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| Distance: 2.5km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: Moderate |
| Ascent: 234m |  Trailhead and Markers Gallery |
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Hiking through the quiet solitude of Tekoa Canyon, it’s easy to understand how this place was once home to a monastery. Just twenty minutes from Jerusalem, the canyon is vast and deep. Its magnificent rock walls sit above a narrow valley. Birds swoop between nooks and crevices, their calls echoing through the palpable silence.
From my perspective, it’s never a bad time of year to visit Nahal Tekoa (Tekoa Canyon). I like to go on summer mornings, spring days, and fall afternoons. But my favorite time to take a hike through the canyon is on a drizzly, grey day. On days like this, we like to pack up a thermos of coffee along with some candles and make our way to one of the many beautiful caves along the trail.
Our favorite lately is a two level cave with a ladder inside. Just last week, this cave was the locale for morning brunch with friends on a rainy day. And on our hike to the cave, we noticed that there was a newly marked trail at Nahal Tekoa.
The green trail (which had previously been an unmarked path), gave us a way to hike Nahal Tekoa in an easy circular loop. This short loop trail would be perfect for people of all ages (as long as they aren’t afraid of heights!)
A few days later, we were back at Nahal Tekoa with our 12 year old son. Our plan for the day was to try out the circular hike, checking out various caves along the way.
Here’s how we hiked this beautiful trail at Nahal Tekoa:
It’s a Gorgeous Day
We climbed out of the car, expecting to encounter a cold drizzle. Instead, we were met with a beautiful fall breeze, under a slightly overcast sky. It’s always a few degrees warmer in Nahal Tekoa than it is in our neck of the woods, so I probably shouldn’t have been surprised.
The morning was spectacular. Filled with excitement for the adventure ahead, we headed into the canyon. Golden grass shone brightly in the gentle sun. A bit of greenery had started to appear here and there, but the canyon was still waiting for winter rains to arrive and bring it to life.
We hiked along the black trail, up and down over the rocky path, taking in the gorgeous views.
The Coolest Cave in Tekoa
Soon, we reached the breakaway trail to Haritoun Cave, one of the largest cave systems in Israel. Although we like to stop in and explore, we passed it up this time around. A trip into Haritoun can take up an entire morning.
Next, we stopped at the little spring right near Haritoun. It was way too cold to take a dip, but my son tested out the water with a long stick – it was definitely dunk-able.
We climbed around the area of the spring. The sun had come out, and we were debating whether to stop for breakfast right there or continue to the two-level cave as we had originally planned.
The cozy cave plan won out, so we continued on our way.
Breakfast in an Epic Spot
A few minutes later, we reached our destination. We climbed up towards the cave entrance and peered in: There was the rickety ladder, standing perched against the opening to the upper level as always.
We climbed the ladder one at a time, then used the rope to hoist ourselves to the second level.
This cave is truly a treasure. There are little seating areas, nooks and crannies, carved notches, and a wide window to the world. We cozied up in one spot near the window and pulled out hot coffee and breakfast. Then, we enjoyed a delicious picnic with our son in one of the most magnificent spots I can think of.
Back on the Trail
After we finished, we continue to hike through Tekoa Canyon along the black trail. When we reached a green trail which led further into the canyon, we explored it for a while. Then, noticing that our son was getting tired, we returned to the main (black) trail and vowed to go further another day.
After some uphill rock climbing, the black trail led towards an olive grove where we picked up a green trail heading back the way we came. From there, we expected that it would be a short walk to the trailhead.
But we were mistaken. Although the actual distance was short, there was so much to see along the way.
We explored one little dwelling place after another, little homes carved into the rock and fashioned out of local stone. There were arched walls and windows inside these caves, and other signs that the austere abodes in this spectacular setting were once used as dwelling places.
Some even had signs of modern usage – we saw candles, some yoga mats, and little fire pits in some places.
In cave after cave, we noticed the crazy views out to the canyon, and Herodion (King Herod’s burial place) in the distance. If I were seeking out some quiet contemplation, I would definitely choose one of the caves in Nahal Tekoa for a bit of solitude.
Closing the Circle
We had always stuck to the lower part of Nahal Tekoa in the past, so the upper part was a fun change. I loved walking along the narrower trail up top and exploring one opening in the rock after another. The three of us were happy that we got a chance to discover this less-traveled part of Nahal Tekoa.
As our journey came to an end, we rejoined the black trail and headed back towards the trailhead. Our hike that day had been magnificently beautiful, as it always is in Nahal Tekoa. And seeing new sights at the canyon had made the morning more fun.
This circular trail at Tekoa Canyon is an excellent choice for an easy and fascinating hike in a wonderfully contemplative canyon.
Hikers Notes:
Here’s what you need to know to hike this circular trail in Tekoa Canyon:
Don’t forget to read my guide to the navigational features in this post before you hit the trail!
Trail map from Amud Anan.
