Long ago, or so they say, an angel appeared to one of a band of thieves who made their living robbing travelers in the Upper Galilee. “Turn a new page,” the angel warned, “or bad things will happen.” In the morning, the thief begged his comrades to change their attitude. Upset, the group hatched a plan to get rid of their newly reformed friend. They asked him to help pull off one more heist before going straight ahead. Placing him on top of a huge cave as he watched, they waited for the opportunity to throw him into the abyss. Suddenly, the cave collapsed, except for the narrow strip in which the “good” thief stood. Only he remained alive. . . standing on the remains of the Keshet (Arch) cave.
Until just a few years ago, Israel’s most delightful natural phenomena and unique historical sites were off-limits to parents with small children in strollers, anyone with a cane, and people who could only get around in wheelchairs. That meant entire families were stuck at home staring at walls, while the rest of the country enjoyed riverside trails, waterfalls, unique memorials, and stupendous views, and picnicked in the woods.
Not anymore though, at least not in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights! Here are 10 great sites suitable for almost anyone!
1) Spectacular Me’arat Keshet (Keshet Cave): Off Route 8993 Once accessible only to good hikers, Keshet Cave is situated within the beautiful Jewish National Trust Adamit Park. To get there, follow Route 899 east from Rosh Hanikra and head north at the sign for Kibbutz Adamit (Route 8993). To get to the cave itself, drive to the lower parking lot and take the paved path marked with a green trail marker. After seeing the cave, you can have a picnic near the parking lot.
2) Montfort viewpoint: Off Route 899, east of Kibbutz Eilon Perched on the slopes of a hill and surrounded by lush, year-round green trees, Montfort Citadel is a stunning sight. It is particularly impressive in the late afternoon when the setting sun illuminates parts of the fortress. Montfort was originally built in Roman times. During the early period of the Crusades, a small fortress was raised on the same site, apparently to defend the property of a French nobleman. Decades later, the German Teutonic Order decided to set up its own headquarters. They bought Montfort (“strong mountain”) %u2011 in 1228, then expanded and embellished the citadel until it became one of the most beautiful in the entire Crusader Kingdom. The best view of Montfort is from the JNF Goren Park, located in the heart of the largest natural forest in the country and on the bed of the longest river in Galilee %u2011 Nahal Kziv. Drive through the forest to see anemones and cyclamen in winter and, in spring, orchids and the flaming flowers of the Mediterranean rosebud. When the scenic drive forks, take the path to the left (higher). Pass a campground and ranch, park in the lot, and follow a paved path to the Montfort Lookout Point for a breathtaking view of the citadel and lush green river bed. You leave the park on Highway 899, near Kibbutz Granot. This is the back entrance to Goren Park, so if you prefer, you can start your journey from this end.
3) Tel Dan Nature Reserve: Off Highway 99 east of Kiryat Shmona According to legend, long ago each of the three rivers went its own way. For millions of years they boasted and boasted, all three of them claiming to be the largest and most beautiful body of water. Finally, they asked God to come down from on high and decide between them. When the Lord could not make up his mind, the story goes, he suggested that the three come together. The ancient sages of Israel say that the Dan really won, because the word Jordan means “came out of the Dan.” Few sights are more refreshing than a delightfully flowing river, like the glorious Dan. In the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, an excellent wheelchair-accessible trail takes you right next to the river with its deliciously rushing waters. The circular path lasts about 45 minutes, during which you can enjoy the bushes on both sides of the bridges built over the flow of the Dan. For one thing, you might see exceptionally tall Syrian ash trees, endemic to Turkey and accused of freezing. And a few yards from the Syrian ash tree, stand lush laurel (laurel) trees, the kind whose leaves are used for cooking. Laurels need a Mediterranean climate, and that is also found in the reserve! Excavations at Tel Dan have uncovered unique and fascinating remains, some of which have been restored. These are not wheelchair accessible, so follow your journey with a visit to nearby Beit Ussishkin. A natural history museum that offers fascinating insight into the region’s natural phenomena, it is also the only place in the world where the entire development of the biblical city of Dan is on display. Here you can find artifacts from four Biblical eras: the time of Abraham, the period of the Judges, the Israelite conquest, and the Divided Kingdom.
