weather. It's also possible during summer and winter, though heatwaves or rains definitely make it a less savory experience.
The Golan Tourism Association put some effort in making the trail experience more accessible and convenient, so it now has several campsites and information stations. As of January 2015, there are information stations along the entire trail. Also, a few drinking water taps have been installed along the route. Also note that the said campsites as of yet have only a large clearing and some wind shelters, with no running water or any amenities.
Understand
The Golan Heights are mostly flat, but sloping southwards; that is, a traveler moving north to south would find an easy downward slope with almost no steep climbs. However, volcanic activity has raised dozens of mounds, reaching sharply upwards. The trail climbs some of these, the tallest of them – Mount Bental – rising 200 meters above its surroundings. Additionally, numerous canyons dig deeply into the ground, with streams flowing west towards the Hulla Valley. They contain some of the most popular hiking destinations in the region, and so the trail does make some of these tough ascents and descents, but the hiker is well rewarded by the water basins and ponds in them.
The profound military history of the Golan Heights, dictated by its strategic importance as a high ground, has great effects on the path of the trail, as well as its contents. The Golan Heights were taken from Syria by Israel in the war of 1967. Israel legislatively annexed it fully in 1981. The move was not endorsed by the UN, but effectively, travelling to the Heights from within Israel is as easy as travelling to anywhere else in the country (unlike in the West Bank, which wasn't completely annexed). The wars have left numerous minefields and many areas are closed off for security reasons, both factors greatly reducing the area accessible for travel. Because of these, the trail passes only through the eastern parts of the Heights, not reaching the numerous springs of the western steppes. On the other hand, the trail takes the hiker through several abandoned outposts and many memorial sites, making interesting – though sometimes grim – additions to the hiking experience.
The Golan Trail was inaugurated on 2007 by the Israeli Society for Nature and the Golan Tourism Association, run by the settlements of the region. Several small changes in its course were made in following years. It is a very popular trail for experienced hikers in Israel as well as youth movements, and the association makes efforts to make it more accessible to others as well, by releasing online content (though only in Hebrew at this time) as well as through various public events, such as an annual ultra-marathon race.
This is a demanding multi-day walk, not a technical mountaineering route. A fit hiker with normal backpacking experience can complete it without specialist climbing skills. Expect rough basalt, steep or slippery canyon paths, stream crossings, thorny vegetation and long exposed stretches. Through-hikers should be comfortable carrying several days' equipment and navigating independently when markings are unclear.
Prepare
Its course has changed several times since then, making old printed maps and old online descriptions unreliable in places. Carry the current Israel hiking map for the Hermon and Golan area or reliable offline mapping that shows the present Golan Trail alignment. Do not rely on an old paper map simply because the trail is marked on it.
Plan 7–9 days for a through-hike with camping equipment. Seven days means about 18 km a day, eight days about 16 km and nine days about 14 km, before access walks and detours. Do not divide the trail purely by distance: canyon stages take longer than the open plateau, and campsites, water and resupply points determine the practical stopping places.
For an unsupported through-hike, carry a tent or other shelter, sleeping bag and mat, food to the next resupply point, ample water capacity, sun protection and a flashlight. Bring a stove if you intend to cook. Take footwear that can handle rough basalt and repeated wet crossings; lightweight sandals or water shoes are useful for streams and pools. Pack a swimsuit if you intend to use the bathing springs and reservoirs along the route.
The complete trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or baby carriages. Broad tracks account for many kilometres, but narrow paths, broken volcanic ground, steep slopes, vegetation and stream crossings prevent continuous accessible travel.
Independent through-hikers normally carry their own gear. Do not plan on finding a luggage-transfer service unless you have arranged one privately.
Camp only at permitted overnight sites. In nature reserves, overnight stays outside designated camping areas are prohibited. Keep fires to places where they are expressly allowed.
Eat
Plan your resupply stops before starting. Shops exist in settlements along the trail, but they are not spaced conveniently enough to treat every day as a shop-to-shop walk.
