Nahal Qumran

Judean Desert

A view from the 4th dry fall rappelling station.

The route type:

Rappelling trip.

It is pretty interesting and diverse route suitable to learn beginners but for this reason it is very overcrowded on weekends. There are lots of large organized groups all the year round. Despite the fact that all rappelling stations equipped with more than one station be prepared for waiting in a queue…

The canyon is dry all the year round but be wary about floods during winter rains.

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

The canyon can be divided into two prominent parts: upper and lower. The upper canyon includes dry falls 1-3 and the lower canyon - 4-6. You can do any of them separately or both as a whole.

Any of the dry falls of the upper canyon can be bypassed!

Getting there:

Drive on the road number 90 along Dead Sea to the south.

Between 279 km and 278 km distance marks you will arrive to the entrance of Qumran National Park.

Leave your car at the national park's parking lot. The entrance to the park requires payment, but as for 2011 it was free of charge to pass through the park to the start of the rappelling route.

The canyon can be divided into two prominent parts: upper and lower. The upper canyon includes dry falls 1-3 and the lower canyon - 4-6. You can do any of them separately or both as a whole. This description is for the whole route.

Follow a marked trail (green marks) that crosses nahal Qumran just at the point dividing the canyon into lower and upper parts (Point 1 on the map). Here you can either to start rappel the lower part of the canyon or to climb with the trail on the south slopes of the upper canyon to the main plateau.

There are four options to enter into the upper canyon and they are described below in the natural consequence as you would come across them while going on the trail:

Point 2

GPS: 31º 44' 24.5"N; 35º 27' 07.6"E

Trail map (black grid): 127.56; 193.00

It is the shortest and the easiest way to start the rappelling trip: while on the canyon floor you should walk 100m only to reach the 1st dry fall rappelling station. There are no obstacles on the way.

Point 3

GPS: 31º 44' 27.6"N; 35º 27' 00.1"E

Trail map (black grid): 127.66; 192.80

Go down the gentle slopes to the canyon floor. There are 400m to the 1st dry fall rappelling station. Easy down scrambling is involved.

Point 4

GPS: 31º 44' 27.9"N; 35º 26' 57.8"E

Trail map (black grid): 127.67; 192.74

An old trail branches from the "green" trail and leads into the canyon. Immediately after coming to the canyon floor (500m before the 1st dry fall) you should negotiate some stepped descent. At first sight it looks fearful but can be down climbed quite easily. More easy down scrambling is involved till the 1st rappelling station.

Point 5

GPS: 31º 44' 21.0"N; 35º 26' 39.3"E

Trail map (black grid): 127.45; 192.25

It is the longest and most adventurous way that involves negotiating some 3m rocky step. A short rope is required but no obvious options for anchoring are found above the step.

This description is for the longest version of the trip.

Route description:

After 500m of easy walking in the canyon (starting from Point 5!) you come across a 3m high dry fall that is very not convenient for down climbing. There is no convenient option for anchoring! Nevertheless, for those fellows that prefer to keep their legs unbroken I would recommend to use a rope for the first descending participant at least.

A short walk from the foot of this rocky step brings you to some stepped descent. At first sight it looks fearful but can be down climbed quite easily. More easy down scrambling is involved till the 1st rappelling station.

Remember that all the difficulties described above are a bonus only for those groups starting from Point 5!

You can bypass all of them starting from Point 1 or 2.

Climbing up the “green” trail

Point 4. An old trail leads to the canyon floor

Point 5. The start point of the longest version

The 3m high rocky step

A view from the stepped descent

There are 6 dry falls to be abseiled:

1. 25m (30m from the station)

3-4 m of steep slop, then 10m of overhang, then 10m of slope (can be down climbed).

The 1st dry fall rappelling station

A view from the 1st dry fall rappelling station

Rappelling from the 1st dry fall

The 1st dry fall

2. 15m (measured from the station) - sloped.

The 2nd dry fall rappelling station

Rappelling from the 2nd dry fall

The 3rd rappelling station is right at the foot of the 2nd dry fall.

3. 36m (43m from the station) - vertical.

The 3rd dry fall rappelling station

A view from the 3rd dry fall rappelling station

Rappelling from the 3rd dry fall

The 3rd dry fall

A short walk and one stepped descent that involves easy down climbing will bring you to the end of the upper part of the canyon and at the same time to the 4th rappelling station. From here you can either to return to the parking lot or to continue your rappelling trip into the lower part of the canyon.

Pay attention that unlike the upper canyon you cannot exit from the lower one until you will touch its floor at the foot of the last dry fall.

4. 34m (39m from the station) – vertical with ledges.