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עברית
Photo of Nahal Tmarim
Canyoning

Nahal Tmarim

נחל תמרים

South, Judean Desert

Duration: 7 hTallest waterfall: 75 m

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.

Inside a nature reserve

Keep to the reserve rules and stay on the marked trails.

An impressive dry canyon above the Dead Sea near Mitzpe Shalem, with long, well-bolted rappels and a steep climb at the start, for experienced rappellers.

Also known as: Nahal Tamarim, Nahal Temarim

  • Advanced
  • Challenging
  • Dead Sea
  • Desert
  • Full day
  • Scenic

Information as of 12 Oct 2026

At a glance

Approach
1.5 h
Duration
7 h
Trail length
5 km
Tallest waterfall
75 m
Number of waterfalls
5
Rope needed
160 m
Shuttle
Not needed
Water
Dry
Exit distance:
500 m
Circular route:
Yes
Flash flood risk:
High
Permit required:
No
Reserve:
Yes

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.

Report the conditions

Meeting point (parking)

Parking at the date plantations entrance

The meeting point is the parking spot. You continue on foot from here.

WazeGoogle Maps

Coordinates: 31.63875, 35.41758

About

Nahal Tmarim drops to the Dead Sea near Mitzpe Shalem and is named after the date plantation at its mouth. It lies in a nature reserve where rappelling is permitted, and every drop has Israel Nature and Parks Authority chemical bolts.

The day starts with a steep climb on the blue trail to a high platform with a view of the Dead Sea, continuing to the red jeep track and into the bed. Then comes a series of long rappels: a long opener, mostly on a slab; a stepped drop, with the next drop starting on its last step; and more long drops. The last drop can be done in one go or split.

There are a few exit points: after the first drop you can return to the approach trail, and after one of the later drops you can leave the canyon. At the end follow the stream mouth on the green trail to the parking.

Getting there

חנייה במטע התמרים *שימו ♥ להחנות את הרכב לא במרכז הציר אלה בצדדים כדי לא להפריע לחקלאים שעובדים שם.

Access notes

Set Waze to 'חניה נחל תמרים' and park in the Mitzpe Shalem date plantation. Climb the blue trail to the high platform, continue on the blue, cross a green jeep track to the junction with the red jeep track, and enter the bed from there. The exit follows the stream mouth on the green trail back to the parking. Plan the climb for early morning.

Parking

Park in the Mitzpe Shalem date plantation, at the side of the track rather than in the middle, so as not to block the farmers working there.

Difficulty and suitability

Difficulty
Hard
Good for beginners
No
Minimum age
From age 16
Recommended group size
Up to 10 people
Typical duration
7 h
Hiking distance
6.3 km
Elevation gain
355 m
Water activity
Yes
Route type
Mixed

Descent profile

Nahal Tmarim · Descent profile, schematic, not to scaleSum of drops 254 mRoute length 5 km, circularDrop A 75 mDrop B 28 mDrop C 47 mDrop D 52 mDrop E 52 mbypass (right)bypass (right)bypass (both banks)bypass (right)Downclimb?Downclimb?Nahal TmarimDescent profile, schematic, not to scale

Scroll sideways for details

Waterfalls(5)

#NameHeightObstacleProfileLandingAnchorBolts and stationsRopeFrom previousDetails
1אBypass on the rightHeight: 75 mOther source: 80 m (sharloetgarim.co.il, 2026)Other source: 67 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 75 m (idan-na.co.il, 2023)Other source: 72 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 75 m (bashetach.co.il, 2026)Waterfall / rappelSlab–Chemical bolts–160 m–
2Bypass on the rightHeight: –Downclimb––––––
3בHeight: 28 mOther source: 25 m (sharloetgarim.co.il, 2026)Other source: 25 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 25 m (idan-na.co.il, 2023)Other source: 12 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 25 m (bashetach.co.il, 2026)Waterfall / rappelStepped–Chemical bolts–60 m–
4גHeight: 47 mOther source: 55 m (sharloetgarim.co.il, 2026)Other source: 45 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 55 m (idan-na.co.il, 2023)Other source: 48 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 50 m (bashetach.co.il, 2026)Waterfall / rappel––Chemical bolts–110 m–
5דHeight: 52 mOther source: 50 m (sharloetgarim.co.il, 2026)Other source: 55 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 60 m (idan-na.co.il, 2023)Other source: 60 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 60 m (bashetach.co.il, 2026)Waterfall / rappel––Chemical bolts–130 m–
6הHeight: 52 mOther source: 55 m (sharloetgarim.co.il, 2026)Other source: 50 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 55 m (idan-na.co.il, 2023)Other source: 55 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 55 m (bashetach.co.il, 2026)Waterfall / rappel––Chemical bolts–120 m–
7Bypass on the rightHeight: –Downclimb––––––

When to go

  1. JanuaryPossible
  2. FebruaryPossible
  3. MarchBest
  4. AprilBest
  5. MayBest
  6. June
  7. July
  8. August
  9. September
  10. OctoberBest
  11. NovemberBest
  12. DecemberPossible
  • Best
  • Possible

Water: שיטפון אחרון בנחל - 11/12/25 (סיכוי לגב עד המותניים במפל מס' 4)

Seasons

All year

Points on the map

  • ParkingPrimaryמיקום החנייה במפה

    31.63875, 35.41758

    WazeGoogle Maps
  • Meeting pointמטעי התמרים של קיבוץ מצפה שלם, כביש 90, צפון ים המלח

    31.63890, 35.41760

    WazeGoogle Maps
  • Waterfallמפל תמרים

    31.64043, 35.40589

    WazeGoogle Maps

Safety

High flash flood risk in winter and heat stress in summer: check the forecast before going. After a flood there may be a deep pool at one of the later drops. Cell coverage is partial. Never come with ropes shorter than the longest drop needs; it is life-threatening.

Escape routes

  • From the foot of this drop a faint path leads south and joins Ma'ale Tmarim.
  • Before the last big rappel you can leave by the right bypass, which climbs to Ma'ale Tmarim, or by the left bypass, which goes down to the stream mouth on the shore.

Weather constraints

פעילות כל השנה למעט ימי התראות שיטפון. בקיץ חום קיצוני - לצאת לפנות בוקר. סתיו ואביב עדיפים.

Recommendations

For fit hikers and experienced rappellers, not beginners. Autumn and spring are the best seasons, and start early in the morning. The exit points let you shorten the day if needed.

Equipment

Two long ropes suited to the longest drop, which cover every drop. A helmet, harness and descender for each rappeller, a headlamp and plenty of water.

Data sources

The information on this page was collected from these sources.

© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL

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