Majdal Shams, Mas'ade, Marom Golan, Ein Zivan and several central and southern settlements provide practical food stops. Marom Golan is the best place for a full supermarket shop; many smaller settlements have only a convenience store or village shop. Religious settlements may have no shopping on Shabbat.
Carry enough food to reach the next planned resupply point rather than counting on an unplanned shop being open. If you are camping, a stove is the practical way to cook; do not build an open fire outside a permitted fire area.
Drink
Treat water as a planned resupply item, not something to collect from the landscape. Do not drink from streams, springs or reservoirs. Golan Tourism instructs hikers to carry their own drinking water, and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority likewise prohibits drinking from natural water sources in Golan reserves.
Fill up from taps in settlements and from the established drinking-water points identified for each stage. Many overnight campsites have no tap, so check the next day's water source before stopping for the night. Do not make an unattended water cache part of your plan unless you have verified that it is stocked.
Carry at least 3 litres per person for an ordinary day, and substantially more for a long or exposed stage. For a full day in cool weather, about 4.5 litres is a sensible planning figure; in severe heat, the old trail guidance used 7 litres. Adjust upward for heat, distance and long stretches without shade.
Sleep
Camping is the standard way to through-hike the trail. The free campsites are basic: expect a legal place to pitch a tent, not a developed campground. Some have windbreaks or bins; many have no drinking water, toilets, lighting or electricity.
Carry your own shelter, sleeping mat and a sleeping bag suited to the season. In exposed camps, a tent that handles wind well is more useful than an elaborate campsite setup.
Some local residents host hikers informally as "trail angels". Treat this as arranged accommodation, not as a service you can turn up and expect. Contact a host before building an itinerary around a stay.
Wild camping is prohibited in nature reserves outside designated camping areas.
Climate
Spring is the best season, especially March and April, when the plateau is green, wildflowers are at their peak and daytime temperatures are comfortable for walking. Autumn is the next-best choice. Summer heat and winter rain or snow make a full through-hike substantially harder.
Summer requires a heat-management schedule. Start at first light, cover most of your distance in the morning and take a long break during the hottest part of the afternoon. On exposed days, aim to stop around 13:00–14:00 and resume around 16:30. Do not plan on finding shade when you need it.
Winter brings rain, mud and cold weather, with snow on Mount Hermon. Do not enter steep canyon stages during heavy rain. Wet basalt and steep descents become slippery, and some central-Golan sections flood after prolonged rainfall. Check the forecast and trail notices before setting out.
Environment
Stay on marked paths throughout the trail. This protects nature and farmland and, in the Golan, is also a basic safety rule because of minefields and military areas.
Use gates and marked fence crossings rather than climbing fences, and close livestock gates behind you. Carry out all rubbish, including toilet paper.
Clean heavy mud, seeds and plant material from boots and equipment when moving between wet areas and sensitive habitats. Do not move soil or vegetation from one stream or wetland to another.
Get in
The route can be walked in either direction. This itinerary describes it north to south, beginning on Mount Hermon and ending at Ein Tewfik above the Sea of Galilee.
The northern trailhead is just beyond the ticket booths at the entrance to the Mount Hermon visitor site. From Majdal Shams, follow Route 98 uphill to the site; after passing the booths, turn right across the parking area to the first Golan Trail marker near a large oak tree. Access to the trailhead is through the visitor site and is limited to its opening hours. Snow season brings heavier traffic and may involve an entrance or parking charge.
Buses serve Majdal Shams and other communities in the northern Golan, but not the Mount Hermon trailhead itself. From Majdal Shams, arrange a taxi or other onward transport to the visitor site. Hikers approaching through the Mount Hermon area should remain on marked routes and obey closures around military zones.
The southern trailhead is at Ein Tewfik, south of Mevo Hama. From the Sea of Galilee, take Route 92 and then Route 98 towards Hamat Gader and climb the escarpment; from the Golan, follow Route 98 south through Mevo Hama. The turnoff for Ein Tewfik is on the western side of Route 98, with a short dirt-road approach to the parking area.
