Ramat HaNadiv – Memorial Gardens and Hiking Trails
Ramat HaNadiv (HaNadiv Gardens) is a nature park with memorial gardens near Zichron Yaakov. It offers hiking trails and cycling paths.
Map
Ramat HaNadiv is located at the southern end of Mount Carmel, south of Zichron Yaakov and north of Binyamina.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
HaNadiv Gardens consists of memorial gardens and a nature park. The memorial gardens are roughly in the middle, and you can use them as the starting and ending points for hiking and cycling trails across the nature park.
Here is a map of the whole compound:
Here is a map of the memorial gardens:
Note: You can click on the maps to enlarge them.
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 8:00 – 16:00
Friday: 8:00 – 14:00
Notes:
- On Saturday, the crypt is closed.
- You can find the full opening hours (including holidays) at the official site.
Here are the restrictions that apply to the memorial garden:
- Food is prohibited.
- Flying drones is not permitted.
- No Pets (including dogs).
- Playing ball is prohibited.
- Bicycles and roller skates are not permitted.
- No smoking.
Fires and barbecues are prohibited throughout the entire compound, even in the picnic area.
Contact Information
Phone: 04-6298111
Email: info@ramathanadiv.org.il
Entrance Fee
Admission to Ramat HaNadiv is free, but parking requires payment.
Parking
The parking lot is no longer free. Here is the price list:
Private vehicle – 30 NIS per day
Local residents and Senior citizens – 10 NIS per day
Notes:
- You must register at the official site to receive the discount (10 NIS daily).
- Opening hours and parking fee rates were updated in March 2025.
Trails
In this section, we will go over the hiking map and the tracks in this area. Here is an interactive map from israelhiking.osm.org.il:
Ramat HaNadiv offers three hiking loop trails. They all start east to the memorial gardens. The main trails are:
| Name | Color | Main Points of Interest | Length (km) | Approximate hiking time (hours) | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Spring trail | Blue | Ein Tzur, ancient bathhouse, and other archaeological points of interest | 2 | 1.5 | Easy (families) |
| The Manor trail | Red | Horvat Aqav | 3.5 | 2 | Easy |
| The Vultures trail | Green | Rich fauna and acclimatization cage for raptors | 3.5 | 2.5 | Medium (fit walkers) |
Note: You can also find hiking and cycling trails here.
The Nature Park offers visitors many pleasurable pursuits. Circular hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty are studded with observation points. Along the way, visitors can view Mediterranean scenery and remnants of ancient human settlements, discover a spring hidden amidst the greenery, and examine the special acclimatization cage where birds of prey are prepared for release back into nature as part of Ramat Hanadiv’s efforts to re-establish and preserve the fauna of the land of Israel.
Note: Unless stated otherwise, all quotes were taken from the official site.
At the eastern parking, you can see this post with a small wind turbine at the top. It is the starting and the ending point of the trails.
Naming
To understand the Ramat HaNadiv references, we have to take a short historical dive.
Baron Edmond de Rothschild
Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934) was a major figure in establishing the modern State of Israel. Giving support to the Yishuv (the pre-State Jewish community in the land of Israel) became his life’s work and endured for many decades.
He acquired large tracts of land and sent expert agronomists from Europe to help the pioneering farmers. Forty-four villages were established with the support of the Baron and his descendants; among them are those that bear the names of Rothschild family members: Zikhron Ya’akov, named after the Baron’s father; Givat Ada, in honor of his wife Adelheid; and Binyamina – a tribute to the Baron himself.
In addition to supporting agricultural enterprises, the Baron left his indelible mark on the health, educational, and religious sectors of the Yishuv and early industrial development, establishing the first wineries and power plants in his effort to assist the Jewish community towards independence.The Baron’s death in 1934 at 89 marked the end of a long and full life. Some 20 years after his death on 6 April 1954, his remains and those of his wife Adelheid were brought to Israel and re-interred at Ramat Hanadiv in a state ceremony with full honors.
To summarize, Ramat Hanadiv is a memorial to Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
The Memorial Gardens
The Memorial Gardens beckon guests into a place of rare tranquillity. You may stroll the pathways here among exquisitely landscaped gardens and breathe their fragrance throughout the year.
A gracious combination of European formality and Mediterranean-style vegetation, the Gardens reflect Baron de Rothschild’s legacy of dignity and modesty. At the crypt of the Baron and his wife, visitors can pay their respects to the man known as the ‘the Father of the Yishuv.’
Facilities at the Memorial Gardens
The memorial gardens have restrooms, drinking fountains, a playground for children, and picnic tables.
There is also a visitors’ pavilion with an auditorium. Inside, you can watch a 15-minute film to familiarize yourself with the gardens. This pavilion also has a shop, a restaurant, and a kiosk.
The Spring Trail – Blue Track
Let’s explore my favorite trail, the Spring Trail. The blue marking is visible in the following photo.
The spring trail is on quite a level ground and suitable for families. Nonetheless, I would suggest taking appropriate shoes, plenty of water, hats, and sunscreen.
