Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The ride
From KKL's forest entrance on the forest road east of Route 60, ride the bike link onto the Meitar Forest (יער מיתר) singletrack and turn onto its northern arc, which winds east over low hills among pines and low earth banks built to catch the winter run-off, past picnic sites, an old Byzantine cistern cut into the rock and a lookout. At the eastern junction swing west onto the southern leg and follow it back along the slopes above the town to the link and the entrance. KKL signs the trail for riding both ways; this loop goes clockwise, as KKL describes it.
It is 7.6 km round with 119 m of climbing; allow about an hour of riding. The grade is Moderate: flowing singletrack with short climbs and a few small kickers, rated intermediate by KKL.
Because riders come both ways, slow down on blind bends. There is shade in the pines but the open hills are hot, so carry water; there are taps at the picnic sites. KKL built the trail with the town after riders started it, and fitted pump stations at its ends.
The forest is free. There is no marked car park at the entrance, so park by the forest road; the trail can also be joined from Ye'elim Street in Meitar.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- KKL built the Meitar singletrack with the Ministry of Tourism and the Meitar council after residents started it; it opened in 2019.
- The trail circles the town on the hills between the Hebron hills and the northern Negev, with low earth banks built to catch run-off for the trees.
- On the north arc you pass an ancient Byzantine rock-cut cistern and a lookout named for Noam Rosenthal, a soldier from Meitar.
- KKL fitted two public foot-pump stations at the ends of the trail.
Getting there
Start: KKL Meitar Forest entrance, east of Route 60. 31.33971, 34.93443
Directions to the start
Google Maps Apple Maps Waze Moovit
Waze drives you to the car park; Moovit has the buses and trains to the start.
Paths and roads change, and surfaces vary with the weather. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; ride to what you find, give way to walkers and horses, and carry what you need to mend a puncture.