After the blessed rains that fell this week, we are luck to have a bright and sunny weekend ahead and this is the best time to hike around the waterfalls in northern Israel - newly accessible due to the month-long cease-fire. I have compiled some recommendations for you - and if you thought Saar Falls was the most impressive, it's time for you to think again.
One of the largest waterfalls that heralds the beginning of the Israeli winter began to flow a few weeks ago, and now you can visit and watch the powerful flow. The waterfall is located in the Saar Stream near Highway 99, between Kiryat Shmona and Mas'ada, near the intersection with Highway 989 leading to the Nimrod Fortress and Hermon Mountain. The stream serves as a natural border between the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.
Additional details: There are several hiking options in this area. You can take a two and a half hour hike, or a shorter trail to the Resisim Fall.
There are food stalls with local food and organized parking. On weekends, the parking can be busy, and you can park in an additional parking lot in front of the waterfall.
Bazelet Waterfall
Near Beit Shean, on Highway 90, stretching between Metula and Eilat, there is a waterfall that is not very well known to Israelis, which is a shame. Now is a great time to watch the powerful flow of the Harod Stream, which begins near Afula and continues for about 30 km to the Jordan River. The rainwater comes from the Jezreel Valley, the Valley of the Springs and the Gilboa.
The waterfall is named after the Bazelet Canyon, which the Harod Stream burrows underneath, creating an impressive and accessible series of waterfalls that we can be watched safely.
How to get there? Look up Bazelet Canyon Parking Lot. Be careful not to confuse it with the Bazelet Fall in the Golan Heights
Banias Falls
Near Kibbutz Snir in the north, there is a stunning trail that leads to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Israel, and right now is the best time to visit the stunning views.
How to get there? Look up Banias Falls on Waze. There is a cost for admission.
Where to go? From the parking lot, you set off on a circular route that takes about 45 minutes. The route begins with red trail markings, and leads to the beautiful gorges of the Banias Stream, which are now painted in the stunning colors of the trees' fall foliage.
Then, you reach the Suspended Trail and the Banias Waterfall, which flows powerfully into one of the most beautiful turquoise pools in Israel. After enjoying the waterfall, look for the markings that lead to the parking lot and in about 10 minutes you are back in the car.
For those looking for a shorter walk, you can shorten it and get straight to the waterfall. For those looking for a longer walk, you can combine it with the Hermon Stream Nature Reserve.
Kfar Blum Dam
Well, you know, it's not really a waterfall, but there's a reason I added the place known as "Israel's Niagara Falls" to the honorable list. The dam on the Jordan River was built in 1994, as part of the Agmon Hula restoration project, and in the 1950s was used to divert water to the historic Jordan River.
The Kfar Blum Dam is a quiet and pastoral place that you should visit, sit under the eucalyptus trees and watch the impressive flow of the Jordan River in winter.
And if you're already there, stop by Bluma Cafe, a local cafe that supported IDF soldiers throughout the war and provided them with food and drink during the challenging months that followed.
How to get there? Look up Kfar Blum Dam on Waze, or the historic Jordan Diversion Facility Dam.
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Erez Dagan, a former high-tech engineer turned travel blogger, devotes most of his time to explaining to travelers how to get to the most beautiful places in Israel and the world. You are invited to follow his Instagram account.