Trails

Yardenit - Yavniel

Getting there from Tel Aviv: From Ra'anana to Kibbutz Kinneret (meeting at Yardenit) via the Megiddo junction, Afula, Kfar Tavor and Yavniel (Road # 767) 

The Route: From Yardenit we will climb to Poriya (400 meters elevation in 9 kilometers - with great views of the Kinneret). Return via Nahal Yavniel (including water crossing) and along the " Salty Carrier" (single track). Level of difficulty - intermediate.

Eshtaol Ya'ar Hakidushim 
Meeting Place 
At the gas station in Eshtaol
For those who want to travel in convoy, we will meet at the Ra'anana junction (South) at 06:00 sharp!!
The Route 
We will ride from Eshtaol through Ya'ar Kidushim and along Nahal Kisalon climbing towards Ein Limon. From Ein Limon we will climb along the Israel Trail to Tzuva  When we get to Tzuva, we will visit the Crusader Castle which offers spectacular views of the Jerusalem Hills.  We will then descend all the way down back to the cars at Eshatol. Total distance of the ride +- 30 kilometers.
The route IS NOT suitable for beginner riders.
Getting There from Tel Aviv 
Travel along the Jerusalem Highway (route # 1) and exit at the Sha'ar Haguy interchange. Continue towards Beit Shemesh. After about 5 kilometers you will get to Eshataol and see the gas station on your left hand side. There is no legal left turn into the gas station, so you will need to continue to the Shimshon junction to turn around and return to the Gas station.

Nahal Kziv. 
Attached is the route description - Translated and adapted from the book " Bike Tours" by Omer Yigal published by Mapa.
The Route 
The most beautiful river in the Western Galilee offers a combination of flowing water, game and forest vistas. The route travels along the central part of Nahal Kziv from Ein Ziv to Moshav Avdon.   Riding along the length of Nahal Kziv gives us the opportunity of chance meetings with foxes, deer and jackal as well as bird life of the area that come to the water to quench their thirst. The route climbs from Moshav Manot on a wide, panoramic road to Mitzpe Hila (350 meters climbing in 12 kilometers) and on to Mailya. From there we descend on a winding road enjoying spectacular views of the river gorge. Riding along the river gorge (basically downhill), is pleasant with many crossings between the north and south banks of the river. At Mitzpe Hila, we will take a detour to visit the ruins of the Montfort Cusader Castle.

The Green Wheelers  - Bat Shlomo - Ramot Menashe
A great ride along Dahlia River and Menashe River to Ramot Menashe, the historical Roman Water Shafts (dug to get water to the Aqueduct) and back to Bat Shlomo via Mount Horshan  - some gentle climbs and of course nice downhill's (a reward for the climbs!). At the end of the ride we can visit the famous Schwartzman Restaurant which is famous for its home made Cheeses .
Meeting Place
At the entrance to the Old Bat Shlomo. 
The Route
From Bat Shlomo ride to Ramot Menashe via the Dalia and Menashe Rivers. From Ramot Menashe descend back to the Dalia river and ride towards Givat Nili. Before getting to Givat Nili ride west along the Taninim river and visit the Pirim (Roman water shafts). Return to the cars via Har Horshan. The route IS NOT suitable for beginner riders.
Getting There from Tel Aviv
Travel north on the coastal road (route # 2) until the Zichron Yacov interchange. From there travel east on road no 70 towards Yokneam. About 6 kilometers after the Furedis junction turn right into Old Bat Shlomo.

The Green Wheelers  - Mesilat Zion - Dereh Ha Psalim (Burma Road)
" Dereh Ha Psalim" is a circular route in the area of Ya'ar Ha Nasi. On the way back to the cars we will ride a portion of the Burma Road including Mitzpe Harel and the "Sepentine Ascent" where we can see how our soldiers liberated Jerusalem during the War of Independence in 1948.
Meeting Place
Parking lot an the left hand side of road # 38 by the Keren Kayemet information sign at the start of the climb of Dereh Sheva (the continuation of the Burma Road to Beit Meir )
The Route (Hopefully the shorter version)
Exit from the parking lot and ride on a track parallel to the Beit Shemesh road until Eshtaol. From Eshtaol we will climb to Mitzpe Eshtaol and continue along Dereh Ha Psalim (The Statue road). We will wind along Dereh Ha Psalim and ride passed Kfar Uria and onto Mitzpe Harel. From Mitzpe Harel we will ride along the Burma Road back to the cars . 30 kilometers of challenging riding in the hills of Jerusalem. The route IS NOT suitable for beginner riders.
Getting There from Tel Aviv
Travel along the main Jerusalem Highway and exit at the Sha'ar Haguy Interchange  (Turn off to Beit Shemesh). Immediately after the turn off you will see the parking lot of the KKL information center on your left hand side.  There is no legal left turn, so you will have to continue along the road passed the Paz Gas Station (on your right hand side) until Mesilat Zion. Here you can turn around and return to the parking lot.

