American Independence Park - Friendship through Nature

Starting Point: Ye'ela Mountain, north of the Challenger junction (where road 3866 meets the road that leads down to the stalactite cave. A short dirt road, marked in green, leads to the mountain.

End of the track: Nes Harim Inofrmation Center
Length: about 6 kilometers, a 4-5 hours walk
Difficulty: for experienced walkers
Note: a vehicle is required to return at the end of the trip

From the top of the mountain, a path marked in green goes down and meets a path marked in black. The black path goes through the southern shoulder of the Sorek Stream, providing a view of the deep channels and the mysterious ways of the stream. During the walk, travelers can climb to the top of the ruined fortress in the Tora ruins, possibly a structure from the Hasmonean dynasty period used to guard the road to Jerusalem.

The Sorek Stream crosses the western part of the Judea Mountains, goes down to the Judea plain toward Beit Shemesh and Tzora and runs into the sea near Palmahim. The stream plains on this section contain an impressive, evergreen grove.

The path continues near a structure with a white dome, built in the memory of Sheikh Sultan Badar, which remains from the ruins of the village of Dayr al-Sheikh. From this structure, the track extends east on a path marked in green, which meets a path marked in red where travelers can reach the Nes Harim Information Center.

Travelers can also go down from Dayr al-Sheikh on a steep path (marked in green) to the Bar Giora train station where the Ktalav Stream spills into the Sorek Stream. In the past, the station was used by passengers of the train from Jaffa to Jerusalem on a rail built in the 1890s.

Sultan Badar Tomb
An Islamic tradition places the tomb of Sultan Badar in Dayr al-Sheikh. The title "Sultan" emphasizes the religious importance of the figure, who probably came to Jerusalem during the Mamluk period. After the death of his daughter, he resided in a cave in the Sorek Stream, where he was also buried. In the burial location are the remains of structures from the Crusades, possibly the remains of a monastery. The great hall was probably used by the Sheikh for the purpose of praying and teaching.

Nes Harim Information Center
The Information Center presents a permanent showcase of suggestions for travel in the area. The center is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00 and it includes the Bar Ba'Har Café, as well as accessible restrooms.

Starting point and end of the track: Bar Giora Inofrmation Center
Length: about 2 kilometers, a 90-minute walk
Difficulty level: for families

From the Information Center, after a 200-meter walk on the paved and accessible promenade among the Sorek Stream landscapes, a right turn according to the signs and red marking leads to a rich grove, dominated by common oak trees. Arbutus andrachne trees are also common here, notable for the red trunks. During spring, travelers can see a beautiful blooming of cyclamens and other wild flowers.

Another 150-meter walk will bring travelers to a wide dirt road. A left turn on the road, followed by a right turn after 30 meters brings travelers into the grove. The trail reveals the landscapes of the Ktalav Stream, which separates travelers from the Giora Mountains. Every now and then, travelers can rest on the benches along the road built by KKL-JNF.

The dolomite rocks along the path create sculpted, rocky landscape and even an impressive cliff that can be seen on the right. About 200 meters further, a black-marked trail goes down to the Ktalav Stream. Travelers are encouraged to go down about 200 meters and visit Ein Giora before coming back to the parking lot of the track, near the Bar Giora Information Center.

Starting point and end of the track: Nes Harim Recreation Area, about a kilometer east of the entrance to the town of Nes Harim.
Length: about 3 kilometers, a two-hour walk
Difficulty level: for families
For overnight stay and camping in the recreation area, call 02-9969213

The Nes Harim Recreation Area is the largest in the American Independence Park. In it, KKL-JNF has added accessible picnic tables, playing facilities for children, and overnight camping area for families and small groups. A red-marked trail foes west from the recreation area. In the first junction, travelers should walk in the black-marked trail, which passes near a long rocky cliff, enters Ein Hud and the terraces that surround it and goes to the top of the Beit Atab ruins. The view from the top of the ruins is gorgeous. The place contains the remains of a square structure from the crusades, used as a basis for a variety of later structures. At the end of the visit, a red-marked trail leads back to the recreation area.

It is also possible to continue from Beit Atab down with the Cave Stream. This 8-kilometer trail, marked in red, is for experienced walker, who should arrange for a vehicle to pick them up at the end (access from Road 3855).

Starting point: Hanut Ruins Recreation Area, Road 375, near the 11th kilometer mark
End of the track: the parking lot, Road 375, about 100 meters west of the 8th kilometer mark
Length: about 3.5 kilometers, a two-hour walk
Difficulty level: for families
Note: travelers should arrange for a vehicle to bring them back

The track starts at the Hanut Ruins (Hirbet al-Han), a road inn on the side of the ancient road that goes upwards from Beit Guvrin to Jerusalem. On the road, paved during the Roman period, Emperor Hadrian (from the second century) has probably walked, giving it the name "Emperor's Road". KKL-JNF has initiated the first digging in the site during the 1980s.

Between 2014 and 2015, the digging started again, revealing the remains of a byzantine church with a colorful floor mosaic, a winepress, a large water pool and the remains of an inn from the Mamluk period (13th century).

Near the ruins, KKL-JNF built a recreation area with accessible tables and water taps. Near the recreation area, which fits an overnight stay, is a large mound, which according to legend is the tomb of Goliath.

From here the path goes down to a forest in the nice-looking natural grove. Sharp-eyed travelers will notice steps carved in to the rock during the Roman period. Before crossing the 375 road, a pretty water pit carved into a rock, can be seen with its ceiling leaning on a rock pillar.

After crossing Road 375, which should be done carefully, the trail passes near a group of Roman rocks. From there, it goes down to an impressive steps section, followed by the remains of an olive press near the parking lot at the end of the track.

Starting point and end of the track: Hanut Ruins Recreation Area, Road 375, near the 11th kilometer mark
End of the track: the parking lot, Road 375, about 100 meters west of the 8th kilometer mark
Length: about 3.5 kilometers, a two-hour walk
Difficulty level: for families, although the track does include a steep climb on the way back.

From the recreation area, a dirt road marked in blue leads east. The road passes near the Big Winepress House. After about 50 meters, the road turns left and reaches a lot with two marked path: a dirt road marked in red, fit for 4X4 vehicles and a pedestrian trail marked in black. Both go down to Ein Mata.
We recommend taking the "red" road down and the "black" trail back. The general direction is the small eucalyptus grove in the stream's channel. The road goes down in a forest with many different trees, crosses the channel of an abandoned stream and meets a dirt road in which the Israel National Trail passes. A few more steps to the right will bring travelers to the eucalyptus grove. It is a nice place, where the water flow from a terrace which enjoys the shading of a fig tree.

To get to Ein Tanur, travelers should walk west on the dirt road through which the Israel National trail passes. The road passes near a stone house with arched entrance, built from large stones. The structure may have been used as a farmhouse during the crusades. About half a kilometer from Ein Mata a "transparent" marking (two white lines with colorless line between) leads left to a small jungle of fig trees. Between the trees is an aqueduct with a tall, arched ceiling. The water of Ein Tanur run at the bottom of the aqueduct.
Legends tell that in this spot stood the heater ("Tanur") of the biblical Noah. When the great flood came, it became the stream which provides water to this day.

Travelers can now return on the Israel National Trail up to the point where it meets the trail marked in red. Crossing the stream channel again, now southwards, the black-marked trail will bring them up to the Hanut Ruins. Fast travelers can climb to the top of the ruins in ten minutes, while slower travelers will need additional ten or fifteen minutes, during which they can enjoy the pretty landscape of the Jerusalem Mountains.