UAE. Jabal Qada’ah to Hebs Village full loop, RAK
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.6 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,547 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 4,547 ft
- Max elevation
- 4,450 ft
- TrailRank
-
74
5
- Min elevation
- 4,450 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 4 hours 43 minutes
- Time
- 12 hours 26 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2934
- Uploaded
- February 11, 2023
- Recorded
- February 2023
near Ra’s, Raʼs al Khaymah (Yunaayitid Arab Imireetis)
Viewed 564 times, downloaded 13 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Not advisable to do this trail on reverse!!You’ll find it even way harder due to the fact that going to Jabal Qada’ah is mostly climbing to the max elevation of the hike, so just imagine the way to descent.
This hike requires a good level of fitness! Apart from the distance it is also longer than you thought. Big boulders, scrambling, and some loose rocks. The fastest duration to complete the loop is about 9hrs but we finished it in 12.5hrs including breaks. Started at 6am until 6:30pm. Kindly do your own research before hiking this trail. There is no proper path going to the summit. The well-marked trail only starts from Hebs all the way down to the parking.
We did few detour during the hike, kindly check the uploaded waypoints. Wearing gloves might be helpful as some rocks are sharp and precaution is a must. Bring enough water with you (2-5L) and food.
This hike requires a good level of fitness! Apart from the distance it is also longer than you thought. Big boulders, scrambling, and some loose rocks. The fastest duration to complete the loop is about 9hrs but we finished it in 12.5hrs including breaks. Started at 6am until 6:30pm. Kindly do your own research before hiking this trail. There is no proper path going to the summit. The well-marked trail only starts from Hebs all the way down to the parking.
We did few detour during the hike, kindly check the uploaded waypoints. Wearing gloves might be helpful as some rocks are sharp and precaution is a must. Bring enough water with you (2-5L) and food.
Waypoints
Waypoint
1,755 ft
After 4km we did some detour. We followed the wadi which is deadend! So we had to go back. Last pic is the wrong wadi we took
Panorama
Summit
Comments (12)
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Hello, Ann.
Nice and difficult hike.
The real name of the wadi you climbed through is Wādī Hiyaylah https://ae.geoview.info/wadi_hiyaylah,291890
There are quite old references to that wadi, since it even appears in the maps of J. Walker, from 1959.
In the most modern maps, updated in 1970, it already appears very clear.
It is a wadi that bifurcates into several branches in its upper part, which explains your confusion during the journey.
The Wadi Haqab, if it exists under that name, is possibly a smaller wadi, which is to the south of the Wādī Hiyaylah (between the Wādī Qada'ah and the Wādī Hiyaylah), and which rises precisely on the southern slopes of the Jabal Haqab .
The name of the first village you found, after the stairs, I still don't know. It is very small, and I have not yet found it on the maps, nor in the different geographic databases.
On the other hand, I wanted to inform you that the summit that you put in the waypoint is a very high point, almost as high as the true summit, which is 900 m later (which you also went through), and that it is the Jabal at Qa'dah (1,358 m.).
Finally, the villages:
I have been trying for a long time to know why some hikers call the villages of Ra's and Magam, Hebs Village (village of the Hebrews). I haven't managed to figure it out yet. Perhaps some group of Hebrews lived in those villages at some point, but that is not their historical name.
The first village you passed through is Magam, and the second Ra's (they are very close together).
In some very modern maps the name of Yinas also appears, but that is a mistake, since Yinas is much further south, in a very different area.
A big hug
Hi Pablo! You information is very impressive. Thanks for the knowledge. You’ve just convinced me to rename my trail 😂 Im obviously not good in mapping lol might as well copy paste your info and put as my description 😂. Regarding with the village named “Hebs” no idea just following what people used to call it. You were right with the summit Jabal Qada’ah. I just didn’t mention here. And with your big question where did i get the name Wadi Haqab it’s from the user I have followed lol.
Happy hiking 😀
Love reading informative comments here. ⛰️
Randomly picked up this trail for UAE 52nd union day hiking. It is really a tough trail, most time no obivious path with big rocks till to the summit. I gave up at 4600 ft and turn back. Yet finding the reverse route is even difficult, fior example even spent 10 mintues to find the stair near the first vellige, which I just passed through 4 hours before!
Tips: do not try to climb the two big cliffes at the begining, there is a go around at right. A nicel local old guy shouted at me many time not go to that way.
Anyway it was a nice try, will try another time when well prepared.
Hi Jason..sorry to hear that you weren’t able to finished the hike 😢. Yes it was indeed tricky and very challenging hike especially finding the trail as it wasn’t visible. That’s why we definitely need wikiloc for this one. And mostly the hike is ascending. We even had few detours as we lost track of the right path and nevertheless it was a very satisfying good hike ☺️ and i know next attempt you’ll gonna make ui 💪🏽
All the best!
Dear Jason,
We have hiked this particular trail a few times and never felt confused, although I agree that the terrain looks similar.
Basically, if you have a line of direction, it's fine to do it.
Please download the trail on wikiloc before attempting it, plus carry back up battery bank for phone.
Enjoy the hike !!
Hi Pablo,
Long time no see !!
Are you coming to Emirates this winter ?
Regarding the names of the area.
I am in touch with local UAE resident hikers, and they call the twin peaks as Haqab (Short one) and Qada'ah. (Tall one)
Regarding the Hebs villages, even the resident locals call the villages as Hebs Upper and Lower.
Ras and Magam are marked on Google maps by some users.
I am not aware of more historical details.
This is my trail with most details.
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/farewell-2022-jebel-qadaah-loop-122319252
Hi Ann,
Good job on your hike.
It's indeed challenging abd tough but it's safe at any point of time.
Good one Ann.
Hi Patrick! Thanks for commenting here i have been following most of your trails thank you for recording it! Yes this one is a tough and indeed a good hike. Happy hiking 😊
Hello Ann.
I have finally been able to find the time to hike the itinerary to the villages of Hebs. I haven't followed your route, because it includes sections that are more climbing than hiking, and I don't climb. I have followed the direct path from Wadi Al Bih to the villages.
As for place names, I have studied this area very thoroughly, through all the documentary and direct sources that I have found, and the result can be seen in the route that I have uploaded to wikiloc:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/united-arab-emirates-eau-ras-al-khaimah-rak-wadi-naqab-hiking-trail-cave-wadi-naqab-red-wall-koub- 157420427
It is possible that my notes cast even more doubts than we already had, but perhaps together we will gradually be able to clarify what the real name of all these places is.
Patrick, I just read your posts on this Ann page. I have been in UAE for a few days, but now I am in China. Maybe I will return for a few more days to UAE before the end of the month.
Greetings