Ma’ayan Harod National Park is a delightful park at the foot of the Gilboa Mountain Range with a large shallow wading pool. Its spring is of interest because of its connection to the story of Gideon described in the Book of Judges. Consider also visiting the former home of Yehoshua and Olga Hankin, now a small museum, for an inspiring story from the early Zionist period. It is on a slope above the spring and is open for groups with prior coordination.
THE PARK
​
Directions: Enter “Ma’ayan Harod” into Waze.
Admission: This is a park of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The hours in the summer are 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Sunday to Thursday and Saturday, and Fridays and holiday eves 8.00 am to 4.00 pm. The park closes one hour earlier in the winter. In the summer it is recommended to come early on Friday and Saturday as space may otherwise be limited. Their phone number is: 04 653-2211. This is their website.
Public transport: There are frequent buses between Afula and Beit Shean. Enter "Maayan Harod" into Moovit. The closest bus stop is a 1.8-Km/22-minute walk from the park.
​
​
The two Israel travel books that everyone was waiting for!
Bestseller! "In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone - The Best Walks, Hikes and Outdoor Pools" and new! "The North of Israel for Everyone. The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites" by Arnold Slyper — with essays, directions, maps, and much more.
For courier service from Pomeranz Booksellers in Jerusalem (tel: 02-623 5559) click here and here. For Amazon click here and here. For details about these books and outstanding reviews click here and here.
The park has plenty of shaded picnic benches on its green lawns, restrooms, and a store selling snack foods and hot and cold drinks. There is a large wading pool suitable for children. It is not shaded.
Walk along the stream in the direction of the Gilboa Mountains and you will come to Gideon’s Cave, from where issues a bubbling spring. This is the spring associated with Gideon as told in the Book of Judges.
A camping area is open for individuals and families from Pesach to Succoth with showers and restrooms, drinking water, refrigerators, a freezer, electric outlets, picnic tables and cubicles for re-charging mobile phones. The season is longer for groups. To book a camping site call the main park number.
On either side of the spring is a path to the home of Yehoshua and Olga Hankin. Yehoshua dedicated his life to buying land in then Palestine for the Jewish people. Their home is now a museum which is only open to groups with prior coordination, but you may be fortunate and find it open when you come. It is also open for guided tours on religious holidays. An informative movie is shown in Hebrew. A walk up to the house is very worthwhile even if the house is closed for its view over the park.
For the overview "Gideon's strange military test at Harod Spring" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."
The park and Jezreel Valley from the Hankin home/museum.
Map of Joshua Hankin's extensive land purchases in Palestine displayed in his home/musuem.
For the overview "The inspiring and romantic story of Joshua and Olga Hankin" — see my book "The North of Israel for Everyone: The Best Family Activities, Hikes and Historic Sites."
Nearby place of interest:
​
The Mishkan Museum of Art at Kibbutz Ein Harod. You might be surprised to learn that there is a large, quality art gallery with multiple exhibitions in the Jezreel Valley. It was begun in 1938 and is consistently ranked as one of the top three art museums in Israel. Its mission is to be a center for Israeli and contemporary art and for art education. Since much of Israeli art is modern art, this is mainly what you see, although there are some displays of Jewish European art. An interesting 8-minute movie can be viewed.
Directions: Enter into Waze “Mishkan Museum” and click on “Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod.” The museum is open Monday to Thursday 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., Friday 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and Saturday 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. It is closed on Sunday. There is an admission charge. The cafetaria is always open, although drinks are not always on sale. Their phone number is 04-648 6038.
The Mishkin Museum of art.
A garden in the Mishkin Museum of Art.
Do you find my website interesting and helpful?
Then you are sure to love my two new books "In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone - The Best Walks, Hikes and Outdoor Pools" and "The Struggle for Utopia - A History of Jewish, Christian and Islamic Messianism". Both books are available on Amazon and in Jerusalem bookstores. Click on each of the titles for information, reviews and purchase information.