Hod-Akev-Ein-Aqev-Midreshet-Ben-Gurion
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.41 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,391 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 1,391 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,825 ft
- TrailRank
- 57
- Min elevation
- 1,046 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 4 hours 31 minutes
- Time
- 6 hours 11 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3268
- Uploaded
- December 18, 2021
- Recorded
- December 2021
near Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Southern District (Israel)
Viewed 702 times, downloaded 8 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
(Apparently there is an Ein Aqev and an Ein Akev a few kms south of it. Just to add to the confusion.)
After entering the Nature reserve (a payment is required) we park the car at the bottom of the road at the Serpantinot Night camp. As its name gives away you could also sleep there if you are really adventurous.
From there, there are several ways to go to Ein Akev the small waterfall and pond of water in the middle of the desert. One way would be on a mostly flat dirt-road passable by 4x4 vehicles. Then you can return via the dirt road.
There are also two ways to get there though some mountain climbing and getting back via the dirt-road.
Finally, the one we chose is going through both mountains.
First we walked about 8 km on the dirt-road to the Hod Akev night cam. The ascend to Hod Akev starts from there. It is very steep with several iron ladders to help you climb. Not for the faint of heart or the lack of breath.
But the view is breathtaking.
And just when you think you reach the top there is another peak to climb for a 360 view.
Then downhill back to the elevation of the dirt-road where we reached Ein Akev. On the way we saw a few people and a few cars passed by on the dirt-road, but here there were several groups of tourists with dogs as well.
On the way back the ascend was less steep, but then the descend back to where we left the car was quite steep again.
It is a beautiful area - if you like the desert. (The first 8 km was a bit less fascinating, though if you have good company that's ok.)
You are required to carry 4l of water.
We went December when it was 17C during the day but a light shirt and light trousers were enough. We hardly saw any clouds.
Waypoints
River
Intersection
1,111 ft
Intersection: Ein Akev or Tsin valley
We turned left (north) here. Turning right would lead straight to the waterfall.
Photo
1,091 ft
Hod Akev night parking
You can see Hod Akev in the background and the path up to the left of the big sign.
Photo
1,634 ft
Reached the top - but there is more
You could also go around this extra, but why would you. The 360 view awaits you.
Photo
1,818 ft
South West from the top
With the way don on the left hand side. Ein Aqev is just behind this flat mountaintop.
Photo
1,276 ft
Intersection: blues
Back to the continuation of the dirt road we started off. Near Ein Aqev. We turned left (south) here to reach the waterfall/pond.
Photo
1,299 ft
Intersection: blue, green
Just above Ein Aqev taking the green to the west up the mountain.
Photo
1,439 ft
Cars and peopl
A few cars at the end of the dirt road (left) and a few people walking from the cars to Ein Aqev in the river-bed.
Photo
1,604 ft
The hight
Just so you see we are still quite high up. That's no place to climb down. Or up.
Photo
1,215 ft
Divshon Ascent
Well, for us it was descent, but that's where you need to climb if you are going the other way around.
Intersection
1,201 ft
Intersection
Divshon Ascent (where we came back from) Tzin Valley (where we started) Ein Avdat (where we will go another time)
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