Alonei Abba Nature Reserve – Visitors Guide
Alonei Abba is a small nature reserve in Lower Galilee. It offers lovely short trails that are perfect for families with children.
Map
Alonei Abba Nature Reserve is located near Alonei Abba and Bethlehem Of Galilee. You will see it while driving on road #7513. And the most straightforward way to get there is by entering its name into Waze.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
Adjacent to the Nature Reserve, there is free parking, and at the entrance, you can see the following sign.
From the entrance sign, you will see a path. But there is more than one, so let’s discuss tracks.
Tracks
Here is an interactive map from israelhiking.osm.org.il where the two most popular trails are marked:
And here are the details of those tracks:
| # | Name | Color of the Trail on the Map above | Description | Distance (km) | Total climb and descent (meters) | Notes |
| 1 | Blue and Black path | Blue | Circular trail | 1.7 | 82 | Start with the blue trail and return using the black path (or vice versa). |
| 2 | Black trail | Red | Follow the same trail in both directions | 2 | 52 | Take the black trail till the end (till you reach Basmat Tab’un) and return the same way. |
I want to warn you before you start hiking at Alonei Abba Nature Reserve. The trail marking is not always visible. For instance, we only noticed a split between blue and black trails at the beginning of our most recent visit.
If you are afraid of getting lost, I suggest taking only the black trail since it is better marked.
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday: 08:00 – 17:00 (16:00 during winter)
Friday and Saturday: 08:00 – 16:00 (15:00 during winter)
Note: though the official site mentions the opening hours while visiting there, I never saw any Israel Nature and Parks workers, and there are no gates.
Entrance Fee
Free.
When to Visit Alonei Abba?
In recent years, we have visited Alonei Abba Nature Reserve twice: once in February and again in May.
During February, we saw many different flowers, such as nemones.
February is the best time to see Anemones. That is also why the Festival Darom Adom takes place in February.
And in May, we say fewer flowers. Pretty much only this type:
Therefore early Spring is the best time for a visit.
At Alonei Abba Nature Reserve
In 1994, a 950-dunam nature reserve was declared close by, to the north. The reserve is home to Valonia oak trees (Quercus macrolepis) and Palestine Oak (Quercus calliprinos). Other flora in the forest includes Pistacia palaestina, Styrax officinalis, Carob, Rhamnus palaestinus, and Judas trees. Most of the reserve is open for experimental grazing by cattle from the moshav.
Source: Wikipedia
From what I read on the net, Alonei Abba Nature Reserve is the remains of a big forest (from Nazareth mountains to Caesarea). The Ottoman forces cut down most trees during the First World War. The trees were used as fuel for trains. This little forest remained only due to the Templars’ (from Bethlehem of Galilee) objections.
When we started hiking, there were almost no people. But when we returned and approached the starting point, we saw plenty of people having picnics.
And only when we reached the parking we saw cows: