kmmi

Carmel · Easy · Loop

Tel Dor: the coast trail round the coves and the old harbour

Round the sheltered coves and the old harbour of Tel Dor National Park (תל דור) on the Carmel coast, with a sea arch at the northern end.

Distance
2.0 mi (3.2 km)
Ascent
33 ft (10 m)
Time
About 45 min
High point
26 ft (8 m)
Grade
Easy
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Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.

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Tel Dor: the coast trail round the coves and the old harbour
Leonid Rosin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The hike

From the car park by the visitor centre of Tel Dor National Park (תל דור) go through Dor Gate onto the kurkar ridge and follow the coast path round the coves of the ancient harbour: the old harbour of Dor, the Roman temple remains and the lookout over the tel. The path then runs north along the shore to the sea arch of Keshet Yam (קשת ים) and returns along the ridge to the start.

It is 3.2 km round with 10 m of ascent; allow about 50 minutes, more to stop at the coves. The grade is Easy: level paths and tracks along the shore. INPA's coast trail is about 2 km; this one goes on to the sea arch.

Dor was a Canaanite port founded about 3,500 years ago, with natural bays where ships anchored, and stayed an important harbour until Caesarea took over in Roman times. The park has no entrance fee; in winter time it closes at 16:00 (15:00 on Fridays and holiday eves) and the last entry is an hour earlier. Dogs are allowed on a lead and muzzled. Keep back from the edge of the low cliffs and rocks, and do not swim where there is no lifeguard.

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

  • Dor was a Canaanite port town founded about 3,500 years ago on a kurkar ridge at the south end of the Carmel coast, with sheltered natural bays that ships could anchor in
  • The ridge gave the people of Dor easy building stone; Dor stayed an important harbour town from the Middle Bronze Age until Caesarea took over in Roman times
  • The ruins on the tel include great fortification walls, Roman temples and a theatre, and a Crusader stronghold at the south-west end beside the sea

Summits on the way

  • Tel Dor 49 ft (15 m) · passed close by

Getting there

Start: Tel Dor National Park, car park by the visitor centre. 32.61982, 34.92051

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.

Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Tel Dor National Park: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.