Banias Waterfall and Hanging Trail

Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve Nature Reserve
Golan Heights
Israel

Hiking Trails:
Banias Waterfall Trail
Hanging Trail

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.2 Miles

Pros: Strong and Scenic Waterfall
Cons: Parking Fee, Busy Area
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/XejDuXQLhParVWgZ6

On my trip to Northern Israel, we stayed at She'ar Yashuv and went nearby to the Banias Waterfall. We parked in the parking lot and took the trail down into the gorge and then headed to the falls. We then took the bridge across the brook to the eastern view above the falls, and then turned around and took the same return bridge. We then continued along the loop, and took the Hanging Trail through the gorge, and then up and out and back to the parking area.

Satellite View of the Route

View from the Beginning of the Hike

Descending to the Stream

Banias Waterfall

Lush Greenery in the Valley

Steps up to the View

View of the Waterfalls from Above

Narrow Gorge from the Hanging Trail

View from Above the Gorge

Rock Hyrax

Mount Arbel, Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve

Near Tiberias,
Lower Galilee,
Israel

Hiking Trails:
Arbel Trail

Total Time: 1:05 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Very scenic area, great scramble, historic caves
Cons: Parking Fee
Hike Type: Out and back
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/Q2dgN8y859VRYAwZ6

I was visiting family in Israel and we went up North for a visit. We were in the Tiberias area, and I heard about this great hike. This hike is above a sheer cliff above the Sea of Galilee, with historic caves along the cliff. We parked at the top and took the trail down the cliff, negotiating over the the rungs and cables to get down. After the steep and rocky descent, we went along the trail below the cliff and explored some of the caves along the cliff, some of which had ladders and cables to get in.

As it was getting late, and the park was closing soon, we did not have the time to do the full loop hike and had to turn around and go back the way we came.

Map of the Route

Sheep at the Beginning of the Hike

At the Overlook

Druze Village of Hamam from the Top of Arbel

View Facing North

Arbel Cliff

Descending into the Notch

Descending the Cliff

Along the Base of the Cliff

Caves

View from the Caves

Ascending the Return