The spectacular Black and White Waterfalls in Nahal El Al
The El Al stream has two waterfalls that are deservedly very popular - the Black Waterfall close the moshav Avnei Eitan and the White Waterfall close to Kibbutz Eliad. A circular hike to both waterfalls starting from Avnei Eitan is recommended, taking the tayelet/paved bike-pedestrian path beginning close to Kibbutz Eliad back to your starting point. The details for this are provided in the hiking instructions. Alternatively, if you have 2 cars, leave your second car in the parking lot by Kibbutz Eliad. You can also hike to the Black Waterfall and then the White Waterfall from Avnei Eitan and return along the same route. If you want to considerably shorten your hiking, start from the parking lot by Avnei Eitan and walk to the Black Waterfall and back (about 30 minutes each way), or hike from the parking lot by Kibbutz Eliad to the White Waterfall and back (about an hour each way).
The Black Waterfall
THE CIRCULAR HIKE:
Time: Approximately 4¼ hours.
Distance: Approximately 9¼ Km.
Type of hike: Circular.
Difficulty: Most of this hike is easy. However, there are short sections that are moderately difficult and which involve climbing two cliff faces with the assistance of handgrips – one down and one up. Because of this, this hike is usually categorized as moderately difficult. If there has been recent rain, the trail may be slippery and hazardous and should not be attempted. Even more so, if it is actually raining.
Starting Point: Start from the parking lot before the Indian Village by Avnei Eitan. There is a kiosk by the parking lot, but it is only open at popular times.
Directions: Enter into Waze “כפר האינדיאני” and click on “כפר האינדיאני, אבני איתן.” Indian Village is not your destination, but it is recognizable by Waze and the parking lot is just before the Indian Village. If your Hebrew is not up to this, enter "Avnei Eitan" into Waze and ask for directions in the moshav. You will need to pass through the moshav to reach the parking lot. This is a religious moshav and its entrance is closed on Shabbat and religious holidays. However, there is a dirt road 100 meter or so from the entrance to the moshav on your left on which you can encircle the moshav to the parking lot.
Public transport: Enter “Aveni Eitan” into Moovit. There are bus lines from Tiberias, Aniam and Katzrin to the moshav. Other buses stop at the Avnei Eitan Intersection, which is a 1.7-Km/20-minute walk to the moshav.
THE CIRCULAR HIKE:
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From the parking lot before Indian Village descend to the stream on the red-marked trail. A short distance from the parking lot you will cross a paved tayelet (bicycle/footpath). Continue on the descent which is slightly difficult. Once you reach the bottom, the going is much easier.
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Continue on the red-marked trail through the valley. The hike passes through luscious foliage adjacent to the stream. You may not see the stream for much of the way, but you will certainly hear it gurgling.
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After about 30 minutes, you will come to the Black Waterfall, so called because the waterfall descends on black volcanic basalt rock. You will now need to descend the cliff face to reach the bottom of the fall. The cliff is not excessively high and the descent is not particularly difficult. There are metal hand/feet grips set into the cliff and crevices in the rock for placing your feet. At the level of the stream is a pool in which you can swim (but check beforehand that swimming is permitted in the Golan parks, as there is periodic contamination with leptospirosis).
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You will soon come to another cliff face, which you will need to ascend. The waterfall is small, but the cliff is a bit higher than the previous one. Again, there are metal hand/feet grips set into the rock. There is also another pool here.
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Continue to the White Waterfall, so-called because much of the rock around this waterfall is white chalk. This underlies the basalt in this area and has become exposed. Shortly before the waterfall, you will need to cross the stream, but this is not difficult. The trail splits and there is an optional descent to the pool by the waterfall. One can also swim here.
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The ascent to the parking lot by Kibbutz Eliad is quite long, but not difficult. After a short distance there is an observation point for viewing the waterfall. You will eventually reach the parking lot.
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Adjacent to the parking lot is a paved path that leads to a paved tayelet or bicycle/footpath called the Southern Golan Promenade, and this will take you back to Avnei Eitan. Turn left onto this path. The path is not particularly exciting and there are limited views over the wadi below. However, it is a quicker way back to Avnei Eitan. Shortly before reaching Avnei Eitan, you will come to Mitzpe Habanim, an overlook over the nahal. There is a recorded explanation in Hebrew about this wadi.
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You will soon reach the entrance into Avnei Eitan. Turn right on the paved path to the parking lot.
The White Waterfall
Trail to the Black and White Waterfalls along Nahal El Al
To follow your location on your smart phone, click on https://israelhiking.osm.org.il/share/gxJ6NpGHF0. Click on the black box with a cross at the top left of the map and it should change color to green. It is not necessary to download the free app unless you wish to.
NEARBY ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST:
The tayelet/path you are returning on is part of the Southern Golan Promenade. This is a 30 Km-paved promenade along the cliffs of the southern Golan that extends from Mevo Hama Lookout to Natur. It passes by a number of popular Golan tourist sites, including Mevo Hama, the Peace Vista, Ein Afiq including the Syrian Officers Quarters visited by Eli Cohen and which is part of the Eli Cohen (car) Trail, above and parallel to Nahal El Al, and finally to Ein Keshatot. This website contains a more detailed description of the promenade. There is a bike repair and bike rental store in Hispin, אופניים ברמה, towards the northern end of the promenade, which is usually open until late. Its phone number is 054 246 0496. This is the website of the promenade.