Yitav Stream – A Family Friendly Adventure

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Trail Map	Hike it with Google Earth	Trailhead and Markers Gallery
Distance: 4.15km	Time: 2-3 hours	Difficulty: Moderate
Ascent: 54m	Spring Pools Parking	Spring Pools Parking

My sister lives in a truly beautiful place.

Kochav HaShahar, a small Yishuv about 30 minutes from Jerusalem, sits amid hills that turn a dreamy shade of green in the wintertime. In the summertime, the landscape as viewed from her backyard on the outskirts of town is more like a desert—rolling dunes of sand and rock that stretch out all around.

I’ve been on hikes near Kochav HaShahar—most notably Har HaKochav, a 4-kilometer circular trail around a picture-perfect hilltop on the edge of town. And I’ve visited the freshwater springs in the valley of Yitav Stream, which fill up over the winter and make a great wet playground during the spring months.

What I’ve never done is hike from the town itself, along Yitav Stream, down into the valley and towards the springs below. I’d heard it was an incredibly fun adventure, but somehow, the trip just never materialized.

That is, until this past Friday, when after a mid-week walk with my sister, I decided that the time had come for us to scout out Nahal Yitav. A new adventure was in the works!

We came poorly prepared, but full of energy, and ready to discover a new trail. And boy, were we in for an unexpected treat.

Nahal Yitav was truly stunning—full of wildlife and wildflowers, along with springs, waterfalls, climbing walls, and more. The trail wasn’t very difficult at less than 5 kilometers, but it was just challenging enough to add a bit of adrenaline to what would have otherwise been a beautiful walk through nature.

Here’s how we hiked this spectacular trail out of Kochav HaShahar:

The Hardest Part is Getting Started

We started the day right in my sister’s backyard, where we planned to begin the trail. As a matter of fact, there are two different ways to hike through Nahal Yitav—one a bit more strenuous (obviously, the one for us!), and an easier trail that leaves from a different part of town.

After a brief discussion with my sister, her husband, and their very friendly dog Brandy, we realized that the challenging trail might be fine for us, but it almost certainly would not be fine for our old border collie. He might not be able to make it down sheer cliffs with handholds. So we regrouped and set off for the easier trail on the other side of town.

Once we found the trailhead, we were ready to go. What’s better than the very beginning of a new adventure?

So Much Beauty

We were instantly captivated by the scenery. The valley stretched deep and winding before us. Hills of rock rose up on both sides, into a clear blue sky. A channel of green snaked through, fed by water running through from various points along Yitav Stream.

White grain rustled in the early morning breeze. And little butterflies flitted between wildflowers and stalks of grain.

We followed the path downhill, taking in the magnificent scenery. Some parts felt like we were in a summer landscape in another country. There were no other hikers on the trail, and a sense of deep peace settled upon us as we walked along.

Breakfast Time

Of course, every good hike comes with a meditative coffee stop. We found a perfect spot just beyond a miniature waterfall, in a patch of shade under a rocky outcrop. At our feet, greenery grew in abundance, nurtured by the fresh water running through the stream. Our breakfast company included flitting butterflies and a flock of swooping birds.

We sipped our hot coffee and took in the silence, noticing all the tiny bits of beauty that surrounded us in our little nook—wildflowers, greenery, and the occasional skipping gazelle in the distance. Sometimes nature provides dramatic jagged peaks or jaw-dropping views. But other times, it’s the small and simple things that are the most beautiful.

The Challenging Part

After breakfast, we continued on our way, enjoying the feel of rugged terrain beneath our feet and sun on our faces. Soon, we got to the only challenging part of the trail: a steep ledge equipped with handholds. This descent would be no problem for us (although a few more handholds would surely be useful for some hikers), but our dog had no idea how to get down off the ledge.

With a bit of struggle and perseverance, he finally figured out how to get down to the next level. (Note to future hikers: leave your dogs at home! Aside from the difficult descent, dogs are also—apparently—officially not allowed on this trail!)

Right at the bottom of the ledge, we were greeted by a large patch of bright red wildflowers that formed a sort of red carpet towards the first waterfall pool. Our dog was very grateful for the chance to cool down and take a break.

Towards the Springs

And on we continued, so pleased with every step of our adventure. After a few kilometers, we reached the first spring pool. We had the pool mostly to ourselves, but we knew that the rest of the trail would be full of people, all out to enjoy the cooling waters of Nahal Yitav on a hot day.

We walked through the thick undergrowth, preferring to get our feet wet rather than walk on the adjacent path in the sun. One man sitting in a pool recommended that we grab dry bamboo sticks to assist us on our journey through the rocky stream. This definitely helped.

We passed by all sorts of pools, large and small. At that time of year, none of the pools were above waist deep—but all were incredibly cool, beautiful, and refreshing. We waded through until we reached the last large and gorgeous pool, full of families out for a day of fun.

One-Way Adventure

From there, we hiked onto the road until we found a place with cell reception and called my sister for a ride back to our car. Lucky for me, she is incredibly easygoing and generous, and didn’t mind making the half-hour trip in each direction to rescue us (!). Had I known the length of the journey, I simply would have hitched a ride with one of the many cars coming and going from Nahal Yitav.

But all’s well that ends well. We got to spend quality time with my sister and her husband (who gave us a guided tour of the many sites along the way back to the Yishuv), and we enjoyed a magnificent, well-tended trail in a beautiful place.

This trail along Nahal Yitav is a perfect adventure near Jerusalem for a spring day.

Hikers’ Notes:

Here’s what you need to know to hike this trail at Yitav Stream:

• This trail is in Judea and Samaria. It is run by the Parks Authority, and feels much safer than it once did. That said, make sure to take precautions for your personal safety when hiking this trail. It is more populated (and therefore feels safer) on Fridays and holidays.
• No dogs allowed.
• This is a one way trail!
• This trail is best for cooler days in fall, winter, and, spring. Expect the water level to wane as the dry season wears on.
• This trail is well marked and easy to follow. Make sure to follow the trail markers indicated on the trail map in the table at the top of the page! If you lose the trail, go back to the last place you saw a trail marker and resume hiking.
• Come prepared with plenty of water to hike this trail.
• Note: there is no cell reception along most of the trail!! Please come equipped with plenty of water and accurate maps. Wandering off trail in this area is not recommended, and can be dangerous.
• For families: This would be a great trail for groups. More adventurous family members can hike the full trail (it is not particularly difficult) while younger children play in the pools at the end.