The 6 Best Hikes in the Golan Heights (2026)

Updated July 2026 · 6 picks

The best hikes in the Golan Heights in 2026 are the Yehudiya, the Meshushim Pool and Nahal El Al. The Golan's water hikes are the best in Israel — basalt canyons with pools you swim through — and several require booking and a real level of fitness. Below are six, from an easy pool walk to a full canyon descent.

1. Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve — Central Golan

The best water hike in Israel — a basalt canyon with pools you jump into and swim.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Groups · Couples

The Yehudiya reserve holds the country's finest canyon hiking: basalt gorges cut by streams running west toward the Kinneret, with waterfalls and deep pools along the way.

The classic Yehudiya route involves descending into the canyon on iron ladders, swimming across pools and, at one point, jumping from a rock into deep water — there is no way past it, which is why the reserve grades the route carefully.

Numbers are limited and booking is required, with a strict entry cut-off. Allow five to six hours and treat the water and food guidance seriously.

Good to know: Book ahead and arrive early — the reserve caps numbers and refuses entry after the cut-off.

Google Maps Website

2. Meshushim Pool (Brechat HaMeshushim) — Central Golan, Yehudiya reserve

A swimming pool ringed by hexagonal basalt columns — a geological freak.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Couples · Groups

The Meshushim Pool sits at the bottom of a valley in the Yehudiya reserve, a deep natural swimming pool surrounded by walls of perfectly hexagonal basalt columns formed as ancient lava cooled.

It looks engineered and is not, and swimming in it is one of the more memorable things you can do in Israel. The water is cold year-round.

The walk down takes around forty minutes and the climb back up is the harder half. Entry is limited and timed, so check before setting out.

Good to know: Remember the walk back up is uphill in the heat — leave enough water for it.

Google Maps Website

3. Nahal El Al — Southern Golan, near Avnei Eitan

Two waterfalls — one white limestone, one black basalt — in a single valley.

₪ BudgetBest for Families · Couples

Nahal El Al runs through the southern Golan and holds two waterfalls a short distance apart: the White Waterfall, falling over pale limestone, and the Black Waterfall over dark basalt.

The contrast between the two in one short valley is the reason to walk it, and the route between them is shaded and manageable, with pools along the way.

It is far quieter than the Yehudiya and does not require booking, which makes it a good fallback when the headline reserves are full.

Good to know: A good alternative when the Yehudiya is fully booked — and no reservation needed.

Google Maps Website

4. Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve — Northern Golan, foot of Mount Hermon

Israel's most powerful waterfall, plus a Roman sanctuary at the springs.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Groups · Couples

The Banias reserve contains Israel's mightiest waterfall, along with the springs at the foot of Mount Hermon and the remains of a sanctuary to the god Pan, from which the name derives.

The reserve splits into two areas — the springs and the waterfall — connected by a walking route including a suspended trail built out over the stream, which is the best way to do it.

It is green, wet and cool, and after a day on the dry plateau the change is startling.

Good to know: Walk the hanging trail between the two entrances rather than driving between them.

Google Maps Website

5. Zavitan Canyon — Central Golan, Yehudiya reserve

The Yehudiya's other canyon — hexagonal basalt walls and fewer people.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Groups · Couples

Zavitan runs parallel to the Yehudiya canyon within the same reserve, with its own hexagonal basalt formations and pools, and considerably fewer walkers.

The route is demanding in places and involves scrambling and water sections. Like the Yehudiya it is graded and controlled by the reserve, and the same booking and cut-off rules apply.

For walkers who want the canyon experience without the queue at the ladders, this is the one to ask about.

Good to know: Ask the reserve which routes are open on the day — Zavitan's sections are opened and closed seasonally.

Google Maps Website

6. Gamla waterfall trail — Southern Golan

A short walk to a lookout over Israel's tallest waterfall, with vultures overhead.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Couples

The waterfall trail in the Gamla reserve leads to a lookout over Israel's tallest waterfall, a fifty-one metre drop into the canyon below.

The same reserve holds a griffon vulture colony, and the vulture lookout on a separate short trail puts you level with the birds as they ride the thermals — one of the best wildlife experiences in the country.

The trails are short and well made, which makes Gamla an easier option than the canyon reserves while still delivering a proper Golan landscape.

Good to know: Do the vulture lookout as well as the waterfall — it takes twenty minutes and it is the better of the two.

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Do Golan hikes need booking?

Several do. The Yehudiya reserve limits numbers on its water routes and requires advance booking through the Nature and Parks Authority, and entry is refused after a cut-off time. Check before you drive — turning up at the Yehudiya without a booking in season means not walking it.

What should I bring on a Golan water hike?

Shoes you can swim in, a dry bag for phone and keys, at least three litres of water, and food. Several routes involve jumping into pools and swimming short sections, so anything not waterproofed will get wet. There are no facilities on the trails.

When is the best season for Golan hiking?

Spring and autumn. Spring has the most water and the wildflowers; autumn is warm enough to swim without the summer heat. Winter routes can be closed after rain because of flash flood risk, and that closure is not advisory — it is enforced and it is correct.

Are Golan hikes suitable for children?

Some are. The Meshushim Pool and the shorter Banias routes work well for families. The Yehudiya's water routes involve jumping into deep pools and swimming, and the reserve sets minimum ages on them. Check the route grade before committing.

What about minefields?

Marked minefields exist along parts of the Golan, fenced and signposted in several languages. Stay on marked trails and never cross a fence for any reason. Every marked trail in the reserves is safe; the ground outside them is not always.

1. Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve — Central Golan

2. Meshushim Pool (Brechat HaMeshushim) — Central Golan, Yehudiya reserve

3. Nahal El Al — Southern Golan, near Avnei Eitan

4. Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve — Northern Golan, foot of Mount Hermon

5. Zavitan Canyon — Central Golan, Yehudiya reserve

6. Gamla waterfall trail — Southern Golan

Frequently asked questions

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