The beautiful Banias Nature Reserve

The Banias Nature Reserve is in two sections. Both are popular and the entrance ticket covers both. They are connected by a footpath, although most people journey to them separately. Closest to the Hula Valley is the Banias Waterfall, viewed on an easy ¾-hour circular walk. Some of the walk is on a suspended walkway. The upper section contains the Banias Springs, which is the source of the Hermon Stream. From the area of the springs are several short, easy walks to places of historic interest, all of them set in extremely beautiful surroundings.

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The Banias Springs in the Banias Nature Reserve are the source of the Hermon Stream. This stream is the easternmost of the three main northern tributaries of the Jordan River, the others being the Dan River and Snir Stream. The Hermon Stream accounts for about one-quarter of the water flowing into the Jordan River.

The springs seep from bedrock at the base of the Banias Cave and form the large natural pools. Their water catchment area is the southern slopes of Mount Hermon and the northern Golan. From the springs, the Hermon Stream enters a 3-Km steep canyon, and this leads to a speeding up of the flow of the water. There are also a number of waterfalls, the largest being the Banias Waterfall. The Hermon Stream has several small tributaries.

One of the outcomes of the Six-Day War was that Israel secured its water sources from the Golan Heights. No longer would Israel’s enemies be able to divert its water sources as Syria once attempted.

The pools of the Banias Springs

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LOWER SECTION - HIKE TO BANIAS WATERFALL

Time: ¾ hour.

Distance: Just over 1¾ Km.

Type of hike: Circular.

Difficulty: This is an easy trail, although there are 370 steps each way.

Directions: Enter “Banias” into Waze and click on “Banias (Panias) Fall.”

Admission:This is a site of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Hours in the summer are 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and Saturday, and Fridays and holiday eves 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The site closes one hour earlier in the winter. It is recommended to come early on Fridays and Saturdays in the summer as space can be limited. There is a large parking area. Adjacent to this is a large completely shaded area with picnic benches, restrooms, a store for drinks and snack foods, and a café selling Druze food. The phone number of the reserve is: 04 653-2211 and this is their website.

Public transport: Enter "Banias" into Moovit. The closest bus stop is at the Sha'ar Yishuv Intersection which is a 3.3 Km/40-minute walk away.

The Banias Waterfall viewed from the suspended walkway.

WALK TO THE BANIAS WATERFALL:

This popular walk starts from the Waterfall Parking Lot. Part of the walk is on a suspended wooden walkway above the Hermon Stream as it flows swiftly through a narrow gorge. At the far end of the walkway, you look out on the impressive Banias Waterfall.

From the Waterfall Parking Lot proceed along the blue-marked trail. From the Lookout, this changes to a red-marked trail. As you descend towards the stream, the path becomes a wooden suspended walkway. Because of its steep descent, the flow of the stream beneath the walkway is quite fierce.

After viewing the waterfall, return the short distance to the junction. Take the right branch of the blue-marked trail back to the parking lot.

UPPER SECTION - HERMON STREAM NATURE RESERVE

Directions: Enter into Waze “Banias” and click on “Hermon Stream Nature Reserve.”

Admission: As for the lower section, this is a site of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and has the same hours. One ticket is valid for both sites. The springs and pools are close to the parking lot. Close to the pools are a store selling drinks and supplies, restrooms, and a picnic area with picnic benches under plenty of shade from trees. No swimming or wading is permitted in the pools.

Public transport: Enter "Hermon Stream Nature Reserve" into Moovit. The closest bus stop is a 17-minute/1.4 Km walk away.

The city of Panias was built by the Greeks and named after the shrine to their god Pan. This shrine was constructed in the northern part of the city above the spring.

SHORT WALKS FROM THE BANIAS SPRINGS:

The ruins of the pagan shrines can be visited by following the circular path above the pools. There are signs with information along the route from which you can recreate to a degree the paganism of Greece and Rome. You can also understand why people eventually tired of it all and why conversion initially to Judaism and then to Christianity became attractive in the Roman Empire.

Another pleasant walk from the springs visits the palace of Agrippa II. This is on a circular, 45-minute, purple-marked trail. In its time, this palace was the largest and most magnificent building in Israel. The synagogue in the same area dates from much later, from the 11th century CE.

Another trail visits the ruins of a Crusader fortress. This trail is yellow-marked and part of it follows the wadi of the Sa’ar Stream.

It also possible to hike on a footpath from the Banias Springs to the Banias Waterfall. It is about a 90-minute hike. You will miss much of the suspended walkway, but the view of the waterfall is the same.

if you do this hike, you will need to think about how to get back to your car. You can, of course, walk back the way you came. Also, many of the cars and buses at the Waterfall Parking Lot will be going to the Banias Spring and you can hitch a ride. You can also hope for the best and start walking along the main road. You should be able to hitch a ride, as a lot of drivers will be traveling in your direction.

The ruins of the palace and administrative center of Agrippas II. The large rectangular room was probably his throne room.