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Coast · Easy · Loop

Ein Afek: the Marsh Trail, the great lake and the springs

A short, flat walk on the Marsh Trail round the springs and great lake of Ein Afek Nature Reserve (עין אפק), a remnant of the marshes of the Acre valley.

Distance
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Ascent
69 ft (21 m)
Time
About 45 min
High point
102 ft (31 m)
Grade
Easy
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Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.

0 mi1 mi102 ft16 ft
Move along the height chart to see each point on the map.
Ein Afek: the Marsh Trail, the great lake and the springs
Liorca · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The hike

From the car park at the gate of Ein Afek Nature Reserve (עין אפק), follow the Marsh Trail (שביל הביצה), with its boardwalks and bridges, beside the pools and the lake: the lookout over Eshel Pool, the lookout over the Great Lake, the hexagonal spring, and the viewpoint at the foot of Tel Afek, before returning to the car park. Water birds, fish and turtles live in the pools, and water buffalo graze the meadow.

It is 2.4 km round with 21 m of ascent; allow 45 minutes, longer to watch the birds. The grade is Easy: level paths and tracks.

The reserve's floating bridge over the lake has no railing, so keep small children close. From 2 to 21 November 2026 INPA has closed the shortened Reed Trail for infrastructure works; the full circuit and the floating bridge stay open. Adults pay 24 NIS and children 10 NIS, and dogs are not allowed. In winter time the reserve closes at 16:00 (15:00 on Fridays and holiday eves), and entrance closes an hour earlier. Please do not feed the fish or the birds.

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

  • Ein Afek holds the springs that feed Nahal Na'aman and is a remnant of the marshes that once covered the whole Acre valley
  • A floating bridge crosses the lake over springs that flow all year; water buffalo graze the meadow
  • The old flour mill was built by the Crusaders on Roman foundations and ground wheat until 1924; a dam about 600 m long raised the water to drive it
  • Water birds, giant catfish and the soft-shelled turtle live in the pools; INPA asks visitors not to feed the fish or birds

Getting there

Start: Ein Afek Nature Reserve, car park at the gate. 32.84789, 35.10997

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 Ein Afek Nature Reserve: 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.