Tel-Aviv (Saturday June 7, 2003). - Urban bike trail.
Starting point at Riding and on to the latest portion of Ha'yarkon river promenade where the river meets the Mediterranean (with two new pedestrian bridges).
Continue along Agnon & Levy Eshkol SPECIAL BIKE ROADS having the opportunity to breath sea fresh air. Then off road to Tel-Baruch sea shore, crossing Ramat Aviv Gimel on our way  North there we will see a reserve from the Phoenician period. We'll cross A'yalon under a secret tunnel, say hello to Saturday morning horse riders. (stop for refreshment - surprise !!).
Riding on, We shall reach the new (almost 2 km) bike road along Wallenberg street and then turn on to
Ha'yarkon bank for a lazy ride until the "Ten windmill" and on via "Seven Mills " waterfall and park Ha'yarkon lawns and on back to the starting point.

Kibbutz Hazorea - Emek Ha Shalom
The Route
Exit from Kibbutz Hazorea and climb Nahal Ha Shofet until Emek Ha Shalom. From here we ride south and climb on an ancient Roman road that joined Wadi Melik and Wadi Ara. Continue until the source of Nahal Taninim and climb to the look out of the ruins of Beit Res. We return to Hazorea through Nahal Mishmar Ha Emek and ride parallel to the main Yokneam - Megiddo Road back to Hazorea.
Important: This route IS NOT suitable for beginner riders.
Getting There from Tel Aviv
Travel on route # 70 passed Furedis along Wadi Melik to Yokneam. After Yokneam turn right at the Hatishbi junction and immediately right again onto route # 66 towards Megiddo. After about 4 kilometers turn right to the entrance of Kibbutz Hazorea and park in the parking lot of "Shalosh Hamishtalot".  

  Circle Tour - Need the SPNI trail map for Jerusalem 
Meet at Kennedy Memorial
Take the white trail North to the ancient farm of Hurvat Sa'adim
Turn right at the junction after the ruins towards Hadassah Hospital.
From there get on the old road to Even Sapir passing the restored terraces of Ein Handak. From Ein Handak take one of the trails leading down to the road to Nahal Sorek. Once on the road ride west until you see the parking area. Walk the bikes up the steep main path to the Sataf spring. Stop in the shade of the trees to enjoy the spring. Continue on the path until you reach the paved road to Kibbutz Tzuba, take the turn off to Kastel and visit the Kastel National Park (From the top of the hill there is a great view). Head towards the Jerusalem/Tel Aviv highway, cross the Harel bridge to Mevasseret Tzion, through the suburb turn right at the second junction past the shopping mall, downhill to the Motza Junction and the big brick building 'habayit ha'adom'. Ride through moshav Beit Zayit and the Jerusalem Forest to the Givat Sha'ul industrial zone, back to your car.

Lowlands Challenge - SPNI Trail map of Jerusalem (bring torches) 
Meet at the service station across from the access road to the Beit Govrin National Park (via road 38 south of Jerusalem & Beit Shemesh)
Ride towards Beit Shemesh 2k from the junction of roads 35/38, take the white path down to your left. This is Tel Goded - the path leads to some caves you can crawl through. Then continue on the green trail to Mitzpeh Masu'a picnic area - good view.
Take the road down to the path marked in black that crosses the road this will take you to Tel Azeka, north of moshav Li-On. Make sure you mark the path that you take to enter the caves so you can find your way back. From here go to the main road to Beit Shemesh then go north via Nahal Yarmut, on the trail marked black to Beit Jimal. Famous for their Shabbat concerts and pottery, said to be the burial plce of St Stephen & Rabbi Gamaliel. Continue back on the trail marked in black beyond the hill going south towards Nahal Yarmut on the green trail ride east to Zanoah-Lamed-Heh road. Ride south towards Neveh Michael and continue on the green trail to the Adulam caves at the top of the mountain. When you reach the road, ride west, back to Beit Govrin and your car. 

