Harod Spring National Park – Visitors Guide
Harod Spring National Park near Mount Gilboa is perfect for families with small kids. It has pools, barbecue places, a campground, and more.
Map
Harod Spring National Park is at the foot of Mount Gilboa and not far from Afula.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
Map of the National Park:
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 8:00 – 17:00 (16:00 in winter).
Friday: 8:00 – 16:00 (15:00 in winter).
On holiday 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, consider purchasing a combo ticket. For additional information, see National Parks and Nature Reserves.
Note: opening hours and ticket prices were updated in September 2024. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting.
What Can you find at Harod Spring National Park?
Harod Spring National Park is home to Harod Spring, nearby pools, Hankin House, the Memorial for the Valley’s war casualties, and a camping area.
You will see a long parking lot when you enter this national park. In front of the parking lot, you can see the recreational area. In this area, you can find picnic tables, equipment for barbeque, grass areas, small ponds, a playground for kids, and more. Here are several photos:
Harod Spring and Wading Pools
The maximum depth of the water is 0.4 meters. Since the pools are shallow, jumping is prohibited, and children under six need to be supervised.
The water arrives from Harod Spring, and here is the basic info from the official site:
The spring rises in a cave on the slope of the Gilboa mountain. It is called the Cave of Gideon after the Biblical judge who collected his warriors here to fight the Midianites. The waters flow along a clear brook into a large paddling pool and into other streams flowing throughout the national park. In the past, the spring created a swamp and a stream whose waters flowed into Nahal Harod, and the water of the spring was conveyed via an aqueduct to two flour mills. The remains of the aqueduct can be seen in the national park; the remains of the flour mills are located outside the park.
Here are several photos:
During our visit (in September), the temperature of the water varied among different areas, but it was cold overall. Also, slipping is a hazard. The concrete floor is not slippery, but it is slippery in areas where the floor is covered with green algae.
Furthermore, there is almost no shade in the wading pools. Hence, bring sunscreen.
Cave of Gideon
When looking towards Mount Gilboa, you can see a white building on the mountain. That is Hankin House Museum. Beneath it, you can find the Cave of Gideon. Here are several photos:
