Nahal Rahaf

Nahal Rahaf cuts through the Rift escarpment and drains into the Dead Sea south of Masada. It is one of the beautiful wet canyons of the Judean Desert: after the winter floods its pools fill up, and most rappels land in deep pools you have to swim across.

The canyon has two sections: Upper Rahaf and Lower Rahaf. Each can be done alone at moderate difficulty, or both can be joined into a long, hard day. Every option is circular, starting and ending at the Nahal Rahaf parking on Route 90.

From the parking, climb a green jeep track. After the split with the black trail there is another split: for Upper Rahaf continue on the green, then switch to the blue and then the black to the first drop; for Lower Rahaf switch to the blue trail, reach the bed quickly, then loop round in a U-turn to the metal stakes above the first drop.

בנחל אפשר לטייל ב3 דרכים:

- נחל רחף עליון

- רחף תחתון

- רחף עליון ותחתון יחד

שלושת האופציות מעגליות. מתחילים ומסיימים באותה הנקודה- חניון נחל רחף. אל חניון זה ניתן לנווט בוויז (שמנו לכם נקודה במפה בהמשך)

מחנים את הרכב בחניון נחל רחף משם

Park at the Nahal Rahaf parking on Route 90, south of Masada. Climb the green jeep track, pass the split with the black trail, and at the next split choose: for Upper Rahaf stay on the green, then the blue and the black to the first drop; for Lower Rahaf switch to the blue, drop into the bed and loop round to the stakes above the first drop. Every option returns to the same parking.

The Nahal Rahaf parking on Route 90, south of Masada. It is the start and end of every route.

The rappels land in deep pools: everyone must be able to swim and to get free of their gear in the water. While it is still cool, do not go without wetsuits. The small drops and passages between rappels are slippery. High flash flood risk: do not enter if rain is possible in the area or upstream.

העונה המומלצת: מאי-אוגוסט כשהמים נקיים ורעננים, או חורף עם חליפות ניאופרן. אסור לצאת בהתראות שיטפון. בקיץ - חום קיצוני, לצאת מוקדם.

Not for beginners: suits teenagers and adults with rappelling experience who swim well. The best season is spring, and start early in the morning. Pack all gear well, because everything gets wet.

Two medium-length ropes are enough for every drop. Longer ropes let you rig a line to send bags over the water and keep them dry. A wetsuit when the water is cold, dry bags for all gear, and a helmet and harness for each rappeller.