Masu'a Forest & Luzit Caves - Jerusalem 
Length: 13 km - Equipment: Torch, water, fruit - Map: Entrance to Jerusalem, 1:50,000 
To get there
Travel to Beit Shemesh, then on route 38 on the Guvtin road to kilometer - stone 7.
Turnoff to the west and follow the road to Mitzpeh Masu'a, take in the view.
Go back about 200 meters where you will find a system of forest paths and park.
The Route
On your bikes take the blue route through the forest and out into the fields to the west, continue west on the main trail about 5.5 km to route 353. Turn left onto 353.
4. Go about 1.5 km to the road to the Luzit Caves, which branches off opposite to the entrance to Moshav Lutiz. At the caves 'Lock your bikes!'
Explore the caves and surrounding area - Great for a picnic
Back to the road, turn right (North) to Moshav Agur about 4 km. In the centre of Agur the road turns harp right,and ascends in the direction of Moshav Li On (3 km climb).
You will now see a dirt road branching off to the right into a picnic site, follow it up the mountain, where it turns right and follows the ridge to the South after about 1.5 km you will arrive back at the road ascending to Mitzpeh Masu'a, (where you left the car).
Note!
Forest tracks undergo changes from time to time that may not fit the map.
Continue on the dirt road along the ridge until it reaches a large wadi. Here turn left with the road as it climbs the slope, finally arriving at the paved road near the junction of paths from where you started out.

Silon Caves - Arad Giv'at

You need :
i). 'Judean Desert South' trail Map.

ii). If you are unfamiliar with desert conditions a tour guide is a good idea (Contact Micah Shick Eretz Magazine) .

iii). To arrange pick up transport to meet you on the Arad Eilat road .

Meet at the Arad Industrial Zone (sunrise is the best time - take lots of water).To the south an unpaved road marked green leads south into the desert.
After a short distance at an intersection near a big building go right (west) onto a road marked blue.
Stick to the blue road, near the bedouin school the road turns sharply to the left(south) continue on to Khirbet Uzza (an Israelite fortress that once overlooked the approaches to Judea from Edom.
The blue trail leads along the slopes of Nahal Kina the Hebrew name for Wadi Kini (Kenites inhabited this area - check out the last chapters of Joshua and the first of Judges) towards Khirbet Radom.
From Khirbet Radom, the blue trail descends to the river bed and continues into Nahal Heimar and then on to the fork where Nahal Dimona flows into Nahal Heimar
On your right is the slope of Giv'at Silon you will see the big cave where remains of prehistoric man have been found.
A short while later the blue trail ends and you will find yourself on a track marked in green in the middle of a wide river bed, leading towards a quarry, follow this to the right until you reach the main road (258) Arad to Eilat & your transport back. 

Arad to the lowest point on Earth
For experienced Bikers only (sunrise is the best time - take lots of water.)

You need :

·         'Judean Desert South' trail Map.

·         & if you are unfamiliar with desert conditions a tour guide is a good idea (Contact Micah Shick Eretz Magazine)

·         to arrange pick up transport to meet you on the Arad Eilat road just south of the Zohar Junction or at the Dead Sea Hotels

Meet on the Arad Eilat road at the sign pointing to Nahal Ashalim.
There, a black track leads straight eastwards to a sharp right turn (careful, it's easy to miss!)
The track continues to a little round building, from which it starts to descend towards the Dead sea via Ma'aleh Azgad. This is really steep so be careful you may want to walk it.
The black track ends at a flat plain called Mishor Amiaz where you will see a Mount Sdom, here take the unpaved road marked red to the North (left) to Nahal Pratzim and the Cave of Flour which is actually a narrow cleft in the marl ( you can follow it in a circle to bring you back to your bike ( 15 min),
Now ride down the white marl canyon of Nahal Pratzim.
The track (marked on the map as a trail) leads down to the Navit Pools slightly south of the Zohar Junction where your transport should be waiting or ride north another half hour to the Dead Sea Hotels.

