Mount Shokef and Mount Arkan from the Rakit car park

From the Rakit car park (חניון רקית) walk east past the ruins of Horvat Rakit and an ancient burial cave, then follow the tracks and paths up through the Carmel scrub and round the foot of Mount Arkan (הר ערקן). The way continues along the ridge to the lookout on Mount Shokef (הר שוקף), with views over the forest and the coastal plain, and returns by the same ridges to the car park. Houses and gated tracks lie near Arkan, so stay on the path.

It is 5.6 km round with 179 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy by our measure: half tracks, half paths, with a steady climb to the ridge. INPA gives the circuit as 2 to 3 hours and rates it for hikers.

The Carmel has little shade on the ridges: start early in summer and carry water. Wild flowers bloom along the paths in their seasons. INPA asks walkers to finish before dark and to give up the trip on days of extreme heat.

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.