The Anava Single Track Cycle Trail (the red one) in Ben Shemen Forest

 

 

 

The entrance to the forest is at the start of Route no. 443 east.
From Route no. 1 (Jerusalem-Tel Aviv): Get off the highway at the Ben Shemen Interchange to the east in the direction of Modiin. About two kilometers after the interchange there is a turnoff to the right towards the entrance to the forest and Mitzpe Modiin (Modiin Scenic Lookout). This is where you park, and it is also your starting point.

 

 

The entrance to the forest is at the beginning of Road 443 East. From Highway 1 (Jerusalem-Tel Aviv): Exit eastward at Ben Shemen Interchange toward Modi'in. About two km after the interchange is a right turn to the entrance to the Forest and to Mitspe Modi'in (Modi'in Lookout Post). This is where we park, from here we will depart.

 

 

Ben Shemen Forest and the new single track bike trails built there by KKL-JNF fulfil an important role as the recreational hinterland of the Gush Dan (Dan Bloc) area and the cities of central Israel. Together with the neighboring Modiin Forest, Ben Shemen Forest covers a vast tract of land extending over more than 30,000 dunam (approx. 7,500 acres). It serves a population of around two million people and includes a large area of comparatively level ground that does not oblige cyclists to contend with the type of long ascent found in the nearby Judean Hills. Because it is within easy reach and offers such amenable terrain, the forest has become a hub of activity where cyclists can be seen in large numbers even on weekdays, and even more so at weekends.

After prolonged planning a decision was taken to build three trails – short, medium and long – in Ben Shemen Forest, with a combined length of some 65 kilometers. After planning was complete, work began under the supervision of qualified trail builder Doron Amitz and architect Otto Friedmann. The first section (the Herzl Single Track, popularly known as “the blue one”) was constructed by KKL-JNF staff together with various volunteer groups. Since then KKL-JNF has got into high gear, and, after great efforts, it has completed the Anava Single Track (“the red one”), thus providing a really long single track that extends for all of 32 kilometers, but also offers the option of exiting after eight kilometers. Most recently KKL-JNF finished laying out the route for Tel Hadid, which is 11 kilometers in length

 

Ben Shemen Forest is a good place to bike ride all year round, but, as it can be very hot at the height of summer, we recommend starting out early in the morning. As the single tracks combine shady and exposed areas, we recommend leaving the more open routes for wintertime and sticking to the shadier trails when the weather is hot. The single track is at its best after rainfall, as the water makes the ground firmer. However, we recommend waiting for about two days after rain has fallen to give the trail a chance to dry out a little and to avoid getting bogged down in sticky mud that can spoil your ride and won’t do your bike any good, either.

The junctions and the turnoffs from the single track on to the dirt roads are indicated by two large rocks designed to separate cars from bicycles and to remind us all to cycle and drive with care at the points where the two meet.

 

The Anava Single Track is indicated by red trail markings and it is best suited to advanced cyclists as it combines a comparatively significant cumulative elevation gain (for this area) with some technical stretches. As the trail’s official departure point is in the middle of the countryside, we have to make our way to it by cycling along the Herzl Single Track (the blue one). After we have progressed along it for some distance, it turns southwards via the Shaki and HaSusim recreation areas and makes its way up to Tel Gimzo, where we can take a break to enjoy the magnificent view. This section of the route makes a change from riding through the shady forest and is best enjoyed in the cooler seasons of the year.

We continue on through open areas until we reach the young section of Modiin Forest. Sometimes we have recourse to dirt roads as we continue southwards to the mature parts of the forest, until we come to the ruins at Khirbet Beit Anaba. Now the trail continues northeastwards overlooking the Nahal Anava gully and the ancient limekilns within it. We continue climbing towards the Hurvat Regev ruins, one of the highest points in the area. Here we recommend pausing to enjoy the panoramic view. From there we continue to the Ligad Center, where the single track has another entry and departure point.

The trail continues on and climbs up to the Khirbet Zechariah ruins before descending to Monks’ Valley (Bik‘at HaNezirim) and the Monks’ Caves (Me‘arot HaNezirim). It then turns westwards along the Nahal Gimzo gully before swinging north once more as it ascends to Mitzpeh Modiin via the Thai Pagoda.

Please note: In the area of Khirbet Beit Anaba there is a turnoff with black trail markings. If we follow the black-marked trail along the dirt road we come to the city of Modiin and Anava Municipal Park, then later to the linkup with the municipal cycle-trail network. After cycling for around 500 meters along the black-marked dirt road we arrive at another turnoff on to a blue-marked trail, which leads to the railway station on the outskirts of Modiin and the Yishpro Center.

If you have chosen to cycle along the Anava Single Track, which is the longest of the three, you will probably not be averse to the possibility of linking up to another single track and continuing along the Herzl route in its entirety (you ride along part of it in any case in order to hook up to the Anava trail); if you do so, by the end of the day you will have clocked up over 30 kilometers of distance and 600 meters of cumulative altitude.