Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve – Visitors Guide with Photos

Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve, by the Sea of Galilee, offers a short and easy water track that perfectly suits the hot days.

Map

Water flowing from Golan Heights on its way to the Sea of Galilee passes through the Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve. And this nature reserve is located close to the Sea of Galilee.

On the map above, you can see Betiha Nature Reserve in the top right corner. And here is an interactive map.

Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit

Interactive map of the area:

Tracks

As you can see from the following track map (part of the official brochure you receive at the entrance), there are two tracks.

Track Name	Length	Approximate Duration	Accessible	Remark
The Wet Track	about 800 meters	90 minutes	No	One directional
The Dry Route	about 800 meters	10 minutes	Yes. You can use it to reach an accessible entrance to one of the bigger pools.

Since the wet track is one-directional, you will probably start with it and then return using the dry track.

Note: you can click on the map to enlarge it.

Accessible Trail

The dry path is an accessible trail. You can take the paved path from the parking and continue along the river. There is also an accessible entrance to one of the bigger pools.

Opening Hours

Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 8:00 – 17:00 (16:00 in winter).
Friday: 8:00 – 16:00 (15:00 in winter).
On holidays eves usually 8:00 – 13:00.

Note: Since the pandemic, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority has started limiting the number of people in each park. Thus, reservations are recommended through the official site (you can find the link below).

Entrance Fee

Adult – 28 NIS, child – 14 NIS, and student – 24 NIS. Free for National Parks annual subscribers.

If you visit several National Parks, then consider purchasing a combo ticket. You can find additional info at National Parks And Nature Reserves.

Note: opening hours and ticket prices were updated in December 2022. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting.

When to Visit Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve?

You can walk in the river during Spring, Summer, and Autumn. But since the water is cold, I suggest picking a warmer day during these seasons. And if you are not planning on entering the water, you can visit this nature reserve all year round.

Also, since it is a popular nature reserve, visit early on Saturdays and holidays. Otherwise, there will be traffic jams on the wet track.

Note: lightning fire on the premises of this nature reserve is prohibited.

What is the Water Depth at Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve?

At the beginning of the wet track, the water is relatively shallow (20 – 40 cm). Further ahead, there are two pools, and the water depth is about one meter.

Basic Info

Majrase – the Daliyot stream flows down from the Golan into the Sea of Galilee from the northeast. At the inlet of the stream, is the “wet route.” It is marked as a blue trail – a section of about 800 m of walking through the stream, suitable for a spring, summer, or fall. At the end of the route, it is possible to return to the starting point by the “dry route” and enjoy the nature reserve and its views without walking through water. The “dry route” is also suitable for winter hikes. At the start of the Majrase route, there are washrooms and changing rooms for visitors, drinking water, and a shaded area for picnics. Lighting fires are prohibited. There is an entrance fee for the nature reserve.

Note: unless stated otherwise, all quotes were taken from the official site.

The Wet Track

The length of the wet route is about 800 meters. We used the wet track, which includes walking in water and partly swimming in one direction. And then returned to the entrance via the dry path.

Also, keep in mind that the water amount in the river delta changes according to the season. Thus, the wet trail might be closed during the winter. But, since the water is cold, the Majrase is suitable for hotter days.

As you start walking, the water is freezing, and it takes time to get used to.

Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve is beloved by families with children. I guess there are three main reasons:

1. Length – it is a short trail. Thus, children can walk the whole track without getting tired.
2. Water – it makes walking fun and not hot. Moreover, children do not need deep water to swim.
3. Big picnic area – after completing the route, you can have a picnic in this nature reserve.

Here are several additional photos from the first part of the wet track:

As you can see in the first part of the Wet Route, the water is relatively shallow. It is about 20 – 40 cm deep.

Though the Wet track is mostly shaded and not hot while walking, it is still better to come early. The later you arrive, the more people there will be.

We arrived at Betiha Nature Reserve at around 10:00, and this is how it looked at the more dense points.

As we continued, the water became deeper and deeper. At some point, we saw this sign notifying us about deep water.

At this point, children could easily swim, and the water level was about one meter deep.

There is quite a big pool in this area, and many decide to stop for a swim. And then, you can take the exit to the left and return to the entrance/picnic area. But we continued further along the water track.

At the end of the wet trail, there is another big pool. We swam there for a while and exited the water.

The Dry Trail

Completing the wet route, including swimming, took us about one and a half hours, but the way back, using the dry trail, took us approximately ten minutes.

Here you can see the paved routes. They lead to the water, both big pools. And the entrance to the water is wheelchair accessible.

There are no showers on-site, but there are cranes for foot washing and toilets. There is also a small shop with snacks (primarily drinks and ice creams), water sandals, flip-flops, and hats. The kiosk is located next to the picnic area.

Our whole visit to Betiha Nature Reserve took us about two hours. It also includes swimming and eating ice creams at the kiosk.

Summary

Majrase – Betiha Nature Reserve offers a short water trail near the Sea of Galilee. The water and the shade make it suitable for hot days. It is also an excellent spot for a picnic. For those reasons, it is perfect for families during summer vacation.

For additional attractions in the area, check out the Sea of Galilee.

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:

• Israel Trip Planner is the page that will help you to create your perfect travel route.
• National Parks And Nature Reserves page lists and put all national parks on the map. There is also a top list, information about ticket types and campsites.
• If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, and Makhtesh Ramon.
• Wondering what events are there in Israel? Here is the Events And Festivals By Season guide.

And if you have any questions then check out Useful Information For Tourists To Israel.