Nimrav Spring

All the information about Nimrav Spring: The trail itself starts at the Nahal Tzalim parking lot. Note that getting to the parking lot involves slow and annoying driving on a rough dirt road, although it's passable even for a low car such as a 1997 Hyundai Accent. Start on the trail marked in black along the streambed. In spring there are several pools that it's possible to swim in. See the detailed route in Nahal Tzalim on the site; from there the trail continues in blue. At some point it reaches a split: the black trail continues in Nahal itself, while the blue trail climbs up the bank. The black route is supposed to be difficult. Because of the time we started the hike and the heat that was enveloping that day, we decided to skip it and continue on the blue. At the end of the ascent we turned right on the red path, and at the next fork right again to the green (all the time staying above the wadi/stream). After some time on the green trail, you meet the black trail again, and the brave ones who chose it. Continue on the green until the red fork, where you switch to red, which leads to the spring. Basically, it's an amazing route—walking among magnificent cliffs and the landscapes of Judean Desert—but note that the route is difficult. In addition, along the way you'll find cave sequences that are somewhat similar to bell caves, and from some of them you get an awesome view. We reached the spring with nearly the last of our strength, mainly due to the heavy heat. At midday, that is—prefer to leave an hour earlier so you arrive properly. As soon as you reach the spring, simply stay there until the heat drops. It's a deep, shaded pool, better to enter as soon as you arrive—while you're still really hot—otherwise your courage quickly fades. It's recommended and desirable to take a midday break there with a book and maybe even to nap. Toward about three o'clock, we were "driven out" of the spring by a park warden who cleared the reserve (so people wouldn't get stuck in the dark), and we returned to the parking lot the same way. Trail length is about 5 km each direction—i.e., about 10 km total. Very important—go early. Reach the spring before the real heat wave starts, meaning by about 11, and leave only after the heat has dropped due to the route being almost completely exposed to the sun. Another option—overnight at the parking lot the day before, so you can set out in the morning comfortably. Nimrav Spring is so special that Lonely Planet (Lonely Philg) doesn't give it up on his journey through Israel. Why? Just see for yourselves what a beautiful place!