Public transport serves Mevo Hama and other settlements along Route 98, but does not reach Ein Tewfik itself, so the final stretch requires walking, a taxi, or a prearranged pickup. Katzrin is the main public-transport hub within the Golan, with connections to destinations including Tiberias, Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv area.
Numerous roads and settlements provide intermediate access to the trail. Katzrin is useful for transport and supplies, while Tiberias and the Hula Valley provide connections from outside the region. Check the Mount Hermon access status and the relevant bus timetable before departure.
Walk
Follow the blue, white and green Golan Trail waymarks. Older descriptions and surviving paint marks may refer to previous alignments, particularly around Nimrod and Mount Bental. Obey all closures and signs on the ground.
- Mount Hermon ticket offices - Ya'afuri Valley
11 km
Start at the Mount Hermon lower ticket offices trailhead, rather than at the ski lifts farther up the mountain. The trail is accessible only during Mount Hermon site's opening hours, daily 08:00–16:00 (Sep 2026). Vehicles may enter until 15:00 and must leave by 16:00. Hikers arriving on foot enter without charge; vehicle access and parking at the ticket offices are charged while the site is operating paid admission, including through the end of the snow season. No advance coordination with the army or Mount Hermon site is required for individual hikers. The first waymark is beside a large oak beyond the ticket offices and car park.
The trail descends into the Guvta stream before turning towards MISSING WIKILINK Majdal Shams. It passes through the town, where hikers can buy food and refill water, then continues past the Shouting Hill area near the Syrian boundary. Beyond the houses, it crosses the upper Saar stream near an old watermill and enters the apple and cherry orchards of Ya'afuri Valley.
Finish at the Ya'afuri Valley section junction, near Birket Ram, an inactive volcanic crater lake good for a look but not for drinking or swimming, as the water is not kept clean. Nimrod is on the older alignment and is no longer the endpoint of this section. The steep northern descent requires care, especially in snow or wet conditions.
- Ya'afuri Valley - Palsar 7 memorial
12 km
From the valley orchards, the trail climbs to a viewpoint over Birket Ram, the natural lake below Mount Kramim. It continues towards Odem Forest and climbs Mount Odem, whose reddish volcanic rock gives the mountain its name; the route passes former mining sites where the volcanic ground is exposed and visible up close, and a lookout point along the way has signs describing the surrounding landscape.
The route then descends through the forest towards the Palsar 7 memorial and campground, beside Route 98 north of El Rom. The memorial commemorates the reconnaissance company of the 7th Armoured Brigade.
Odem village is an off-route water stop. Two drinking-water taps are listed there: one about 30 m inside the rear gate approached from Mount Odem, and another at the forest farm about 100 m from that gate. Mas'ade and El Rom are the resupply points for this section; Mas'ade is a Druze town, and the trail's route through it keeps to its northern edge. The Palsar 7 memorial is an established KKL overnight campground; there is no water at the memorial site itself. Tel Katz'ah is no longer a separate section endpoint in this division.
- Palsar 7 memorial - Bab al-Huwa
9 km
The trail crosses the uplands around the foot of Mount Hermonit, passing vineyards and grazing land. The summit contains military installations; remain on the marked route below it.
Views open over the Valley of Tears, the site of major fighting in the 1973 war. The Ozz 77 memorial here marks the Israeli-Syrian battle in this valley, and includes a recorded account of it from the Israeli side. Wind turbines now stand prominently in this landscape. Further on, the trail passes through vineyards belonging to the Golan Heights Winery; riders have a marked bypass through this stretch.
The section ends at Bab al-Huwa access point, beside Route 959 near Bental Reservoir. Bab al-Huwa means "Gate of the Winds"; the archaeological remains here, an old Arab village, were built over earlier Roman and Byzantine structures. The remains and nearby seasonal pool lie north of the road; the reservoir lies to the south. El Rom and Marom Golan are off-route resupply stops.
