Karnei Hittin National Park

Karnei Hittin National Park - battle site and views

Karnei Hittin (Horns of Hittin) are the remains of a very ancient volcanic crater that collapsed inwards, leaving horns on its northern and southern aspects. The Crusaders were defeated here by Saladin in the Battle of Hattin in June 1187 CE. With only a few Crusader knights left in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, this was the end of almost 90 years of Crusader rule over Jerusalem. This circular hike climbs to the top of the crater and from here there are wonderful views over Wadi Arbel and the top of the cliffs of Arbel.

There was a Canaanite fortress on the southern horn of Karnei Hittin, and following its destruction by Joshua this was replaced by a Jewish settlement. It has been suggested that this may be the site Mei Merom mentioned in the Book of Joshua as being where the northern Canaanite kingdoms were defeated although this is speculative (Joshua 11:7). Prior to 1948, there was an Arab village, Hittin, at the base of the hill. Many Christians believe that this hill was the site of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

THE HIKE

Time: About 1½ hours.

Type of hike: Circular.

Difficulty: This hike is slightly difficult as you will be climbing up and down the sides of the crater on rocks, but it is not dangerous.

Directions: Enter into Waze “Karnei Hittin” and click on “Karnei Hittin National Park.” The turn off is on the right side of Route 65 coming from Tiberias. In theory, there may be a tunnel under the road if you are coming in the other direction, but I was unable to find it. You will therefore probably need to do a U-turn several kilometers past the turning to get to the other side of the road. Be careful when you turn off Route 65. Follow the Waze directions slowly and carefully, especially at the beginning of the turn-off. If you make a wrong turn, it's difficult to turn back for quite a long distance.

Starting point: The starting point is slightly before the Waze destination provided. You will see on your right a gravel path leading to some wooden steps. Just before this are three signs, including the green sign of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Park your car in the open space by this path.

Admission: This site is run by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, but there is no ticket office, no admission charge and no brochure. There are, however, helpful signs along the trail with explanations.

Public transport: Enter "Karnei Hittin National Park" into Moovit. There are a number of buses that stop at Kidmat Industrial Path. From here it is about a 3.0 Km/37-minute walk.

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View of the battlefield of the Battle of Hattin from Karnei Hittin Karnei Hittim.jpeg

View of the battlefield from Karnei Hittim

View of Wadi Arbel, the tops of the cliffs of Arbel and Lake Kinneret from Karnei Hittim.

For the overview "The Battle of Hattin" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."

THE HIKE :

Ascend the blue-marked path and steps. You will soon come to a monument erected by the Church of God.

The trail continues up a rocky path. At the top of this trail is a path on the left for viewing the site of the battle. After this, return to the blue-marked trail to encircle the crater.

From the top of the crater, you have wonderful views of the Arbel Plateau, Wadi Arbel, the top of the cliffs of Arbel, Lake Kinneret, and in the distance on the other side of Lake Kinneret the Golan. A helpful sign identifies these landmarks.

You will soon pass a path on your left. (If you found the ascent difficult, you may wish to return on this path as it does not involve climbing on rocks. However, it does shorten the hike. After the descent, turn left on the jeep trail towards your car).

Otherwise continue on the blue-marked trail until you meet a green-marked trail on the left. On the map on the sign at the beginning of the hike this trail is marked in red – but this is in error. This path will take you down the side of the crater climbing on rocks. When you come to the jeep trail, turn left towards your car.

[For a longer same-way there and back hike, it is possible to start on a path by the cowsheds at Kibbutz Lavi. This trail passes by the fields of the kibbutz to reach the west side of Karnei Hittin].

Map of the trail around Karnei Hittin

To follow your location on your smart phone, click on https://israelhiking.osm.org.il/share/RuPwHzPXiN. Now click on the black box with a cross at the top left of the map and it should change color to green. Unless you wish to there is no need to download the free application.

NEARBY PLACES OF INTEREST:

Jethro's tomb:

The most revered figure for the Druze is the prophet Jethro (Shu’ayb), the father-in-law of Moses, and his tomb is considered a holy site. Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu’ayb is a religious holiday and pilgrimage to this site that is celebrated in April for several days for spiritual reflection and communal gathering. It is also a public holiday in Israel.

Jethro’s tomb is only a short distance from Karnei Hittin and can be easily reached by car. It can also be reached by foot from Karnei Hittin. The blue-marked trail descends from the top of Karnei Hittin to the road to the tomb.

Visitors to the tomb are welcome. Enter קבר יתרו״" into Waze. To enter, you will need to be modestly dressed, including pants for males. There is no danger in visiting this site as the Druze are very friendly to Israelis. There is no Rabbinic prohibition on Jews entering the tomb. The attendants may provide you with information about the place. You will see a footprint of the prophet within the tomb.

If you are hiking from Karnei Hittin, to get back to your car you will need to either walk back up to Karnei Hittin or you can try and hitch a ride. There is a good chance you will get a ride from the tomb to Route 65, but the road to Karnei Hittin could be more problematic. It is a long way to walk and you may need to order a taxi on Gett.

Outside the tomb of Jethro.

For the overview "Who are the Druze and what do they believe?" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."