From Ras Ali to Ein Yivka along the picturesque Nahal Tzipori

This is a delightful, scenic partially circular hike along the picturesque Nahal Tzipori. The first 20-minute section and a section to the spring is on a tayelet, a flat paved walkway, and is suitable for a stroller and wheelchair.

Nahal Tzipori is the longest stream in the western Lower Galilee. It begins by Tzipori, winds between the rolling Alonim-Shefarim Hills, and drains into the Kichon River, a distance of 32 Km. It is fed by a number of springs and there is flowing water even in the summer. Flintstones and pottery found in the valley indicate that this area was inhabited from as far back as the Neolithic period from about 8,000 BCE.

During the Bar Kochba revolt all the towns and villages of Judea were deliberately destroyed by the Romans and the Alonim-Shefarim Hills became populated by Jewish refugees. This area was somewhat off the main thoroughfare and therefore off the radar of the Roman authorities. The Sanhedrin provided the religious leadership for the people, and later also the political leadership under Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi, and it convened in the nearby towns of Usha and Shefar’am. It later moved to nearby Beit She’arim and Tzipori, both also in the Lower Galilee. The number of Jewish communities diminished in the Byzantine period and many Jews moved to the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. In the modern period, Bedouin grazed their flocks in this area and in the 1960s began establishing permanent communities. It is very likely that many of their hilltop towns were originally Jewish.

THE HIKE

Time: 1½ hours.

Distance: Approximately 4¼ km.

Type of hike: Partially circular.

Difficulty: An easy hike.

Directions and stating point: Enter into Waze “Ras Ali”. This will take you to the center of the town. However, the parking lot for the tayelet is about 0.5 Km before this. Just before its first building you will see the parking lot on your right. It is just before a covered playground and a blue-colored bus stop with a cover.

Public transport: Enter into Moovit “Ras Ali טיילת נחל ציפורי” The closest bus stop is only a 600-meter/7-minute walk from the trail.

Picnicking by the now deserted Carmelite watermill

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THE HIKE

Descend from the parking lot to the tayelet (walkway) by the ramp. The tayelet has interesting explanatory signs in Hebrew and Arabic, although not in English. The tayelet ends suddenly after passing the mill and crossing the stream on a bridge. As of the time this book is being written you will need to climb to the Schvill Yisrael (Israel National Trail) at a higher level. This ascent is a bit steep and slippery, but steps will presumably be placed here in the near future. (if this path is too steep for you, return on the tayelet to a path opposite the mill. Take the first left from this path, and continue to the next turn-off on the left. Cross the bridge and turn right onto the concrete path).

There are many grassy areas along the stream, whatever the season, that are ideal for picnicking, as is the expanse of grass by the watermill. This watermill was built by Druze from Shefar'am. In the 1880s it was bought and operated by Carmelite monks. Water was channeled from the Yivka Spring several kilometers away (to be visited). The mill had two stories, and each story had a mill. With the advent of electricity, the mill went out of business and it is now deserted.

Continue along this path to the next bridge. Do not cross this bridge, but continue along the concrete path adjacent to the stream. The concrete path will take you across the stream at the next bridge and again across the stream at a bridge after this. When the concrete path forks, take the left fork to the pool of Ein Yikva.

At a depth of about 50 cm, the pool is deep enough for swimming. Together with Ein Tzipori, Ein Yikva provides much of the water for Nahal Tzipori. This spring once supplied water to the Monk’s Mill via an aqueduct, the remains of which are by the mill. The aqueduct was at a higher elevation than the watermill. The pool was built at the time of Jewish settlement and was renovated by the Carmelite monks in the 19th century.

From the pool, return the way you came on the concrete walkway. However, to add some variety to your hike, instead of going on the Schvil Yisrael at the fourth bridge where the concrete path ends, cross over this bridge and at the T-junction turn right. Continue on this road until the first path on your right that leads to the mill. This path will take you back onto the concrete tayelet. Turn left towards the parking lot and your car.

Ein Yivka is deep enough for kids to swim in.

A field full of flowers close to the stream.

Trail from Ras Ali to Ein Yivka. To follow your location on your smart phone, click on https://israelhiking.osm.org.il/share/1LbnHj1lfj
Click on the black box with a cross at the top left of the map and it should change color to green. It is not necessary to download the free app unless you wish to.

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.