Mitzpe Kinneret Lookout and Ein Akub Spring in the Mevo Hama Forest

Mitzpe Kinneret Lookout is in the Mevo Hama Forest and there are spectacular views from here over the southern part of Lake Kinneret. The lookout can also be visited as part of a short, circular hike that starts from the popular picnic spot Ein Akub.

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ViSITING MITZPE KINNERET LOOKOUT AND EIN AKUB:

Directions: Enter “מצפה כנרת מנדל” into Waze. If you are unable to enter the Hebrew, enter "Ein Akub" into Waze. This will take you to the main road through the Mevo Hama Forest. An arrowed sign by the first turn-off on the left close to the beginning of this road indicates the way to the lookout.

Public transport: There is no bus service close to the Mevo Hama Forest.

A sign at the lookout identifies the places you are viewing. These include Kibbutz Tel Kazir below you and Tiberias on the far side of Lake Kinneret. On a clear day you can see Mount Canaan, Tzfat and Mount Meron in the Upper Galilee. A recording in Hebrew provides information about this site and explains about the indiscriminate shelling on the Jewish settlements below from the nearby Syrian village of Tawfik, and particularly on Kibbutz Tel Kazir. Another recording is about Kinneret Mandel who died in a terrorist attack in Gush Etzion, and for whom this site is named. There are picnic tables, although none are shaded.

In the other direction away from the lake, you can make out a British pillbox. This was part of a defensive line built by the British in the Golan during the Mandate period against a possible French and/or German invasion.

Continue by car a bit further along the Mevo Forest road and you will come to Ein Akub. You can also enter “Ein Akub” into Waze. This is a pleasant place for a picnic. There is a spring, but no pool. There is a very pleasant path around the spring, but nowhere for kids to get wet. There are plenty of shaded picnic tables.

ABOUT THE CIRCULAR HIKE:

Time: About 1 hour.

Distance: 2¾ Km.

Type of walk: Circular.

Difficulty: An easy hike along paved or dirt jeep roads. There is a significant incline on the return part of the hike.

Starting point: Ein Akub.

Public transport: There is no bus service close to the Mevo Hama Forest.

DIRECTIONS FOR A CIRCULAR HIKE THAT INCLUDES MITZPE KINNERET:

This short, circular family hike starts from Ein Akub, passes the outskirts of the ruins of Taufik and visits Mitzpe Kinneret. A small section of the hike is on the spectacular Golan Trail, a 120-Km/5 to 7-day continuous trail from nearby Ein Tawfik to Mount Hermon.

From Ein Akub, take the green-marked trail down the hill.

At the T-junction follow the green markings by turning left, cross the cattle grid, and then immediately turn right. This will take you to the outskirts and ruins of the Syrian village of Tawfik. Once you see two concrete picnic tables on your right, look out over Lake Kinneret. Then turn back. In theory, you can continue further on this green-marked trail all the way to Kibbutz HaOno, but there is little point in doing this.

Turning back, you will soon come to the 4-way crossroads you previously passed. Continue straight ahead along this road. You will soon pass on your right an enclosed concrete structure.

This structure was built by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1968-1970 War of Attrition for firing canon in response to shelling on Tiberias from north of the Gilead. After Israel began returning fire, the firing ceased. It is called Emdat Hanivronim after a similar firing placement in Greece built by the Germans.

When you leave Mitzpe Kinneret, turn left towards Ein Akub. This is the road you came along with your car. Soon you will see your car at the spring.

The military installation of Emdat Hanivronim is no longer in use. It is enclosed and cannot be entered.

Circular trail to Mitzpe Kinneret Overlook. To follow your location on your smart phone, click on these words. Click on the black box with a cross at the top left of the map and this will change color from black to green.

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.