On the other side there is a lookout tower and below it a large amphitheatre with 500 seats and a large stage designed with a dark brown wooden deck that blends in well with the colors of its natural surroundings. From the amphitheatre there are a few steps that lead to a large, illuminated indoor space enclosed by glass windows, which take in the green and scenic forest. The hall is divided into two parts, one of them used for presentations and conferences, and the other a small café that was designed with furnishings that combine the modern and the ancient in a vintage style.
Ofer Forest, which is also called the Carmel Coast Forest, covers an area of 1,000 hectares on the western slopes of the Carmel. KKL JNF began planting trees at this site during the early years of the State of Israel, with local residents taking part in the process. The forest is a mixture of planted trees and Mediterranean woodland typical of the Carmel range. A diverse forest has been created over the years with many kinds of trees including oak, terebinth, spiny hawthorn, buckthorn, carob, mastic, sycamore, olive and prickly pear. Especially noticeable are the Jerusalem pines, which have reseeded themselves and differ from other pines with their wide, branching trunks and broad treetops.
The region is covered with flowers most months of the year, especially the winter months, when there are carpets of cyclamens and anemone, also rockrose, spiny broom, narcissus and assorted orchids. The Ofer Lookout is situated on the peak of the mountain range, and in the middle of it is the KKL JNF observation point which overlooks the entire region. From the tower one can see the Carmel landscapes, the coastal communities, agricultural expanses, banana plantations, fish ponds, the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea on the horizon and the shoreline.
The forest observation tower was constructed by KKL-JNF in the 1960s with the assistance of its friends from Australia. It serves as a means for spotting locating fires in the vast expanses of forest and natural woodlands. Every day of the week in the summer season, KKL JNF operates a network of observations, fire trucks and teams that are on-call in order to prevent conflagrations and extinguish fires. A staircase leads to the observation deck, which commands a panoramic view from the Carmel ridge and Daliyat el Carmel to Zichron Yaakov, the coastal plain, Atlit, Dor Beach, Habonim Beach, and the pine forests beneath the tower. There are many picnic areas in the forest, benches facing the landscapes, playground equipment, hiking trails and drinking fountains.