Israel's Canyons: Negev Desert Hideouts

Cut into the stone landscape, Israel's canyons are small, reflecting small amount of water available to erode canyons

Israel's Negev desert is full of interesting hiking trains. There are a few canyons cut into a stone landscape worth visiting. The canyons are a hiding place for animals and people. Most canyons are small (no American style Grand Canyon here) and are still eroding. Most with steep walls and almost no flat bottom floors. This makes foot travel challenging, even with horses or camels. Local Bedouins use these canyons to hide from storms (sand or rain) as well as short cuts. On weekends, organized groups make the treks up and down the canyons. After two days of rain, I joined a group of hikers from Tel Aviv on a five kilometer (3 miles) hike. The way out started in a boulder strewn section. Wide large boulders, some hard to believe water moved here from above, covered the first third of the climb (about one kilometer). Along the hike we heard birds up on the walls and came across a few donkeys. Rains from the last storm left a few shallow pools. A few plants started to sprout fresh leaves. The fresh greenery accounts for the donkeys on the walking paths. Since Israel is not a destination for hikers, the people in organized group hikes tend to be local Israelis. That said, tourists can till enjoy the wonderful landscape. Ask a hotel concierge for help, they will connect you with a guide or group for a day hike. Tourists who are interested in seeing the beauty of the land will love a desert hike.