The Horseshoe and Multicolor Sands in the Ramon Crater

Rating: Easy to Intermediate.333

All Vehicles.

Family Walking. Bring good walking shoes and a minimum of 2 liters. water per person.

Map: Hiking & Trails Map 1:50,000 (section 17)

Starting Point: Club Ramon Spa Hotel, Mizpe Ramon.

Leaving Mizpe Ramon on Road 40, the first stop is at the Observation Terrace at the southern exit from town. From the terrace there is a grand view of the central and eastern parts of the Ramon Crater. On the opposite side of the road, the sign proclaims: “Independence Ascent”. It was the Army’s Engineering Corps that opened this road in the early 1950’s. Drive carefully down Independence Ascent to the floor of the crater. Multicolored sands are visible along the road. After about 10 Kms., turn left at the road-sign for “Be’erot Campsite and Ein Saharonim”. Drive on the all-vehicle dirt road through the scenic upper tributaries of Afor Wadi. At 5 Kms., pass the Be ‘rot Campsite, and drive another 1 Km on the Petroleum Road – a road traced when the Eilat-Ashkelon petroleum pipe was laid down in 1975. At the red trail marked “Ein Saharonim”, turn right and go all the way to the parking area.

The waters of Ein Saharonim are practically invisible; but the presence of this seep is deduced from the abundant vegetation and the traces of salt on the ground. Nearby are the ruins of Saharonim Caravanserai – a wayside station of the Spice Route operated by the Nabateans two thousand years ago to transport spices and incense from Arabia to the shores of the Mediterranean. The Khan ruins indicate a large square structure, with forty-two rooms built around a large central courtyard. Our Club Ramon Spa Hotel also has forty rooms…

From here, you may continue on a three-hour hike, taking you on a visit to the Nekarot Horseshoe (“Parsat Nekarot”). From the Khan, descend to the blue trail. The wadi bend creates a large horseshoe shape in the rock. Walking in the shade of the astonishing cliffs is especially comfortable in the morning hours. Visible in the sand underfoot are the prints of fox, hyena, porcupine and even the extremely rare leopard. After 5.2 Kms., you arrive at numerous beautiful holes in the rock-face, followed immediately by a very large cave offering an excellent resting place. Continue a further 200 Mts. to the junction of the blue and green trails, taking left. Dekalim Ascent is an easy uphill hike. After a further 150 Mts., the red trail joins the green one. The parking is 1.5 Kms. away. Drive back to Mizpe Ramon, to rest at the Club Ramon Spa Hotel.

Organized By Ramon Extreme.

For additional information call +972 (0)8 658 6107.