Family hike along Tsalmon Stream (Nahal Tsalmon)
This is a short, easy family hike by Tsalmon Stream. It has running water throughout the year and a shallow pool for getting wet, set within gorgeous foliage by the river and impressive Galilean scenery.
THE HIKE:
Time: Almost 1½ hours round trip.
Distance: 3.3 Km round trip.
Type of hike: There and back the same way.
Difficulty: Mainly easy, with a few short areas with easy climbing. There is very little shade.
Directions: Enter “Tsalmon Stream” into Waze and click on “גן לאומי נחל צלמון.” There is no entrance fee or park office. The parking lot is on the side of Route 804.
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Then you are sure to love my two new books "In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone - The Best Walks, Hikes and Outdoor Pools" and "The Struggle for Utopia - A History of Jewish, Christian and Islamic Messianism". Both books are available on Amazon and in Jerusalem bookstores. Click on each of the titles for information, reviews and purchase information.
THE HIKE:
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From the parking lot, you can see a blue marker pointing in the direction of the wadi. Go down the stone steps.
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At the first split in the path is a pool. It is shallow, but OK for the kids to get wet and cool off.
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Eventually you will come to a deserted building. At this point, you can cross over the stream on a wooden box. However, there is not much point in doing this, since this is almost the end of the hike. If you do cross the stream, you will soon meet the main road, Route 804.
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Turn back to your car. Although retracing your steps, the views are quite different.
Links to the HOME PAGE and best family activities, hikes and historic sites in the GOLAN, EASTERN GALILEE, UPPER GALILEE, LOWER GALILEE, JORDAN VALLEY & LAKE KINNERET, the SHEFELAH, TEL AVIV-YAFFO and surroundings, NORTH of TEL AVIV, and SOUTH of TEL AVIV.
Do you find my website interesting and helpful?
Then you are sure to love my two new books "In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone - The Best Walks, Hikes and Outdoor Pools" and "The Struggle for Utopia - A History of Jewish, Christian and Islamic Messianism". Both books are available on Amazon and in Jerusalem bookstores. Click on each of the titles for information, reviews and purchase information.
Yesud HaMa'ala - a delightful place to live - eventually
Yesod HaMa’ala was established in 1883 by Polish Jews during the First Aliyah. They named their village after a phrase in the Book of Ezra (7:9) - "the commencement of the ascent (yesud hama’ala)." The immigrants initially lived in tents because the Ottomans refused permission for them to build houses. However, Baron Edmond Rothschild visited the settlement, and in 1887 persuaded the Ottomans to reverse this decision. He also built houses for them. Nevertheless, life was extremely difficult.
Yesod HaMa’ala was built next to Lake Hula and the settlers and their children were dying from malaria. Dr. Mer, the malaria expert from Rosh Pina, advised them all to leave. However, they were determined to continue. This decision was reinforced by their finding of an inscription in Aramaic on a stone from the ruins of an ancient 5th century synagogue located in the village. It read “May his memory be for good, all who settle here.” This finding provided the settlers with the resolve to continue living here despite illness and frequent deaths.
Eventually, malaria was overcome with pesticides and the draining of Lake Hula. A more recent hardship was Syrian shelling from the Golan Heights. This too was overcome by the Six-Day War and Israel’s capturing of the Golan Height.
As you can see by walking in the village, Yesod HaMa’ala is now a delightful place to live.