Welcome to Israel Trail Running
Discover the thrill of trail running in one of the most geographically diverse and historically rich countries on Earth. Israel offers a runner's paradise—desert trails, lush forests, rolling hills, coastal cliffs, and mountain peaks—all within just a few hours' reach.
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Why Israel?
Trail-running season flips in Israel: while Europe peaks in summer, Israel shines from autumn through spring.
Israel enjoys ideal trail running conditions:
☀️ Mild winters in the desert
🌿 Blooming spring trails in the Galilee and Golan
🍁 Golden autumn light in ancient olive groves and forest paths
Whether you're chasing elevation, exploring biblical landscapes, or simply seeking new terrain, Israel's trails offer a perfect blend of nature, challenge, and beauty.
Ready to lace up and hit the trails?
Join us and discover why Israel is the best-kept secret in the global trail running scene.
Did You Know?
Israel is home to several unique geological features
Jordan Rift Valley & Its Lakes
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Jordan Rift Valley – a deep tectonic trench that cuts the length of Israel from north to south, cradling both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and shaping much of the country’s dramatic relief.
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Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) – the lowest freshwater lake on the planet, lying roughly 209–215 m below sea level.
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Dead Sea – the lowest exposed point on Earth at about 430 m below sea level and one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water, famed for its extreme buoyancy and mineral-rich mud.
Judean Desert
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Judean Desert – a compact desert of about 1,500 km², making it one of the smallest deserts worldwide yet home to a striking mix of cliffs, wadis and arid plateaus.
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Israel’s Unique Erosion Craters (Makhteshim)
Formation process – makhteshim form when softer sedimentary layers erode away beneath a resistant caprock, leaving a steep-walled, closed valley; this mechanism is unlike volcanic calderas or meteor-impact craters.
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Makhtesh Ramon – the world’s largest erosion crater: ~40 km long and 2–10 km wide, heart-shaped and carved into the Negev by erosion rather than impact or volcanism.
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Makhtesh Gadol (“Large Crater”) – smaller than Ramon but still an impressive erosion crater with layered cliffs and vivid rock colors.
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Makhtesh Katan (“Small Crater”) – the tiniest of the three, offering compact yet dramatic exposures of the region’s geology.
Mount Sodom & Malham Cave
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A 10 km-long salt diapir that’s still rising; Malham is the world’s longest salt cave (mapped 2019).
Volcanic & Basalt Landscapes
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Golan Heights Cones – a plateau dotted with extinct volcanic cones
Global Crossroads: Israel sits at the junction of three continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa) and is a critical land bridge for bird migration.
This makes it one of the most important bottlenecks in the world for avian migration.
Massive Numbers: Over 500 million birds, encompassing more than 300 different species, fly over Israel twice a year during their spring and autumn migrations. This immense volume of avian traffic is unparalleled anywhere else in such a small country.
Use at the User’s Own Risk
Use of the Israel Trail Running website and app is entirely at the user's own risk.
The site owners, editors, and contributors do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented.
Preparation and Verification
Do not begin any trail without first verifying safety conditions, security guidelines, weather, and terrain status with an official and reliable source.
It is the user's responsibility to verify all information and ensure that the area is open, safe, and not a closed military zone or active fire zone.
Trail Files and Descriptions
Trail descriptions and GPX files are theoretical only.
Some trails include life-threatening sections. Entering a trail is solely at the user's own risk.
Trails may change over time; only some have been field-verified.
Safety and Conduct
Carry appropriate gear and follow all safety rules.
Camping is only permitted in designated overnight campsites marked on official maps.
In nature reserves and national parks, movement is allowed only on foot or by vehicle on marked trails and roads.
No Recommendations
Nothing on this site constitutes a recommendation; the content is for informational purposes only.
The site team bears no responsibility for any damage, injury, or loss resulting from the use of the information.
שימוש באחריות המשתמש בלבד
השימוש באתר ובאפליקציית Israel Trail Running הוא באחריות המשתמש בלבד.
בעלי האתר, העורכים והכותבים אינם מתחייבים לדיוק, שלמות או עדכניות של המידע המוצג.
הכנה ואימות
אין לצאת למסלול מבלי לבדוק תחילה מול מקור מוסמך את תנאי הבטיחות, ההנחיות הביטחוניות, מזג האוויר ומצב השטח.
באחריות המשתמש לאמת את כל המידע ולוודא שהאזור פתוח, בטוח, ואינו שטח צבאי סגור או שטח אש פעיל.
קבצי מסלול ותיאורים
תיאורי המסלולים וקבצי GPX הם תיאורטיים בלבד.
חלק מהמסלולים כוללים קטעים מסכני חיים. היציאה למסלול היא באחריות המשתמש בלבד.
מסלולים עשויים להשתנות עם הזמן; רק חלקם נבדקו בשטח.
בטיחות והתנהלות
יש לשאת ציוד מתאים ולפעול לפי כללי הבטיחות.
לינה בשטח מותרת רק בחניוני לילה מוסדרים המסומנים במפות הרשמיות.
בשמורות טבע וגנים לאומיים מותר לנוע רק ברגל או ברכב בשבילים ובדרכים מסומנים.
אין המלצות
שום דבר באתר זה אינו מהווה המלצה; התוכן נועד למטרות מידע בלבד.
צוות האתר אינו נושא באחריות לכל נזק, פציעה או אובדן שייגרמו כתוצאה מהשימוש במידע.