Go For a Hike: Israel Trail Named Top ‘Epic’ Hike

By JTA August 13, 2012

The Israel National Trail was named one of the World’s Best Hikes by National Geographic magazine.

The trail, which extends up to 620 miles from southern to northern Israel, was named one of the 20 top hikes in the Epic Trails section.

It is joined on the list by such trails as the International Appalachian Trail; Yoshida Trail, Mount Fuji, Japan; Great Himalaya Trail, Nepal; and the Continental Divide Trail, United States.

The magazine says the Israel National Trail is best for “Long-distance hikers with a love of both ancient and contemporary history.”

“Passing through vast empty desert and winding into kibbutzim, the Israel National Trail (INT) delves into the grand scale of biblical landscapes as well as the everyday lives of modern Israelis (with opportunities to stop in the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem). But beyond the immense sense of history and breaking news, the trail powerfully connects to something that often gets lost in all the headlines—the sublime beauty of the wilderness of the Middle East,” writes the magazine’s Doug Schnitzspahn.

The magazine’s insider trip to trail travelers reads: “The biggest blessing here comes in the form of ‘trail angels’ along the INT who give a helping hand and often offer a place to stay free of charge to thru-hikers.” It also provides a link to an updated list of trail angels with contact information.

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