4) Sa’ar waterfall: Off Highway 99 at the intersection with Route 989. Few sights in Israel are as awe-inspiring as the extraordinary multi-layered Sa’ar Waterfall. The source of the waterfall is Nahal Sa’ar, a river that acts as a natural border between the limestone-covered Hermon mountain range and the basaltic rocks of the Golan Heights. Nahal Sa’ar flows from the Hermon towards the Banias River, falling 500 meters in just seven kilometres. The upper layer of the waterfall is 20 meters high; the bottom an additional seven. A new wheelchair accessible trail takes you directly to a great viewing point by the waterfall. Now everyone can revel in this glorious sight, but only you if you come during the few weeks in early spring when the waterfall falls (late February, early March).
5) Ancient Katzrin Village – near trendy Katzrin, on Route 9088. When you visit an archaeological site, your imagination has to work hard to fill in the holes. Restorations at old Katzrin, however, offer a unique and effortless look into the past. Located about a kilometer east of modern Katzrin, the village was recreated by archaeologists and experts in Jewish law, and realistically portrays Jewish life between the 4th and 7th centuries. A new paved driveway takes you directly to the restored old house under construction, a fully restored house, and the famous Katzrin Synagogue. Recently introduced, a golf cart is available to take visitors along the trail as well! Reservations are not necessary but it is a good idea in season. Phone: 04-6962412 Complete your tour with a stop at the Golan Archaeological Museum, in the center of the modern city (also on route 9088). Here you can see unique and exciting remains of the nearly 3 dozen Jewish villages that dotted the Golan Heights long ago. Buy a combined ticket for the town and museum and keep your ticket stub!
6) Salukiya Springs: Off Highway 87 between Bashan and Katzrin Junctions. Filled with small waterfalls, this charming little park has wading pools for children and a dry trail for adults. Mei Eden, the large mineral water company based in nearby Katzrin, helped develop the site for visitors and says it bottles the water from these springs at its factory. The small pools feature the riverbed frog, an amphibian that lives in freshwater and is up to 7.5cm long. Fruit trees and old buildings from the Syrian period remain in the Golan. Absolutely charming, shaded by eucalyptus trees, this site was developed using local materials, mainly dark basalt rock. The path, although not paved, is well adapted for strollers and wheelchairs.
7) Mitzpe Ofir – Ofir Viewpoint: Off Route 789, the road leads west 2 kilometers north of Moshav Givat Yoav. In your quest to find the perfect view of Lake Kinneret, don’t forget Mitzpe Ofir! Rising nearly 1,500 feet above the glistening lake waters, the site served as the perfect outpost for Syrian snipers from 1948 until the Golan Heights came under Israeli control during the Six-Day War. The troops must have had a field day, not only did they have an excellent view of the settlements below so it was easy to shoot at random when they wanted to, but in April they were able to feast their eyes on the pink and purple wildflower. called the Mesapotamica iris (iris aram naharayim, in Hebrew). With the help of the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Agency and the Local Council, Jimmy Sha’al of nearby Moshav Givat Yoav developed Mitzpe Ofir as a memorial to Ophir’s son: the young man died of a prolonged illness at the age of 16. A grove of trees of 16 olive trees, planted here, symbolizes each year of his short life. The stone picnic tables and gazebo near the parking lot are wheelchair accessible (pavement consists of flat basalt rock); walk up the hill to a second unusual set of stone tables with a stupendous view of Lake Kinneret, Kibbutz Ein Gev, Kursi, and across the water Tiberias and the mountains of the Lower Galilee.
8) Mitzpe Gadot – Gadot Viewpoint: Off Highway 91 and 1 mile northeast of the Daughters of Jacob Bridge. For 19 years after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Syrian troops stationed on the Golan Heights fired relentlessly at settlers below. Life was hell for kibbutzim as farmers plowed their fields behind armored tanks and children played, studied and slept inside shelters. Until Israel captured the Heights in the Six Day War, more than 400 shootings occurred. On a black day, more than a thousand shells were fired at Kibbutz Gadot alone. A former Syrian base is now called Mitzpe Gadot. The site of particularly heavy battles, it now houses a central memorial for the soldiers of the 33rd Battalion who lost their lives taking this site and the adjacent position in ’67. Those from the same battalion who were killed here during the Yom Kippur war and the Lebanon campaign in 1982 are also remembered. The lookout and memorial site is a lovely peaceful place with wild flowers, butterflies and lizards basking in the sun. the rocks. From a bench in the shade of the eucalyptus trees, you can look down from the heights to see the eastern valley of Huleh stretching directly below, and with it the fields of Kibbutz Gadot. Try to feel the vastness of Syria’s strategic advantage on this hill, and imagine spending night after night in dugouts, or constantly plowing their fields in the company of tanks. Listen to an audio guide to learn more about the area and its history.