Dereh Nof Ha Carmel
The route in itself is not very difficult and is suitable for "Beginner" category riders. It is NOT suitable for first time riders.
Directions how to get there:
From Tel Aviv take the coastal road (Road #2) until the Zichron Ya'acov off ramp. Continue East on Road # 70 passed the Furadis junction (with the Old Tel Aviv - Haifa road ) until the Elyakim junction. Here we turn left towards Dalit el Carmel (road # 672) and travel (about 10km) up until you turn right off to the Carmelite Monastery (Muhrakah)  Approx. 1 - 2 kilometres down the road on the right hand side is a restaurant with a Wagon outside - here we meet.
The route
Ride towards Osifya on a farm track. When we enter Osifiya, there is a short, but difficult climb towards the soccer field. From here we go down a "Single Track" for about 2 - 3 kilometres (all down hill and a little technical) towards a picnic spot with a viewing point. From there we ride along Dereh Nof Ha Carmel back towards the Carmelite Monastery. 
The total length of the ride is +-25 kilometres with an option of doing another 5 kilometre loop at the end if the people are up to it. 
At the end (where we will park the cars ) is a Druze restaurant where those who want can order some Humus and Pita and something to drink.

Carmel Caves - Makura 

Getting There:
Travel north on the coastal road (#2) until the Zichron Ya'acov interchange. Travel east towards the Furedis junction. At the Furedis junction turn left (north) onto road no 4 towards Haifa. Contiue passed the Dror, Ein Ayala, Ofer, Tzrufa and Geva Carmel junctions. About 1 km after the Geva Carmel junction, turn right into Nahal Mearot. We meet in the parking lot.

The Route:
From the parking lot at the Carmel Caves we will travel north to Ein Ha Carmel and then west towards the coast. We will cross over road # 2 (The Main Tel Aviv - Haifa highway) and then travel south to Habonim. We will continue to Ein Ayala and then north to the Ofir junction. East to Makura and Kerem Maharal before returning to the cars via Nahal Mearot. Total Distance +- 30 kilometers

NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER RIDERS

Zippori and section of INT

"Zippori" is a favourite route in the Lower Galilee, remembered fondly by Ted because of the Mud bath he took on our first visit! We start at the Alonim junction, climb to Bosmat Tivon . From there we descend to Nahal Zippori will visit Tahanat Hanzirim before continuing along the river to Ein Yivke . We will return to the cars via Beit Lehem Ha Glilit and Alonei Aba. About 28 kilometers of riding.
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Getting There:
As usual we will meet at the Kfar Shmariyhu junction at 06:30 sharp to travel in convoy. For those who are late or who want to meet us at the start we start riding at 08:00.
Travel north on the coastal road to Haifa (road # 2). Exit at the Zichron interchange and travel East on Route #70, passed Furedis to Yokneam. At the Hatishbi junction (just after Yokneam) turn right onto raod # 772 and continue for about 5 kilometers. You will get to a T junction, turn right and immediately left passed into the Alonim center. We meet in the Parking lot.
To see some pictures of previous trips in the area go to http://www.angelfire.com/il/cyclists/nahal zipori.htm

 Tzomet Ha Movil - Zippori National Park

 Meeting Place:For those traveling in convoy - we will meet at the Kfar Shmariyahu junction at 06:00 am sharp!! Start riding at 07:45 from the Gas Station 1 kilometer passed Tzomet Ha Movil on route # 77

Getting There:From the coastal road travel along route # 70 (Wadi Melik) through Yokneam. Turn right at the Hatishbi Junction (route 722), continue for 5 kilometers until the T junction. Turn right and then left onto route # 77 towards Tiberius. At Tzomet Ha Movil (after 11 kilometers) turn left and immediately right (continue with route # 77). We meet at the gas station another kilometer down the road on the right hand side.

The Route:From the Gas station we will ride through Shmurat Ya'ar Hasolelim and climb to Zippori. Continue climbing to the Zippori National park where we can visit (entrance fee). Descend to Eyanot Zippori and continue along Nahal Zippori and climb through Shmurat Gush Alonim to Bir el Mahsur. Climb through Bir El Mahsur to Kibbutz Hanaton and return to the cars via the Beit Netufa Reservoir.

 Important
The weather will be HOT so remember to bring at least 3 liters of water

 A total of 35 challenging kilometers.

This route is definitely not for riders without a reasonable level of fitness.

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