Ayit Fall, Golan Heights – Visitors Guide
Ayit Fall on Golan Heights is near Ani`am. It is easily accessible by a short walk from road #808 (the waterfalls way).
Table of Contents
Map
Ayit Fall is located in Golan Heights, near Moshav Ani`am and Gamla Nature Reserve. You will see a sign to the waterfall when driving on road #808.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
Offers:
- Hotels, hostels, and apartments in this area:
- Buy photos of Israel and support this blog.
- Get 10% off for your next tour at Bein Harim with coupon code LEV10#12306.
Parking
There is free dirt parking near road #808.
Opening Hours
According to the following sign, being in the nature reserve at night is forbidden. Thus visit only during the day.
Note: Ayit Fall is part of Yehudiya Nature Reserve.
The sign also states that lighting a fire in the nature reserve is forbidden.
Entrance Fee
Free.
When to Visit?
Ayit Fall, like other waterfalls in Israel, is impressive after the rains. But immediately after the showers, the trails can be muddy.
Therefore, if you want to see a lot of water flow, visit in the winter after the rain. And if you want also to see flowers, visit during spring.
Note: I took the photos for this post during our mid-February visit (after heavy rains).
Track
You can walk only to the first viewpoint or make a longer loop trail which takes up to half an hour (1.5 km).
The path is easy and suitable for families. And the road to the first viewpoint is accessible.
Note: the descent to the river channel and the walk in the river is forbidden and dangerous.
A comfortable and orderly path from the parking leads to an outlook with a view of the waterfall and the stream. A little after the beginning of the trail, the path splits. The left turn leads to the Basalt pillars observation point. On the way, you will cross a wooden bridge. The right side of the path leads to a view of the two waterfalls and the river.
You walk along all the observation points, about a 10-minute walk, enjoy the view and the beautiful canyon, and return using the loop path to the parking lot.
Source: sign
Unfortunately, the bridge was closed during our latest visit (February 2023).
About Ayit Fall
Ayit Fall is one of a group of streams that flow to Nahal Yehudiya in the Yehudiya nature reserve. These streams begin in shallow channels and at once fall into deep canyons and create impressive waterfalls.
The place includes a short walk to the observation point on the waterfall, which has impressive flow during the rainy winter months. The winter rains enrich the waterfall with water, and you can also enjoy the many cyclamen and daffodils. In the waterfall itself, you can see a row of Basalt hexagonal pillars. In the spring, you can enjoy the flowers that bloom on the cliff.
Ayit Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Golan. It flows into a deep basaltic canyon that is about 4 km long and drains into the Yehudiya stream. The observation deck that overlooks the waterfall and the stream allows a view of the canyon and the amazing basalt pillars on the cliff.
The approach to the Ayit waterfall is very comfortable compared to the other Golan waterfalls.
Source: sign
And here is a broader view of the area. In the background, you can see the safety railings of road #808. At the top left corner, you can see the brown signs pointing to the parking. I stood on the right side of the canyon, and above the water, there was a lot of greenery. It is hard to see, but the wooden bridge is behind these trees, and the path leads to the other side of the canyon (a green sign in the top right corner marks the viewpoint from the other side).
Basalt Pillars
Do you know how Basalt pillars were created? Here is some background information:
The basalt pillars are unique for basalt areas and are related to the lava cooling speed as it emerges from the earth. The hexagons were formed as the lava flows cooled after a volcanic eruption. The hexagon shape is received when the upper part of the lava cools and shrinks while the inner part is still hot and keeps moving. The temperature differences between the exterior and interior of the lava cause the outer area to crack and forms the shape of polygons. Usually shaped as hexagons. The lava tends to shrink efficiently with minimum movement. And the hexagon is the most efficient packing shape found in nature (for example, honeycombs, snowflakes, and crystal salt).
Source: sign
Nearby Attractions
You can find Gamla Nature Reserve, Moshav Ani`am (the artist village), and Ein Keshatot (Umm el Kanatir) near this waterfall. A little further ahead, you can find the Sea of Galilee with all its points of interest. And a further down the road, you can find Safed, Tel Hazor National Park, and other attractions.
Summary
During the mentioned seasons, Ayit Fall is a good stopping point. And since the path is short, I suggest combining a visit to this waterfall with other nearby attractions.
Have you ever been to Ayit Fall? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
That’s all for today, and I’ll see you in future travels!
Stay Tuned!
Additional Resources
Here are several resources that I created to help travelers:- Trip Planner with Attractions and Itineraries is the page that will help you create your perfect travel route.
- What is the Best Time to visit Israel? To answer this question, we will consider the weather, prices, holidays, festivals, and more.
- Information and Tips for Tourists to Israel will answer the most common questions tourists have about Israel (including safety, passports, weather, currency, tipping, electricity, and much more).
- Israel National Parks and Nature Reserves include a complete list, top ten, map, tickets (Israel Pass, Matmon, combo), and campsites.
- If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, Akko (Acre), Eilat, Nazareth, Safed (Tzfat), and Makhtesh Ramon.