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The city of Gamla was destroyed at the beginning of the Great Revolt against Rome in 66 CE. On this hike you will see how both sides prepared for the siege and how the city was finally captured by the Romans.

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THE HIKE

 

Time: About 2½ hours total.

Distance: 3¾ Km total.

Type of hike: There and back along the same path.

Difficulty: This is a slightly difficult trail on a rocky path with a somewhat steep incline. However, it is not dangerous and is appropriate for families with older kids. Walking sticks will be helpful for adults.

Directions and Starting point: Enter “Gamla” into Waze and click on “Gamla Nature Reserve.” This leads to the main parking lot, which is also the starting point for all the hikes in the reserve.

Admission: This is a site of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. It is open Sunday to Thursday and Saturday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, and Friday and holiday eves 8.00 am to 4.00 pm. It closes 1 hour earlier in the winter. Last entry to the site is one hour before closing time. A kiosk serves hot and cold drinks, snacks and some hiking equipment. There are many shaded and unshaded picnic benches next to the kiosk. Restrooms are nearby. There is an admission charge. Click here for their website.

Public transport: Enter "Gamla Nature Reserve" into Moovit. The bus stop at the Gamla Nature Reserve Intersection is only a short distance from the Reserve. There are bus lines from Haifa, Acre, Safed, Kiryat Atta, Yokniam Illit, Emeq Hayarden and Jerusalem. 

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The hastily constructed eastern defensive wall of the city.

For the two overviews "Gamla besieged and captured" and "Who were the Zealots?" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

0Gamla Overlooking synagogue_edited.jpg

THE HIKE

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  • From the kiosk take the paved trail signposted to “Gamla Lookout Ancient Gamla.” On display at the lookout is a catapult as would have been used by the Romans, plus an explanation. Each legion was equipped with 56 catapults. From this observation point you can see below you the ruins of Gamla and appreciate the layout of the city. Its single defensive wall to the east of the city faces you.

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  • Take the Ancient Trail down to the ravine. Because of ravines surrounding the city on three sides, this has always been its only approach, probably since the Early Bronze Age. There are interesting quotations from Josephus Flavius in Hebrew and English along the path explaining the progress of the siege.

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  • When you reach the bottom of the ravine, head towards the ruins by the concrete path. There is another exhibit here of a catapult. Go in the direction of the green sign to the כניסה (Entrance). Follow in the direction indicated by the boxed brown arrows on the Long Trail. As you pass the entrance to the ruins of the city you will appreciate a breach in the wall.

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  • Within the city continue in the direction of the arrows along the Long Trail. Of interest are the ruins of a synagogue and mikvah. The synagogue is from Second Temple times and is one of the oldest synagogues found in Israel. It can be entered. The eastern defensive wall for the city was hastily constructed and included the outer wall of the synagogue.

 

  • After a short distance, take the trail on your right that ascends the slope. On the way you will pass ruins of houses. At the top of the path is the Hasmonean Quarter. This was not part of the city in Roman times. A helpful sign illustrates how this part of the city would have looked during Hasmonean times. Because of the slope, the streets were quite steep. This path meets up with the Short Trail.

 

(An alternative is to continue walking along the Long Trail. This will enable you to climb to the highest point of the slope by taking the next turning on your right. However, it is a difficult climb and hardly worth it. You can also continue to the Western Quarter, which is at the end of the Long Trail and which contains an oil and flour press; although this section may be closed off. Be aware when you return that the turn off from the Long Trail to the Short Trail is not well marked).

 

  • Turn right onto the Short Trail and make your way to the Round Tower. During the siege, this tower was undermined by the Romans in the early hours of the morning and the entire structure collapsed. This enabled the Romans to successfully enter the city. From the tower, take the trail by the wall towards the exit from the ruins.

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  • Return to the top of the Ancient Trail the way you came.

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Path to ancient Gamla. To follow your location on your smart phone, click on https://israelhiking.osm.org.il/share/zLhbngfftF

and click on the black box with a cross at the top left of the map. It should change color to green.

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Additional trails in the Gamla Nature Reserve

 

 

  • Daliyot Path to the Daliyot Falls:This is about 3.5 Km each way and the round trip takes about 4 hours. There is only water in the waterfall during the winter and spring. A shorter but spectacular hike to the Daliyot Falls approaches it from the Daliyot Forest (see webpage Daliyot Forest and Daliyot Falls. This is a worthwhile hike even in the summer when there is no water in the stream.

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