Switzerland Forest Recreation Areas

The Switzerland Forest covers the steep slope that descends from Ramat Poriya to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. The peaks of the escarpment rise more than 400 m above the Sea of Galilee, ensuring spectacular views of the lake, the Golan, Mount Hermon and the Galilee mountains. The forest extends across an area of about 3,000 dunams and KKL-JNF paved a scenic road along its entire length, about 6 km. Driving along the scenic road through the forest is a special experience. However, please be extremely careful because the road is quite narrow. Parking is only allowed in the parking lots near the recreation areas and scenic lookouts. It is very much worthwhile to take a stroll in the forest in the afternoon, when the sun shines over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan.
 
Access to the scenic road: from the Poriya Hostel (Route 7677); from Ma'ale KKL Street in Upper Tiberias.
 
Guttman Recreation Area – a recreation area located at the heart of the scenic road, opposite the Switzerland Forest Scenic Lookout. KKL-JNF has set up picnic tables and a children's playground there shaded by eucalyptus trees.
Kostenbaum Recreation Area – the recreation area is located near the northern entrance of the forest, just to its east. The site has wheelchair-accessible tables for the disabled.
Switzerland Forest Recreation Areas. Photograph: Yakov Shkolnik, KKL-JNF Photo Archive