A minimum of six months' license is required

A water hike suitable for the entire family, where it takes only two minutes to reach the water! The trails is located next to Mahanaim Junction, and was just recently reopened in memory of Major Zafrir Bar-Or. Parking is available on the side of the road. After parking, carefully cross the road and walk to the stream, which has water all year round. There are no marked trails at the site, so I recommend always walking right next to the stream. After walking for just five minutes, you will reach shallow pools surrounded by benches. And if you continue walking with the stream, you will discover even more special areas. At first, you will notice the stream starts flowing faster, and there is even a short challenging section where you must cross on slippery rocks, where the water flows fast. When you continue down the trail, you will see the ancient watermill of Darbshiya. Most people who reach this spot believe this is the end of the trail, but there is more. Farther on there are two hidden waterfalls that flow from the pool above, so be sure not to miss them, or the long pool above them that overlooks a broad view of the Hula Valley. To get back to your car, just go back the same way you came.

One of my favorite water hikes. It has everything you need for the Israeli summer: a short walk to the water, shallow pools, a hike in the water and a powerful waterfall offering an impressive view of Hula Valley. You don't need to register or to pay to hike in Ein Tina. All you need to do is take your car or a rental, arrive at the large parking lot at the entrance to the trail and set out on the best water hike in the north.

Our hike starts in the large dirt parking lot close to Mahanaim. Park your personal or rental car there. Once you park, you must walk 5-10 minutes in the sun before you reach the cool pools. The pools get their water from a hidden waterfall. To reach it, you need to walk upstream for another 10-15 minutes until you see the Ein Tina waterfall, which falls on the black rocks. There are two ways to get back to the parking lot: go back as you came, or continue walking on the trail next to the waterfall.

The "wet trail", which few people know about, is located in Park HaMa'ayanot behind a big wall. The "wet trail" offers a water hike in the cool waters that flow there all year round. It is approximately 350 meters long and takes on average 15-20 minutes to complete. The trail was opened in memory of Major Zvika Kaplan, who was killed in Operation Protective Edge, and who loved hiking in this area where he lived. His family and friends from the Golani Brigade special unit, who earned the nickname the "Zvika Unit", chose to commemorate him in the area where he loved to hike.

The trail traverses the water all the way to the mill pool. You can make your way back on the dry road, but be careful of electric vehicles driving there. To get there, drive to Ein Shokek and then turn left to the wall, where you will see the "wet trail".

The Banias Stream, or in Hebrew the Hermon Stream, flows in the Upper Galilee, just before Horshat Tal. The stream is 9 km long and gets its water from the rain and snow that fall on Mount Hermon and permeate the ground all the way to the Banias Springs, where they flow out. The Banias Stream lagoons are called Nabi Yehuda, after the ancient building located nearby, and identified by Druse as the tomb of Judah son of Jacob. The pools are easily accessible by car and swimming in them is allowed, but barbecues are forbidden in the park, and it is forbidden to stay there after dark, since it is a recognized natural reserve, supervised by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which is responsible for enforcing these rules.

The Banias Stream starts at the Banias Springs and ends in Sde Nehemia, the mouth of the Jordan River. There are two natural reserves along the river where entrance is not free of charge, with one site where entrance is free of charge. This site has an interesting story which should interest you. The Syrian tank "landed" in the stream in 1967, during the Six Day War, after the IDF forces pushed the Syrian army back in the battle of Kibbutz Dan. During their retreat, one of the Syrian tanks fell down a cliff into the stream, where it remains today.

To reach the Syrian tank, park next to the kibbutz Snir Cemetery, walk down to the river along the black trail, and after walking for 15-20 minutes down the trail, which is challenging at times, you will reach the tank. The water in the stream is cold and especially refreshing during the heat of summer. The stream is shaded by Plane and Oak trees. Use the same trail to get back to your car.