Nakik ha-Shahor ("The Black Gorge") in Nahal Zavitan

 Golan Heights

 

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The route quality:   ****   

 

Very nice, entertaining route but too much crowded at weekends.

Beautiful pools, waterfalls and dense oleander bush that is especially colorful in the time of flowering (June - July). 

 

 

The route type:

   

Classic canyoning. Requires crossing pools by swimming and rappelling from overhangs that ends just in the water.  

Streaming water all the year round. Be aware about floods during winter rains.

All rappelling stations equipped with anchors (Glue-in bolts). 

 

Getting there:

 

Nakik ha-Shahor is the narrow basalt gorge in nahal Zavitan canyon that is a part of Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve.

Pay attention: according to the current rules of the reserve (October 2008) you must register your rappelling trip in advance by phone.

 

Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve.

 

Drive on the road number 87 east along the north shore of Kinneret lake and further to Golan Heights. After the road mark 18 km you will see on the left side the Visitor Center and the parking of Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve. Turn to the entrance.

Get to the "Information Center" for registration and instruction. After that drive to the remote car parking where the trail marked blue starts. Leave you car here and follow the blue trail to Zavitan canyon.  

 

 

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Route description:

 

 

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There are one small waterfall that can be negotiated either by rappelling or by jumping and two big waterfalls that must be rappelled:

 

 

nakik Shahor - profile

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you are down in the canyon turn to the left (down the river). Here the route starts.

Go on the more or less obvious (not marked!) trail, zigzagging in the dense vegetation and crossing the shallow stream.

Just before the first big waterfall you have to get down from a small one - 4.5m high waterfall ending in a pool. There is a rappelling station on the right site of the stream, but instead you can jump to the pool from the height of some 3-3.5m.

 

 

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The small waterfall and the pools

 

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Rappelling from the small waterfall

 

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Jumping from the small waterfall

 

 

The big waterfall is separated from the small one by two consecutive pools that must be crossed by swimming.

 

 

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The pools (a view from the rappelling station)

 

 

 

 

 

1st waterfall.  20m - vertical sections and overhangs alternately.

There are three rappelling stations on the edge of the waterfall from both sides of the stream. The rappelling ends from an overhang into the deep pool so be prepare to uncouple yourself from the rope while floating on the water...

 

 

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The rappelling station of the first waterfall

 

 

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The view from the waterfall

 

 

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Rappelling from the waterfall

 

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Rappelling from the waterfall

 

 

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Wet landing...

 

 

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It’s not so easy!

 

 

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The view of the first waterfall from across the pool

 

 

 

Just before the rappelling station of the second waterfall you come to a big pool must be crossed by swimming. Get down to the pool with assistance of metallic steps installed on the rocks (can be distinguished on the picture bellow).

 

 

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The pool before the second waterfall

 

 

 

 

 

2nd waterfall.  18m - easy sloping, but very slippery. Be careful!

It ends in a big and deep pool but you can uncouple from the rope standing on rocks or in waist-deep water.

 

 

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Rappelling from the second waterfall

 

 

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Rappelling from the second
waterfall

 

 

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Crossing the pool after the rappelling

 

 

 

From the end point of the route you can take a side walk to Ein Netef spring - nice refreshing spot were the water drizzles from a rocky overhang. . 

 

 

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The route quality:

 

*****  - The only one of its kind. A "must do" trip!

****    - Very interesting, highly recommended!

***      - Pretty nice route.

**        - Inexpressive one.

*          - Do it if you have nothing to do...