- Bab al-Huwa - Ein Zivan campground
10 km
From Bab al-Huwa, the route passes Bental Reservoir, good for bathing, and climbs the slopes of Mount Bental. The present alignment skirts the mountain below its summit. The summit viewpoint is an optional out-and-back walk on the red-marked path; old Golan Trail markings may still lead towards it. At the top are preserved trenches and bunkers from an Israeli outpost dating to the 1973 war, along with a fixed set of binoculars looking towards Syria and a recorded audio guide; a small café, Kofi Annan, also operates at the summit. The viewpoint is considered one of the best on the whole trail, taking in most of the Golan Heights as well as the Hula Valley.
Hikers wanting to resupply can also detour into Marom Golan, reached from around the base of the Bental ascent; it's the only settlement on the entire trail with a full supermarket rather than just a convenience store.
The main route continues towards the saddle between Bental and Avital, passing the sculpture of Nadia Cohen and her children on the Eli Cohen memorial trail. It traverses the slopes of Mount Avital below the military position — the summit itself is closed to visitors because of the active outpost there — then descends towards oak woodland and Route 91.
Finish at Ein Zivan campground, opposite the entrance to Ein Zivan, and facing the memorial to Reconnaissance Brigade 134. The campground, rather than the centre of the kibbutz, is the section endpoint. Drinking water is available at the campground and supplies are available in Ein Zivan.
- Ein Zivan campground - Mount Hozek
10 km
The large, deep waterhole at Ein Mokesh, fenced all around. One of the greatest hiking destinations of the Golan Heights. (Photo: Jakednb, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Leaving the campground, the trail passes the remains of the former Circassian village of Ein Zivan and climbs towards the wind turbines on Mount Bnei Rasan. It then continues through the natural woodland of the Bashanit Ridge, with oak, terebinth and storax trees.
Two spring detours are possible from this stretch. Ein Mokesh, reached via a narrow fenced corridor off Route 98 rather than directly from the trail, is a deep stone-walled bathing pool — access is restricted to this single approach because the spring sits within an old minefield that was only partially cleared; several mines were never located, so the surrounding ground remains fenced off on all sides. A second, shorter detour (about 40 minutes round trip) south of Mount Bnei Rasan leads to a smaller, tree-shaded pool.
The section ends at the Mount Hozek trail access, below the military position. Do not continue into the installation. Autumn flowers are a feature of the surrounding slopes.
Ein Zivan is the principal resupply point for this section. Drinking-water taps are at Ein Zivan campground and at the Route 98 crossing on the approach to the wind turbines.
- Mount Hozek - Hushniya
10 km
The trail descends through the Bashanit Ridge's volcanic hills and woodland before entering more open country. A water cache — a blue barrel kept filled by residents of nearby Aloney HaBashan — sits along this descent before the trail reaches a dirt road. Alonei HaBashan is the designated off-route resupply point for this section; note the community is religious, so visits on Saturdays and Friday evenings should be avoided. For overnight accommodation, hikers can use HaRa'am campground in Alonei HaBashan Forest or the hikers' compound at Alonei HaBashan. Overnight use of HaRa'am campground requires advance coordination and approval from KKL.
A short detour from the trail leads to Ein Jawiza, a small spring with only ankle-deep water, set among orchards and greenery.
The section finishes at Hushniya grove trail access, near the remains of a Circassian village and its mosque, south of Route 87. Hushniya grove is not an authorised overnight campground.
- Hushniya - Umm al-Dananir
8 km
South of Hushniya, the trail crosses open basalt country near the Einot Pekham springs and the remains of Faraj, where substantial stone buildings survive. Walkers can follow the flowing trench some distance on foot if they like, though this is not required and not recommended — leeches are present in these waters. It later crosses the Petroleum Road before reaching Umm al-Dananir section junction. A short side trip of about 200 m along the Petroleum Road leads to an Armored Corps memorial for those with time to spare.
At the Einot Pekham springs, walking through water is required. The water reaches approximately knee height, so wear footwear suitable for wading. Follow the marked crossing; the streams are not drinking-water sources.
There is a drinking-water tap at the Battalion 95 memorial near the springs. Keshet and Yonatan are off-route resupply stops; shops in these religious communities are closed on Shabbat.
