The Menara Cliffs in the Upper Galilee

Menara Cliffs were rehabilitated and developed thanks to a contribution from friends of KKL-JNF worldwide.

On the slopes of the Naftali Hills large balls can be observed ascending and descending in groups of three, dangling above the treetops as they make their way up and down the hillside. This is the Menara Cliff cable car, which provides a magnificent view of the expanses of Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, with the green and brown checkerboard fields of the Hula Valley spread out below. Lake Hula and the surrounding fishponds add patches of blue to the scene, while the hills of the Golan Heights preside majestically over all.

The Menara Cliffs are a recreational activities site that offers woodland, precipitous mountainsides, valleys and steep slopes on the Naftali Hills Ridge (Ramim Ridge) at a height of over 700 meters above sea level. In the 1950s, KKL-JNF began to plant the Naftali Hills Forests on the unpromisingly rocky ground of the hillsides that descend steeply from the mountain ridge to the Hula Valley, and today the trees extend from Kibbutz Yiftah all the way to Metulla. Inside the forest are scenic routes and footpaths, recreation facilities and quiet spots to take a rest. The Israel Trail crosses the eastern flank of the mountain ridge and to the south lies the fertile Kadesh Valley where vineyards flourish.

The area possesses some impressive geological features, some of which are the result of the Syrian-African fault line whose influence on the landscape can be plainly seen. It is this fault that caused the Naftali Hills Ridge to rear up to such great heights, exposing geological layers of a kind familiar to us from the Negev and Sinai: the remarkable colors of Nubian sandstone, for example, can be observed in the rock face. The Kadesh Valley is a polje, i.e. a large flat plain resulting from the collapse of underground caverns that were created over time as rainfall slowly dissolved the limestone rock.

The area also possesses a number of archeological sites, such as Tel Kadesh Naftali, Hunin Fortress and heritage sites such as Koah Fortress (also known as Yesha Fortress), Tel Hai and Kfar Giladi.

The Woodland Footpath (Shvil HaHoresh) constructed by KKL-JNF is situated at a height of 700 meters above sea level overlooking the landscapes of the Hula Valley and the Golan Heights. Up here, a cool breeze blows through the trees even on the hottest days of summer. The upper station is the starting point for a walk along this woodland route that is suitable for all the family. The path forks into two routes that can be walked separately or in combination with each other. The path that begins close to the entrance to the upper station compound is also the work of KKL-JNF, and it is marked out on both sides with rough local stones. This route, which is around 200 meters long, leads us through natural woodland combined with pine trees until we reach the sign-posted spot where the Woodland Footpath splits into two. The eastern (right-hand) fork takes us in a circle of around 650 meters, while the western (left-hand) fork starts off straight before looping round in a circle for a distance of some 400 meters.

The western route leads to a shady woodland footpath amidst dense vegetation, while the eastern fork takes us to a scenic lookout with an impressive view of the Hula Valley. At this point the route becomes a little rocky as it descends to the Amir Kara Scenic Lookout, allowing us glimpses of the landscape through the gaps between the trees as we make our way down. The scent of pine trees is all around us, and pine needles are everywhere underfoot. A variety of plants and small bushes flourish among the tall mature pines and ferns twine around the bottom of the trees. Only a few sunbeams are able to filter their way through the dense woodland, and the silence deepens as we advance further into the forest. At any point along the way we can decide to pause and spread a picnic blanket among the trees.

Guided tours

The KKL-JNF guided tour lasts between an hour and an hour and a half. Participants should equip themselves with water, comfortable walking shoes and a hat. The route is easy going and the Woodland Footpath, unlike the route to the Amir Kara Scenic Lookout, is suitable for baby carriages and strollers; there are a few gentle hills.

The tour focuses on the various types of vegetation and the different varieties of tree that compose the woodland – the Mount Atlas mastic tree, the Israeli common oak, the gall oak and the Lebanon oak, which is usually glimpsed by Israelis only on the slopes of Mount Hermon – and their suitability to the climate. These woodland trees grow here in company with the pines planted by KKL-JNF. In early spring many of the plants and trees come into flower; however, as some of these flowers are green, they can be hard to discern amongst the leaves. The trees are home to blackbirds, jays and sparrows, while on the ground you may occasionally encounter a jackal, a fox, a wild boar or a family of hyraxes.

Our route continues southwards along the broad dirt road and leads us beneath the lines of the cable car that carries visitors to the top of the Menara Cliffs; a trio of cars passes us at eye level every few minutes. This cable car is used mainly for tourism purposes: visitors using it to ascend to the cliff top enjoy both the ride itself and the view they see when they get there. This view includes Kiryat Shmona, whose name, which means “Town of Eight,” commemorates Josef Trumpeldor and his seven comrades who fell in defense of Tel Hai.

Continuing slightly southwards, we pass the path that descends to the Kibbutz Menara cemetery before arriving at the blue-marked path that climbs back up to the upper cable-car station, where our tour comes to an end.

The site is open from Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays.
In July and August and during other holiday periods it is also open on Sundays.

March to June; September & October: From 9.30 am until 5 pm.
July: From 9.30 am until 6 pm.
August: From 9.30 am until 7 pm.
November to February: Please check ahead of time whether or not the site is open.

Sunday to Thursday: 59 NIS; Weekends, holidays, July-August: 69 NIS
Combined ticket: 80 NIS (on weekdays); 90 NIS (weekends, holidays, July-August).
Regular ticket: Includes ascent and descent by cable car & guided tour.
At weekends: Activities for children, Gymboree and arts and crafts workshops.
Combined ticket: Includes slides or trampoline.

Parking: Parking is available at the entrance to the site and at the upper station, free of charge.
Drinking water: At holiday time a water cooler for the use of visitors is placed adjacent to the cable car.
Recreation areas: Picnic areas (no barbecues, please!) are provided at the upper station beside the Gymboree, adjacent to the observation platform.

Parking: Disabled parking spaces are available in the parking lots at the entrance to the site and the upper station.
Main entrance: There is a ramp to the ticket booth, and the elevator and the cable car can both accommodate wheelchairs. The upper station is similarly accessible.
Public toilet facilities: Disabled-accessible toilet cubicles are provided at both the upper and lower stations.
Other facilities: Ramps and disabled-accessible paths are provided at the amphitheater, the scenic lookout and the children’s house in the Gymboree area.
Recreation and picnic spots: Every picnic site includes tables that are disabled-accessible.