Flash flood danger
Do not enter the canyon when rain is forecast in the area or upstream, even under clear skies. Check the forecast on the morning of the trip.
A dry canyon near Masada with long slab drops and natural anchors only, for advanced rappellers who can work without bolts.
Also known as: Kannaim stream, Nahal Qanaim
- Challenging
- Dead Sea
- Judean Desert
- Swimming
- Water
Information as of 10 Jan 2025
At a glance
- Duration
- 7 h
- Trail length
- 8 km
- Tallest waterfall
- 53 m
- Number of waterfalls
- 4
- Rope needed
- 120 m
- Shuttle
- Not needed
- Water
- You get wet
- Circular route:
- Yes
- Flash flood risk:
- High
- Permit required:
- No
- Reserve:
- No
Field reports
How much water there was and how it went, from people who were here. Every report is reviewed before it is published.
No reports from this place yet
Were you here lately? Tell us how much water there was and how it went. It helps the next group plan.
Meeting point (parking)
Masada east parking
The meeting point is the parking spot. You continue on foot from here.
Coordinates: 31.31701, 35.34858
About
Nahal Kanaim drops from the Masada area to the Dead Sea, close to Nahal Rahaf. Its drops are long slabs that get longer as you go, all on natural anchors: holes in the rock and large boulders, with no bolts.
At each drop you have to find the anchor points: holes facing the rappel line at the first, holes and boulders set a little back from the edge at the second, and at the last one holes at head height that you only see if you look up. After the drops you bypass some small falls on the north side down scree, then follow the mouth of Nahal Rahaf to the road.
There are two ways in: with two cars from the Masada West parking, or from Masada East by climbing Ma'ale Elazar. There is no water in the canyon, and the day is long.
Access notes
Two options. With two cars: one at the Masada West parking and the second on Route 90 by the big acacia; from Masada West walk south on the red trail to the split, then on the black trail to the head of the canyon. The drive between the parkings is very long. Without a shuttle: park at Masada East, climb Ma'ale Elazar (black), follow the red trail briefly and turn onto the black trail that leads to the canyon. The exit follows the mouth of Nahal Rahaf to the road, then a short walk to the parking or the second car.
Parking
The Masada East parking is the start and end point without a shuttle. With a shuttle: Masada West parking for the start, and a second car on Route 90 by the big acacia.
Difficulty and suitability
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Good for beginners
- No
- Minimum age
- From age 16
- Recommended group size
- Up to 12 people
- Typical duration
- 7 h
- Hiking distance
- 5 km
- Elevation gain
- 300 m
- Water activity
- Yes
- Route type
- Semi dry
Descent profile
Scroll sideways for details
Waterfalls(4)
| # | Name | Height | Obstacle | Profile | Landing | Anchor | Bolts and stations | Rope | From previous | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | א | Height: 16 mOther source: 30 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 28 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 25 m (bashetach.co.il, 2025) | Waterfall / rappel | Slab | – | Natural anchor | – | 60 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 2 | Bypass on the left | Height: 3 m | Downclimb | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 3 | ב | Height: 19 mOther source: 20 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 20 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 30 m (bashetach.co.il, 2025) | Waterfall / rappel | Slab | – | Natural anchor | – | 70 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 4 | ג | Height: 53 mOther source: 55 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 55 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 55 m (bashetach.co.il, 2025) | Waterfall / rappel | Slab | – | Natural anchor | – | 120 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 5 | ד | Height: 4 m | Waterfall / rappel | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| ||||||||||
When to go
- JanuaryBest
- FebruaryBest
- MarchBest
- AprilBest
- MayBest
- June
- July
- August
- September
- OctoberBest
- NovemberBest
- DecemberBest
- Best
Water: מים - אין מים זורמים בנחל, יש להביא כמות מספקת לשתייה.
Seasons
Points on the map
- ParkingPrimary
31.31701, 35.34858
- Route endחניית רכב שני: על כביש 90, ליד השיטה הגדולה.
31.29331, 35.38317
- Trailheadתחילת שביל שחור במעלה אלעזר
31.30995, 35.36273
- Landmarkצומת שביל אדום
31.30859, 35.35217
- Landmarkפיצול עם שביל שחור
31.30566, 35.35157
- Route startערוץ נחל קנאים
31.29925, 35.35305
Safety
No bolts: every station is on natural anchors, so experience in finding, building and checking stations is required. The bypass after the drops is a descent on scree, so take care. High flash flood risk: check forecasts and warnings before setting out. There is no water in the canyon.
Weather constraints
אסור להיכנס בזמן התרעות שיטפון. העונה המומלצת: אפריל עד אוקטובר. בחורף הנחל עלול להיות מלא מים ומסוכן. יש לבדוק תנאי מזג אוויר לפני כל יציאה.
Recommendations
For advanced rappellers only, with experience on natural anchors. The seasons are autumn, winter and spring. Carry water for the whole day. Masada and nearby Nahal Rahaf are easy to add.
Equipment
Two ropes long enough for the long drop, of a diameter that fits the rock holes, and leave-behind gear (slings and rings) for every station. A helmet, harness and descender for each rappeller.
Photos
שמורת עין גדי וים המלח - האזור הסמוך לנחל קנאים Photo: Zvika at WikiTravel, Public domain
Data sources
The information on this page was collected from these sources.
- bashetach.co.ilbashetach.co.il, License: all rights reserved (blog content)
- ropes.community
- openstreetmap.org© OpenStreetMap contributors, License: ODbL 1.0
- canaan-canyoning.xyzcanaan-canyoning.xyz
- rybakian.comIan Rybak, rybakian.com. dateConfidence: low (bulk resave stamp 2019-11-20; real information date unknown, not later than that), License: unknown; personal site, no licence stated
- Facts consulted in a Judean Desert guidebook (title pending)
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