- Umm al-Dananir - Daliyot campground
10 km
This section crosses the central Golan's basalt plains. Near a shallow water crossing early in the section are the dry remains of the small Naomi Pond, with a bench and a pleasant view. Yonatan offers an off-route resupply opportunity; there is a drinking-water tap at Mitzpe Nehama, and a separate tap — marked in Hebrew — sits directly on the trail a short distance past the Yonatan turnoff, so a detour into the settlement isn't strictly necessary just for water.
Rujm a-Hiri, "The Israeli Stonehenge ". Difficult to appreciate from ground-level. (Photo: אסף.צ, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The route passes Rujm el-Hiri, a prehistoric monument of concentric stone walls surrounding a central burial structure — considered one of the more striking sights directly on the trail and well worth the short pause. Farther south, it passes Daliyot Reservoir before reaching Daliyot campground, north of Route 869 and west of Daliyot Junction.
Much of the terrain is relatively gentle. During the rainy season and for a period afterwards, the basalt plain is frequently flooded, and this section should not be hiked while it is flooded. The drinking-water point for the section is at Mitzpe Nehama; Daliyot is the designated overnight campground. There is no drinking water at the campground itself, though a sign about 1 km past it points to a water source roughly 150 m off the path.
- Daliyot campground - Ein Keshatot
10 km
The trail heads south from the campground, passing remains of a stone-paved road and approaching Revaya Reservoir, also known as Samakh Reservoir, which is good for bathing. It then descends into the Samakh valley; riders should branch off before the descent, as the ridges and canyon here are slow going even on foot.
The Syrian bridge is a notable landmark, built as part of the 1960s scheme to divert the Jordan's headwaters. From the stream, the route climbs towards the Ein Keshatot access point. The archaeological site of Ein Keshatot (Umm el-Qanatir), with its reconstructed synagogue and arched spring, is a separate visit off the through-route; two carved stone troughs fed by the spring, just outside the main excavation, are worth a look even for those not paying to enter the fuller site.
Admission to Ein Keshatot is charged. From March through October the site is open Su–Th 09:00–17:00 and F Sa and holiday eves 09:00–16:00; from November through February it is open Su–Th and Sa 09:00–16:00 and F and holiday eves 09:00–15:00. Last admission is one hour before closing, and the entrance gate is locked outside opening hours. Hikers who are not visiting the archaeological site reach the Golan Trail by the black-marked track beside the site fence. Visitors inside the site can leave through the lower spring gate during opening hours. Drinking water is available beside the lower gate and at another signed water point about 1 km from the beginning of the section.
- Ein Keshatot - Mitzpe Ofir
11 km
The route descends into the Samakh valley and reaches its confluence with the El Al stream. At the pools at the confluence, hikers must pass through water reaching knee height and at times higher. Near the top of the following climb out of the streambed are the substantial old ruins of the village of Addissa, and hikers should watch carefully for thick, thorny undergrowth on the approach to Route 789.
A sustained climb follows. The route passes beneath Route 789 through the watercourse, again through water up to knee height, then climbs towards Mitzpe Ofir lookout above the Sea of Galilee.
This is a strenuous canyon section. The official route passes beneath Route 789 rather than using the old roadside diversions, which have become overgrown and impassable. The drinking-water point for the start of this section is beside the lower gate at Ein Keshatot. Natur is a resupply point but requires a substantial detour from the trail.
- Mitzpe Ofir - Amphi Golan
8 km
From Mitzpe Ofir, the trail follows the escarpment overlooking the Sea of Galilee, passing former Syrian military positions. It descends into the Ein Gev stream valley near Tel Soreg, then climbs towards Amphi Golan, beside Route 98.
The trough near Ein Pic (Photo: Jakednb, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Near Amphi Golan, a marked detour towards Afik leads to Ein Pic spring, set among unstable ancient ruins. Skip it: parts of the site have collapsed, and multiple warning signs mark the area.
Givat Yoav is the designated water and resupply point for this section. Its community gate is locked after dark; for wider selection and better prices, hikers can also continue a little further to Bnei Yehuda. Givat Yoav grove is a KKL hikers' campground on the Golan Trail; overnight camping requires advance coordination and approval from KKL.
