KKL JNF Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund - Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem Bicycle Trail 12/12/16 23:19

Accessibility
Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem Bicycle Trail
The Tel Aviv Jerusalem bicycle route includes four segments, each of which can be
enjoyed separately. Bike riders in good shape could do the whole trail in two days, but
someone who also wants to enjoy the beautiful sites on the way should mark off three
or even four days on their calendar for completing the endeavor.

Geographic location: Jerusalem,

Track type: 2
Judean highlands and surroundings
Target audience: All Season: All
Track length: 125 km
Arrival map

Photo: KKL-JNF Photo archive

General information
Elevation at starting point: Sea level (0).

Elevation at end point: 650 meters above sea level.

Accumulated vertical climb: About 1,800 meters.

Level of physical difficulty: Easy to medium, depending on the section.

Level of technical difficulty: Easy to medium, depending on the section.

Thanks to our Donors

The creation of the Yam Le Yam bicycle trail was made possible thanks
to the generous donation of Joseph and Ze'ev Lebovic, of Toronto,
Canada.

Contribute to help people and care for the environment

Segment 1: The Yarkon River

Level of Difficulty: Medium

Length: About 30 km.

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Accumulated vertical climb: Minor

Starting point: The West Reading recreation area, Tel Aviv Port, north

End point: The car park facing the entrance to the Tel Afek National Park

The trail starts at the mouth of the Yarkon River, a romantic corner in the heart of the
big city. Ride on the north bank of the Yarkon, following the signs of the Israel Trail,
beginning with the paved bicycle trails in Yarkon Park. From the Atidim hi-tech park,
the ride proceeds on dirt roads, between the riverbanks and orchards. Cross under the
bridge of Highway 5 and continue along the winding route of the river. KKL-JNF and
the Yarkon River Authority invested great resources in draining the path and reinforcing
the banks. Nevertheless, due to the heavy ground, this section could be very muddy in
winter. On rainy days it is a good idea to get an update as to the state of the trail before
starting out.

The Yarkon mouth. Photo: Yaakov Shkolnik, KKL-JNF Jerusalem

Pass the Abu Rabah mill and the beautiful eucalyptus grove that surrounds it and then
the mouth of Nahal Kaneh. From there on, for about seven kilometers, the Yarkon is an
absolutely clean river, adorned by lush flora. At the Neve Yarak dam, near an
abandoned pumping house, the bicycle trail crosses the Yarkon to the south bank and
after a short ride, you get to the Concrete House, a historical landmark that boasts
being the first concrete building in Israel.

Further down the river you will be riding next to the fence of the Baptist village and the
Yarkon River Sources national park. Here there is a detour from the Israel Trail, and we
continue along the edge of a field to a concrete bridge that takes us to a beautiful pool
of water lilies. The crystal clear water is almost completely covered by the broad leaves
of the yellow water lily, which begins its flowering season now (the beginning of June).
From here follow the fence of the Tel Afek national park and finish at the car park by the
entrance to the site.

Segment 2: The Hill Road

Level of Difficulty: Medium

Length: About 30 km.

Accumulated vertical climb: 395 meters

Starting point: The car park facing the entrance to the Tel Afek National Park

End point: The recreation area at the foot of Mitzpe Modiin

This is an ideal segment for mountain bike riding, with short ascents and descents, just
what bike riders like. Again we are on the Israel Trail. A few meters before the Petah
Tikva Rosh Haayin road (Highway 483), you have to get off your bike and turn left on
foot to cross under the road through a water carrier, slightly stooping. (You cant do this

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just after rain, not here and not anywhere, when water runs under the bridge.)

From there continue south between the fields of Kfar Sirkin and Kibbutz Einat, and
again the subterranean passageways are used as well as a crosswalk with traffic lights
by the entrance to Elad. From there, a single (a very narrow trail leads to a magnificent
mausoleum.

Roman Mausoleum. Photo: Kami Zarhian Heler, KKL-JNF Jerusalem

Continue through the hills of the Forest of the Twenty-Eight (Kule Forest), where there
is a scenic lookout and the Alexandroni monument. The trail then crosses Highway 6
through a long water carrier, proceeds to the Modi'in area industrial park zone and from
there to Shoham Forest. After the forest, it is a must to stop at the Nabalat ruins by the
side of the path in order to marvel at the carvings and the olive presses with the ancient
mosaics. The trail proceeds to the ancient and beautiful olive grove maintained by KKL-
JNF at the foot of Tel Hadid. From Tel Hadid there is a wide, comfortable path to Ben
Shemen Forest and to the recreation area at the foot of Mitzpe Modi'in in the heart of
the Ben Shemen Forest.

