Nahal Hamdal

Nahal Hamdal runs west from the Tel Shivan and Sha'al forest area to the Hula valley, and in its lower part it opens into a basalt canyon with four falls. Most of the year it is dry or holds only pools; in winter, after rain, it flows for a few days and the pools fill.

The falls section, about a kilometre long, starts where a blue-marked footpath crosses the bed. The first fall is low and lands in a seasonal pool; then comes a rock stretch with a pool that has to be swum on rainy days, a twenty-four-metre fall and, right after it, one of about eighteen metres. The bed opens a little to a horseshoe of rock where the last and highest fall, thirty metres, drops inside a reed thicket. Shallow caves sit high in the banks.

From the foot of the last fall a thin path climbs the south bank close to the cliff line to the blue trail on the plateau. Below the falls the bed continues open and overgrown to Route 918.

Enter the bed where the blue trail crosses it, at the start of the falls section. At the end climb the thin path on the south bank, by the cliff line, to the blue trail on the plateau (sketch: about 800 m).

The book gives no parking. The catalog points are kept.

The book says the canyon section can only be passed by rappelling. In winter, after rain, the stream flows and is then for experienced canyoners only; on rainy days the pool after drop A has to be swum. The last fall is wrapped in a reed thicket that makes the rappel awkward. The upper stream, above the blue trail, is an active firing zone.

The book says rappelling works in spring and summer, when the stream is dry or holds pools (which may be deep). In winter, after rain, it flows for a few days and suits experienced canyoners only.

Spring and summer, when the stream is dry or holds only pools. In winter after rain, experienced teams only.

Full rappelling gear and a helmet; a rope long enough for the thirty-metre fall.