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| Trail Map |  Hike it with Google Earth | Terrain View |
| Distance: 12.7km | Time: 4-6 hours | Difficulty: Strenuous |
| Ascent: 393m |  Trailhead and Markers Gallery |
Our first hiking trip to Makhtesh Ramon was in October 2018, in the very early days of Hiking the Holyland. I remember the trip well – we had seen the crater before, but those long hikes left us awestruck at its beauty and silence. The colorful rock formations dazzled us, striations of red, black, and purple cutting through beige limestone. The ascents got our blood pumping. It was the perfect combination of adrenaline and natural beauty, all wrapped up in one incredible natural phenomenon.
We’ve returned to the makhtesh many times over the years, but not nearly enough. Somehow, it always seems slightly out of reach, like the drive is just a bit too much for a day trip.
But a couple of weeks ago, we decided to throw caution to the wind. What’s a two-hour drive each way to intrepid adventurers like us?
So early in the morning, we set out to complete another trail in Ramon Crater. This one was popular, a hike we probably should have tackled ages ago: Shen Ramon, the tooth of Ramon.
At 12 kilometers or so, it was a manageable distance for a short winter day. We hiked the trail and made it home in time for family pizza and movie night.
But oh, the beauty of our surroundings that day…
The Shen Ramon trail was truly spectacular. Here’s how we hiked this 12.5-kilometer circular trail:
From the Campsite
We drove through the crater and up the dirt road to Geves Campsite. It was early morning when we arrived, the sun just beginning to cast long shadows across the desert floor. Two cars were camped out for the night, their occupants probably still asleep.
Quietly, we got out and set off in search of the trailhead, our breath visible in the cold air.
After some pointless backtracking – you can actually hop on the trail right from the campsite – we began hiking along the green trail, a wide flat pathway through classic desert scenery.
This was a great way to start the day. It was cold that morning, and walking fast helped us warm up. The sky was clear and impossibly blue. Before long, we were hiking in t-shirts.
Coffee Stop
If you’ve read any of my posts, you know that mornings don’t pass without a well-planned coffee stop! After covering three or four kilometers, we were ready for breakfast.
We veered off the path to a little stone mountain and scrambled up.
The views were gorgeous, the breeze heavenly. From our rocky perch, we could see across the crater floor, the distant walls hazy in the morning light. The silence was complete except for the whisper of wind.
We assembled our sourdough baguette sandwiches and poured hot coffee from the thermos. There’s something about eating breakfast outdoors in the desert that makes even simple food taste extraordinary.
After waking up our muscles and minds with caffeine and carbs, we were ready to tackle the punishing ascent at Shen Ramon.
The Terrain of the Crater
A bit further along the green trail, we turned onto the red trail towards Shen Ramon. The pale limestone gave way to darker volcanic rock.
Shen Ramon is one of the highest points in Ramon Crater. Made of magma rock, it is dark and jagged, jutting out like a tooth towards the southern crater wall.
One of the coolest things about Makhtesh Ramon is how dramatically the scenery changes as you hike. Many paths are tawny beige limestone. In other places, black, red, or even purple rock dominates, each color representing a different geological era.
From above, you’ll see a multicolored world of rock, layers creating patterns that look almost artificial. It’s reminiscent of a Martian landscape.
Shen Ramon
As we hiked up Shen Ramon, we weren’t focusing much on scenery. Instead, we were enjoying the adrenaline rush of a very steep ascent. The path turned sharply upward. One foot in front of the other, breathing hard, we slowly climbed to almost 700 meters above sea level.
The dark volcanic rock was rough under our hands as we grabbed for handholds. The path switchbacked up the face of the peak. My thighs burned. My lungs worked hard in the thin, cold air.
Eventually, we reached the top. There we perched on a rock and took in the otherworldly views of the crater below. The floor stretched out beneath us, vast and open. We could see the path we’d walked, a thin line cutting through the desert. The far crater walls were clearly visible, layer upon layer of sedimentary rock stacked like pages in a book.
With the breeze blowing in my face, I felt on top of the world. I almost wanted to close my eyes, just to feel like I was flying. But the scenery was too spectacular. So instead, I lost myself in the magical panorama.
Down and Up Again
Then on we continued, slowly down the rock wall, carefully navigating the rocky path. The descent required concentration – loose rocks, steep drops, constant attention to footing.
Soon the trail turned back up, and we climbed onto a narrow ridge, almost like a shark’s fin. The path was barely wide enough for one person, dropping off steeply on one side. We walked carefully, single file.
After climbing down the fin, the rock turned back to desert tan. Cool rock formations appeared everywhere – wind-carved pillars, twisty mountains of white rock. We climbed up on one or two for pictures.
We reached the ammonite wall, full of well-preserved marine fossils millions of years old, from when Ramon Crater was submerged in water. The fossils were clearly visible, spiral shells embedded in the rock face. After snapping photos, we continued through the varied scenery.
Har Gevanim
We had one more ascent before completing our circle: Har Gevanim, a lesser-known peak inside the crater.
But we were in the groove. We barely noticed the climb, lost in conversation and gorgeous scenery. Our legs had found their rhythm. As we walked and talked, we heard motor sounds approaching – a small convoy of tourist jeeps pulled up to the summit just as we arrived.
We watched families emerge to take in the scenery, then continued on our way, down the hill and back toward the crater flatland.
A few more kilometers on the green trail brought us back to where we started. The camping cars had left. The winter sun had warmed the air. What had been frigid at dawn was now pleasantly mild.
That morning, we had embarked on an adventure in one of Israel’s most beautiful places. We climbed peaks, scrambled over rocks, walked through landscapes that looked like they belonged on another planet.
We came, we saw, we conquered. Time to head home.
And the four-hour round-trip drive? Totally worth it.
Hikers’ Notes:
Here’s what you need to know to hike this trail at Shen Ramon:
- This is a circular trail.
- This trail is best suited to cool days in fall, winter, and spring.
- There are no facilities on this trail. Make sure to bring plenty of water, sun protection, and food for the day. Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
- Use the trail map and trail marker gallery in the table at the top of the page to find your way on the trail.
- As with any desert trail, make sure to check for weather and flash flood warnings before you go. When following a trail in the desert, always keep the trail markers in sight. If you can't find the next trail marker, go back to the last one you saw and go from there.
- Not suitable for those who are afraid of heights.
