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.
Lower Nahal Rahaf, a tall, narrow gorge in white rock with rappels into cool pools, ending in a long overhanging drop.
Also known as: Nahal Rahaf, רחף תחתון, רחף עליון, הרחף המלא, Nahal Rachaf
Information as of 12 Oct 2026
At a glance
- Duration
- 7 h
- Trail length
- 3 km
- Tallest waterfall
- 27 m
- Number of waterfalls
- 7
- Rope needed
- 90 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 lower section of Nahal Rahaf is a tall, narrow gorge in white rock with cool pools. Every rappel lands in a deep pool, and almost all are on vertical walls, except the last and longest drop of the section, which is mostly overhanging.
The first drop can be bypassed on metal stakes at the side, rappelling a shorter drop instead. Every drop has Israel Nature and Parks Authority chemical bolts. It is a full day of moderate difficulty.
From the parking climb the green trail, switch to the blue and drop into the bed, then loop round to the stakes above the first drop. After the last drop climb the black trail, which joins the green trail back to the parking.
Getting there
נפגשים בדרום ים המלח, בחניית נחל רחף.
Access notes
The meeting point is the Nahal Rahaf parking. Climb the green jeep track, switch to the blue trail and drop into the bed, then loop round to the stakes above the first drop. The exit at the end climbs the black trail, which joins the green back to the parking.
Parking
The Nahal Rahaf parking on Route 90, south of Masada. It is the start and end point.
Difficulty and suitability
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Minimum age
- From age 12
- Recommended group size
- Up to 25 people
- Typical duration
- 7 h
- Hiking distance
- 3 km
- Water activity
- Yes
- Route type
- Wet
Descent profile
Scroll sideways for details
Waterfalls(7)
| # | Name | Height | Obstacle | Profile | Landing | Anchor | Bolts and stations | Rope | From previous | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Updated 12 Apr 2023 | Height: 15 mOther source: 15 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 40 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 2 | י | Height: 8 mOther source: 8 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 8 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018)Other source: 8 m (bashetach.co.il, 2022) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 30 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 3 | Updated 1 Jul 2022 | Height: 8 mOther source: 7 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 7 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 30 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 4 | – | Height: – | Waterfall / rappel | – | Pool | – | – | – | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 5 | יא | Height: 22 mOther source: 20 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 20 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 15 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018)Other source: 15 m (bashetach.co.il, 2023) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 40 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 6 | יב | Height: 22 mOther source: 20 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 20 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 15 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018)Other source: 20 m (bashetach.co.il, 2023) | Waterfall / rappel | – | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 50 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
| 7 | יג | Height: 27 mOther source: 40 m (sharloetgarim.co.il, 2026)Other source: 38 m (canaan-canyoning.xyz, 2023)Other source: 30 m (outpanel.co.il, 2020)Other source: 35 m (rybakian.com, 2019)Other source: 40 m (sipurderech.co.il, 2018)Other source: 40 m (bashetach.co.il, 2026) | Waterfall / rappel | Overhang | Deep pool (swim) | Chemical bolts | – | 90 m | – | |
| ||||||||||
When to go
- January
- February
- MarchBest
- AprilBest
- MayBest
- JuneBest
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
- Best
Water: שטפון אחרון - 22/4/26
Seasons
Points on the map
- ParkingPrimary
31.28559, 35.37108
Safety
Every rappel lands in water too deep to stand in: swimming is a must. The last drop is long and overhanging and needs good control. The water is cool, and sometimes a wetsuit is needed. High flash flood risk.
Weather constraints
שטפון אחרון - 22/4/26
Recommendations
Suits teenagers and adults who swim well, including those with basic rappelling experience. The season runs from spring to early summer, depending on the pools. Check when the last flood was.
Equipment
Ropes long enough for the last drop, a wetsuit, dry bags for all gear, 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)
- sharloetgarim.co.il
- 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
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