Hiking Ein Avdat

Near our home here in Midreshet Ben Gurion is one of the most spectacular canyon hikes in all of Israel. Indeed, it probably ranks high amongst canyon hikes the world over. Named Ein Avdat, and located within a national park, the spring that formed the canyon takes its name from the ancient city of Avdat, which is nearby. Although people have been living in the area of Ein Avdat for about 80,000 to 90,000 years, it wasn't until around 300 BC that the city of Avdat developed into a prominent metropolis. It was a major stopping point on the Spice Route and its ruins still inspire awe. Within the canyon itself, monks lived in caves in the canyon walls during the Byzantine period. They abandoned those caves in the 7th century during which there was a major earthquake as well as the Muslim conquest of the Negev.

We frequently hike this canyon. Here is a compilation of pictures from numerous hikes but presented in the same order one would experience these locations.

Unless you're hiking Ein Avdat in the heart of the winter, it's important to get off to an early start. Here is a picture of the largest party we ever took on this hike assembled in our front yard. It includes our friends Bill (sitting, center) and Cheryl LeBlanc from Boulder, friends of Bill's and Cheryl's from Colorado who joined them for their Israel tour, and Cheryl's cousin who lives in Zichron Yaakov, as well as his family.

Our first destination is down into the Zin canyon behind our house. The outlet of the Ein Avdat canyon is visible in the right hand side of the picture and distinguished by the greenery watered by the spring.

To get down into the Nahal Zin requires that we hike down a steep slope.

Down in the Zin, Cheryl quickly notices the "Watch Out For Ibexes" sign.

About 45 minutes after we've started, we are in the Ein Avdat canyon. The canyon walls are made of soft white chalk with thin layers of flint, which gives the canyon walls a sleek striated look.

We walk deeper into the canyon to near a waterfall. Until last year, hikers could walk all the way to the waterfall, but last winter floods damaged the path. Now it's blocked at this point. Also, national park regulations down't allow swimming here.

To continue the trail, stairs were carved into the rock walls.

One day there was a large school group going up the stairs. They called to us, "America, take our picture." So, we did.

Here's Lynn after ascending the stairs, walking on the rim of the inner gorge.

After a short hike, we come to a grove of Euphrates poplar trees. These trees can tolerate the slightly salty water of the spring. They also provide great shade for a mid-hike break.

After resting in the shade of the trees, it's time to scale the cliffs of the canyon. Fortunately, the national park has embedded several metal ladders in the walls which really helps.

At one point, we take a detour from scaling the cliffs to investigate several of the caves the monks used to live in.

Here are our cousins from Jerusalem, the Blumsacks, pausing for a refreshing break in the cave, along with Rebekah.

Although the caves don't offer a lot in the way of modern amenities, they do feature a great view. If you look carefully you can barely make out our home village Midreshet Ben Gurion on the plateau in the background.

Near the rim of the canyon I look up and there are Lynn and the girls, already on top, cheering me on.

Once on top, there's plenty more to see, including the ruins of an ancient fort and old petroglyphs.

On top, there's also another grove of trees, which provide great shade for eating lunch and recuperating. Here's Rick Blumsack posing in the shade.

The trail through the national park is one way only, so you can't do this hike as an out-and-back. We've used several different techniques to get home from here. One time we hitchhiked. Moments after this picture was taken a huge sandstorm blew up. Fortunately, someone felt sorry for us and gave us a ride.

Another time, we hiked home through Nahal Haverim. Parts of the return trip were pretty, but maybe not pretty enough to justify the two extra hours we spent walking in the heat.