Segment 3: The Forests of the Judean Foothills

Level of Difficulty: Medium

Length: About 40 km.

Accumulated vertical climb: 750 meters

Starting point: The recreation area at the foot of Mitzpe Modi'in

End point: Shimshon Junction

The trail goes from the recreation area at the foot of Mitzpe Modi'in and follows the
Israel Trail (with slight detours), descends to Nahal Gimzo, and ascends to the Gimzo
Groves of Modi'in Forest. The trail is exciting, with steep descents and ascents, but
they are short. It proceeds past the giant Aneva interchange and you cross Highway 1
towards the west, through an underground crossing, to the Mishmar Ayalon Forest. At
the heart of this little forest, by a roadside recreation area and a pleasant path, there is
the impressive, towering Lehi Memorial.

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Mitzpe Modi'in. Photo: Yaakov Shkolnik, KKL-JNF Jerusalem

The Lehi Memorial. Photo: Yaakov Shkolnik, KKL-JNF Jeruslaem

The trail bypasses Moshav Bin Nun from the north and connects to a trail marked in
red, which leads to Ein Yered and Tel Gezer, which is off the trail, but it is worth visiting
the its sites. From Ein Yered the trail turns east onto a path marked in blue. It winds
through Maginim Forest and ascends through the vineyards of Kibbutz Harel to Mitzpe
Harel. We are now on the famous Burma Road, the lifeline to besieged Jerusalem
during the War of Independence. At the top of Burma Roads famous "serpentines", turn
right onto a route marked in green, and after about half a kilometer turn left onto a trail
marked in black, which connects to the blue trail that takes us down past KKL-JNFs
Forestry Center to Shimshon Junction.

Segment 4: Sorek River and Refaim River

Level of Difficulty: Medium

Length: About 30 km.

Accumulated vertical climb: 580 meters

Starting point: Shimshon Junction

End point: Ein Lavan

Cross the Shimshon Junction at the traffic lights and continue straight ahead to a wide
dirt road. Turn right and after riding a bit, enter Nahal Sorek (marked in red). The
nahal wends its way between the steep inclines of the green Nahal Sorek nature
reserve, passing the old Bar Giora train station.

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Meeting up with Nahal Refaim, do what the railroad tracks do and proceed on the red
route. The ride above Nahal Refaim continues until Koby Bridge (Kabu). Before the
bridge, turn left and follow the Israel Trail, which is marked in green. After 1.7
kilometers, the Israel Trail separates from the green route, but we remain faithful to it
and continue along it. This section requires that we surmount a vertical climb of about
120 meters on the slopes of Mount Aminadav, which brings us to the highest point of
the Tel Aviv Jerusalem path (660 meters above sea level).

The green trail descends and meets a trail marked in black (#9310). Go right and ride
the black trail, and after about 1.3 kilometers, at the point where the black trail twists
and ascends to the left, there is another unmarked trail that descends to Nahal Refaim.
Pay attention: do not continue on the downhill trail, which leads to the town of Batir.

Lavan Spring. Photo: Kami Zarhian Heler, KKL-JNF Jerusalem

Instead, continue climbing on the black trail, which at a certain point becomes paved.
When the paved road turns left, there is a trail that turns towards the right, which is
marked in blue. Riding on the blue trail, we reach Ein Lavan after about one kilometer
a spring whose water is stored in two marvelous and refreshing pools.

Our trip concludes at the car park of the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, which is about 2
kilometers further down a flat and clearly marked dirt road.

Gidi Bashan, KKL-JNF Judean Mountains Community and Forest coordinator, who is
also a seasoned bicycle rider, suggests not trying to do the whole Tel Aviv-Jerusalem
trail at once. Only a select few might accomplish such a mission, especially since its
last section entails a considerably steep climb. Bike riders in good shape could do the
whole trail in two days, but someone who also wants to enjoy the beautiful sites on the
way should mark off three or even four days on their calendar for completing the
endeavor.

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KKL JNF Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund - Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem Bicycle Trail 12/12/16 23:19

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