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Gamla Nature Reserve

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משך הטיול

עונות

The Gamla Nature Reserve contains a wonderful mixture of beautiful nature and fascinating archaeology. The reserve offers a number of walking and hiking trails of different difficulties:

The Lookout Trail

This trail includes a lookout towards the ancient city of Gamla, a view towards Gamla Riverbed – where there are raptor nests – and the Gamla Waterfall. One can also see the Vulture Rehab Cage, which helps rebuild the vulture population of the Golan. This is a circular path that is easy, and is also wheelchair-accessible.

The Ancient City Trail

A visit to the nature reserve also allows one to see the ancient Jewish city of Gamla, which rebelled and was destroyed in the Great Revolt against the Romans (in the year 67 CE). A hiking path descends to the city, with signs along the way that displays quotes of the historian Yosef Ben Matityahu (Josephus Flavius) about the city and the revolt. A visit to the city includes the ancient synagogue, the round tower, the Hasmonean Quarter, and the olive press in the Western Quarter. One can also make the steep climb to the peak of Gamla that provides a breathtaking view from above of Lake Kinneret and Daliyot Riverbed.

In the New Testament, the Sermon on Mount mentions: “You are the light of the world; a city sitting on a hill will not be hidden” (Matthew 5). There are those who identify Gamla as the “city on a hill”. Gamla was a Jewish city in the Golan during the Second Temple Period, 2,000 years ago, and existed at the time Jesus was active in the Galilee and Lake Kinneret area. One can assume that he knew the city of Gamla, and perhaps even saw it to the east, while giving his famous sermon.

This trail is difficult, and takes 3-4 hours. It is recommended to start this hike early in the morning; do not hike here during a heat wave.

Gamla Waterfall Trail

This is a hike to the highest running waterfall in Israel – the Gamla Waterfall, which falls from a height of 51 meters. The trail to the waterfall will take about 40 minutes in each direction (using the same trail back and forth). It is an easy hike, and is suitable for the winter and spring, when colorful wildflowers dot the basalt countryside. On route to the waterfall, one can see a number of Dolmens – these are impressive basalt structures that were apparently used as ancient gravesite monuments, four to five thousand years ago.

Daliyot Riverbed Trail

The trailhead for this hike is located at the Daliyot Parking Lot, and it ends in the Gamla Nature Reserve (at the amphitheatre that is a memorial for IDF soldiers from the Golan who fell in battle). This trail takes you above the canyons of the Bazelet and Daliyot Riverbeds, with beautiful views of pools and waterfalls. The trail’s length is 3.6 kilometers, and is medium. There is an entrance fee as you enter the Gamla Reserve.

Arrival via Public Transportation

Hiking Safety Rules:

It is forbidden to cross fences or leave the marked trail – especially in the Golan – due to minefields in the area.

Do not enter IDF Firing Ranges that are used by the army for training!

In the Golan, you were often see cattle fences. Make sure you stay on the trail; if you do come to a cattle fence gate, then please close the gate behind you! Do not climb or cut fences.

Be very careful when crossing roads and when walking on streets.

Overnight camping is allowed only in designated campsites! Do not camp out in the middle of the trail or in non-designated areas.

Do not burn toilet paper. Do not make a campfire under trees. Do not leave a campfire unattended.

Make sure to remove all of your trash, and please leave our natural areas clean!