Lower Nahal Tze'elim to Ein Anava and Ein Namer

From the free INPA campsite at the mouth of Nahal Tze'elim (נחל צאלים) follow the green marks west into the canyon, keep straight on along the blue, and turn south up Nahal Anava to the small spring of Ein Anava. Go west on the red along the south bank, then drop on the green into the broad stream bed. Where the black trail heads into the narrow gorge of Gai Bahak, which needs a rope, stay on the green: it climbs round the gorge on its south side. A short stretch of red brings you to Ein Namer, a spring in the rock under the cliffs. Return the same way.

It is 11 km there and back with 332 m of ascent; allow about 3½ hours. The grade is Moderate: desert paths and stony stream beds, with some steep, loose climbs.

INPA says this is not a summer walk. Start early, finish before dark and carry at least 3 litres of water each; the springs are not for drinking. Never enter the canyon when rain is forecast anywhere upstream. An IDF training area begins a few kilometres beyond Ein Namer: turn back at the spring.

There is no fee. The campsite is about 3 km up a dirt road from Route 90, some 13 km south of Ein Gedi; no bus goes there.

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.