Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The hike
From the Turtles' Bridge car park (גשר הצבים) in the stream park, cross the bridge over Nahal Alexander and turn left, west, along the stream on the Israel National Trail. The track runs between reed beds and holy bramble, with the stream beside you, to the ruins of Hurvat Samra (חורבת סמארה) and its car park. Come back the same way. In the stream park a lookout tower gives a view east towards the stream's source in the Samarian hills and west to its mouth on the sea.
It is 6.3 km there and back with 14 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: a level track and path with no climbing. INPA gives the one-way walk as about 3 km.
Nahal Alexander holds one of the three main populations of the soft-shelled turtle in the Mediterranean basin. Do not feed the turtles or any other animal in the stream: it harms them and they bite hard. The stream floods in winter, so keep to the path after heavy rain. There is drinking water at the stream park.
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
- Nahal Alexander is home to one of the three main populations of the soft-shelled turtle in the Mediterranean basin, and INPA says the turtles must not be fed
- The first bridge here was built of thick logs by the pioneers of Kfar Vitkin in the 1930s and was destroyed by a great flood in 1991; a narrow concrete bridge replaced it
- The path follows the Israel National Trail west along the stream, between reed beds and holy bramble, to the ruins of Hurvat Samra
- From the lookout tower at the stream park you can look east towards the stream's source in the Samarian hills and west towards its mouth on the sea
Getting there
Start: Turtles' Bridge car park, Nahal Alexander. 32.38545, 34.89159
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 Turtles' Bridge car 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.