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.
Upper Nahal Rahaf, a wet circular route with a series of bolted rappels that all land in deep pools and grow longer toward the end.
Also known as: Nahal Rahaf, רחף עליון, רחף תחתון, הרחף המלא, Nahal Rachaf
Information as of 12 Apr 2023
At a glance
- Duration
- 4 h
- Trail length
- 4.5 km
- Tallest waterfall
- 29 m
- Number of waterfalls
- 6
- Rope needed
- 70 m
- Shuttle
- Not needed
- Water
- You get wet
- Circular route:
- Yes
- Flash flood risk:
- High
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)
Nahal Rahaf night campsite
The meeting point is the parking spot. You continue on foot from here.
Coordinates: 31.28559, 35.37108
About
The upper section of Nahal Rahaf starts with fairly short drops, and they get longer as you go, up to the section's last and longest drop. Every rappel lands in a deep pool you have to swim, and every drop has Israel Nature and Parks Authority chemical bolts.
From the parking climb the green trail, switch to the blue and then the black to the first drop. After the section's last drop you can return to the parking, or carry on into Lower Nahal Rahaf for a long, hard day.
Access notes
From the Nahal Rahaf parking climb the green jeep track, and at the second split stay on the green, then switch to the blue and the black to the first drop. After the last drop return to the parking or continue into Lower Rahaf.
Parking
The Nahal Rahaf parking on Route 90, south of Masada.
Difficulty and suitability
- Typical duration
- 4 h
- Hiking distance
- 4.5 km
- Water activity
- Yes
- Route type
- Wet
Descent profile
Scroll sideways for details
Waterfalls(6)
| # | Name | Height | Obstacle | Profile | Landing | Anchor | Bolts and stations | Rope | From previous | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Height: – | Downclimb | Stepped | – | – | – | – | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 2 | – | Height: 4 m | Downclimb | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 3 | ד | Height: 11 mOther source: 11 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 12 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 12 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018)Other source: 12 m (bashetach.co.il, 2023) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 30 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 4 | ה | Height: 6 mOther source: 6 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018)Other source: 6 m (bashetach.co.il, 2022) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 20 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 5 | Updated 1 Jul 2022 | Height: 20 m | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 50 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 6 | Updated 1 Jul 2022 | Height: 25 mOther source: 25 m (outpanel.co.il, 2020) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 60 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 7 | ח | Height: 29 mOther source: 37 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 37 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 30 m (bashetach.co.il, 2023) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 70 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 8 | ט | Height: 7 m | Waterfall / rappel | – | Pool | – | – | – | – | |
| ||||||||||
Points on the map
- ParkingPrimary
31.28559, 35.37108
- TrailheadFoot of Ma'ale Rahaf
31.28364, 35.37001
Safety
Every rappel lands in deep water: swimming and getting free of your gear in the water are essential. The rock between drops is slippery. When the water is cold, go only with wetsuits. High flash flood risk.
Weather constraints
משתנה מאוד משנה לשנה; מים קרים אחרי שטפון, חליפות מומלצות, בלי חליפה רק מאפריל בערך; כמעט כל הנחל מוצל
Recommendations
Suits teenagers and adults with rappelling experience who swim well. Spring is the best season. If you join both sections, start at dawn.
Equipment
Ropes long enough for the section's last drop, dry bags for all gear, a wetsuit when the water is cold, and a helmet and harness for each rappeller.
Other sections in the area
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
- outpanel.co.iloutpanel.co.il
- 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
- sipurderech.co.ilsipurderech.co.il
- Facts consulted in a Judean Desert guidebook (title pending)
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