The amphitheatre and nearby campground lie near the divide between streams flowing west to the lake and east towards the Yarmouk. The climbs out of the valley make the section more demanding than its length suggests. Hikers wanting to end their trip early can also branch off near Bnei Yehuda onto a blue-marked route descending via the Ein-Gev Pinnacle lookout directly to the Sea of Galilee at Ein Gev — a rough, steep descent with railings on its worst sections.
- Amphi Golan - Mevo Hama
10 km
The trail descends into the Meizar stream valley, where open woodland of Tabor oaks contrasts with the plateau above. It eventually meets the old perimeter road and climbs back towards the fields near Mevo Hama.
A blue-marked side trail leads from the Meizar parking area to a viewpoint above the waterfall — about a 25-minute walk each way. This is an optional detour; return to the main route afterwards. Do not descend to the waterfall pool, as there is no safe access to the water and the falls are high and steep.
The section ends at the Mevo Hama tractor sheds trail access, east of Route 98, south of the kibbutz entrance. Mevo Hama is a resupply and water stop requiring a short departure from the route. Allow time for the substantial descent and climb.
- Mevo Hama - Ein Tewfik
5 km
The final section follows the cliffs above the Sea of Galilee, with broad views across the lake and towards Galilee. Former military positions occur along the escarpment. Just south of Mevo Hama, a short detour leads to a lookout near the kibbutz cemetery, a good sunset spot with its own drinking-water tap.
The route descends into Mevo Hama Forest and reaches Ein Tewfik (Ein Akov), a spring and picnic area. Obtain drinking water in Mevo Hama before the descent; the spring is not a potable-water source. From the southern edge of the trail, a further detour with a hiking map leads to the Negev Kinnarot lookout, with views over the Yarmukh stream and Jordan Valley to the south.
A separate green-marked route continues downhill towards HaOn on the Sea of Galilee, passing Ein Shuyerakh — a spring-fed, tree-shaded concrete pool about 2×4 m and neck-deep, maintained by a local resident from nearby Kibbutz HaOn and open for hikers to enjoy if kept clean.
If you're going down and wish to enter the Sea of Galilee at the bottom, be prepared to fight for your right to do so. The nearby beaches are the property partially of a paid resort and partially of Kibbutz Ein Gev. Even though the laws of Israel allow free access to beaches even if they're private property, the owners do not follow these rules and they're not sufficiently enforced by the authorities.
Stay safe
Minefields are the most distinctive hazard on the Golan Trail. Never cross fences or mine-warning signs, and do not leave marked routes in restricted areas. Landmines and other unexploded military objects can occasionally occur outside obvious fenced areas; never touch an unidentified metal object.
Military zones are common, particularly around Mount Hermon and several volcanic summits. Respect closures even where an older map or route description suggests that passage was once possible.
Heat and dehydration can be serious hazards because long stretches are exposed and water sources are widely separated. Heavy rain creates the opposite problem, making steep canyon routes slippery or dangerous. Check the weather before each stage.
Camp only where permitted. Nature reserves generally prohibit overnight stays outside designated camping areas, and fires are prohibited except where specifically allowed.
Emergency numbers in Israel are ☏ 100 for police, ☏ 101 for ambulance services and ☏ 102 for fire and rescue.
Go next
At the northern end, hikers can connect to the Israel National Trail, which ends at the northern Hula Valley without entering the Golan Heights. From Snir near Dan, the Banyas stream trail and then the lower Guvta stream trail lead up to Neve Ativ, from where you can either cut east to rejoin the Golan Trail below its steep opening descent, or continue up to the Mount Hermon trailhead itself. Mount Hermon and the Hula Valley also offer natural extensions in their own right.
At the southern end, trails descend toward the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias is the principal city around the lake and an important onward transport centre.
Where this page came from
This page was imported from Wikivoyage. “Golan Trail” from Wikivoyage, by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changed here: set as a page; edit links, maps and listing metadata left out; each photo under its own licence, credited in its caption.
Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.
ライセンス： CC BY-SA 4.0 · 出典 en.wikivoyage.org
1
0
0
0
コメント
