Nakik ha-Shahor ("The Black
Gorge") in Nahal Zavitan
Golan Heights
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
Get to the "
Route description:
There are one
small waterfall that can be negotiated either by rappelling or by jumping and
two big waterfalls that must be rappelled:
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.
|
The small waterfall and the pools |
|
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.
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...
|
The rappelling station of the first waterfall |
|
The view from the waterfall |
|
Rappelling from the waterfall |
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Rappelling from the waterfall |
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).
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.
|
Rappelling from the second waterfall |
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Rappelling from the second |
|
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. .
***** - 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...