Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the car park at the east end of Lehavim follow the green marks into Lahav Forest (יער להב) and down into a hollow where yellow autumn crocuses flower in late autumn. Short paths lead to the black-marked forest track, which passes under Highway 6 and climbs gently through pines and pistachio groves, past more crocus slopes, to Hurvat Abu Hof. KKL's yellow-marked Golden Path makes a short round of the ruins: a winepress, cisterns, a cave and an unusual built dovecote, with a lookout over the northern Negev. Return the same way.
It is 5.5 km there and back with 86 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: forest tracks and paths with gentle climbs.
The crocuses flower from October to December, best in late October and early November; do not pick them. KKL has closed the forest's main road to cars, bikes and walkers while it is rebuilt. This walk does not use it, but follow any closure signs. Mountain bikers share the tracks, and there is no water on the way.
The forest is free. Buses in Lehavim stop on Sderot Te'ena, about 450 m from the start, and Lehavim-Rahat station is about 2.6 km away through the town.
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
- KKL began planting Lahav Forest in 1952 on the edge between the northern Negev and the Judean lowlands, with about 240 mm of rain a year
- Hurvat Abu Hof was a large Christian village in the Byzantine period; KKL's short Golden Path leads round its restored farm buildings
- Its dovecote is unusual: built of stone blocks with a niche for each bird, rather than cut into the rock
- The yellow autumn crocus flowers in the forest from October to December
Getting there
Start: Car park at the east end of Lehavim. 31.37122, 34.82580
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.
By train: להבים רהט station is 2.6 km from the start.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.